When It's Good to Have a Running Partner

Yesterday, I came down with a stomach bug in the afternoon which totally knocked me out for the rest of the day.  I had tickets to see Graffiti6, a fantastic alternative, funk band, for that night but I couldn't muster up the energy to make it happen.  I called my running partner, who was planning to go with me, and told her that not only was I bailing on the show, but that I was probably not going to meet her on Thursday for our workout, as we had discussed.  She understood on both counts.  I went to bed at 8:30 and hoped that whatever had gotten to me would be over by the next day.  When I woke up on this morning I felt pretty wiped, but otherwise, totally fine.  I had planned to take the day off, but after I dropped my kids at school, I decided I could use an easy run to help purge whatever had hit me the day before.  I checked in with my running partner before I headed out.  Here is how it played out:

RT: I think I might go to the Y and jump on the treadmill for an easy 4 and some stretching.  That's about all I have the energy for today.  What are you thinking?

KH: Well, I have my son home from school today and I'm feeling a little burnt out, so I might just take today off.  Plus, I don't think I can motivate to get us out the door in the next 10 minutes.

RT: Cool.  So, I will catch up with you tomorrow?

- at this point, I realize I have forgotten my iPod and decide to turn around.  No, I can't run without it, especially on a treadmill.

KH: So, are you already at the Y?

RT: Nope, I just turned around to get my iPod and I'm leaving home now.

KH: Hmmm.  Ok.  I think we can make it happen over here. We'll get out stuff together and meet you there for an easy workout.  Save me a treadmill.

RT: Sounds good.

- 10 minutes later we're on the treadmill, warming up.

KH: So, you're doing 3-4 easy?

RT: That was my plan, why? What are you thinking?

KH: Well, I was going to take it easy, but now that I'm here, I'm kind of fired up to try and do our original workout, so I think I might go for it. (she's smirking now)

RT: Crap.  Really? (eye roll)  Ok.  Maybe I'll give it a shot, too.  I think I might be able to pull it off.

And then we shifted gears and we were off.  Headphones on and rocking out, we ended up running together at various speeds for a total of 7 miles, pushing each other throughout the workout.  I ended up finding a hidden stash of energy that I didn't know I had.  It was a very satisfying run and I would not have even attempted it had I not had her there with me.  Halfway through the run, she looked at me and said, "this is when it's good to have a running partner." I could not have agreed more.  

Listen to this:

The Bones of You - Elbow   

The Morning Warrior

There are so many runners who get up early and brave the elements on a daily basis.  I'm in awe of this group and I applaud them for their drive.  As I've mentioned, I rarely head out for a run until I've had a cup of coffee and some time to wake my legs up a bit.  It wasn't always this way.  I used to be able to jump up any time and hit the road with no added fuel and still half asleep.  But, I am 36, I have 2 kids, and I'm way more tired than I used to be, so this is just the way it is now.  Throughout the winter, due to a shift in our family's schedule, I no longer have the luxury to run when it works for me on the week-end.  I have no choice but to get up early on Saturday morning and get out there before the day starts.  This shift in routine is extremely difficult and often slightly painful.  Here's the scenario...it's 6:00 AM, it's pitch black out and it's a balmy 11 degrees.  Motivation level, zero.  And yet, it has to be done.  So, I roll out of bed, get dressed in 5 layers of fleece and microfiber, and set out, slowly and rather unsurely.  For these runs there is typically no one else on the road, so it's just me and my music.  Here's when the singing and, yes, dancing are helpful tools and totally acceptable.  I might be dragging and ridiculously cold, but I am free to do whatever it takes to make this a run worth getting up for.  So, this winter I will attempt to embrace the morning, savor the freedom, and remind myself every Saturday that it can be done.  For four months only, I will join the morning warriors.  Oh boy!

Listen to this:
Born With A Broken Heart - David Wax Museum   

* For Jackie R. who gets up at 3:00 am to get his run in.

When In Doubt, Do

In October, my teammate and I ran a 5K in Plymouth, MA.  It was hot, humid, and the course was hilly.  Let's just say conditions were not ideal for a personal record.  At the end of the race we were both a bit frustrated with the outcome.  We were determined to run one more 5K before the end of the year with hopes of getting better weather, a flatter course, and ideally, with those factors working in our favor, a faster time.  So, we went ahead and signed up for a race on a Sunday morning in December not thinking, at the time, about the fact that this would be during the holiday season which typically goes hand in hand with late night festivities.  This past Saturday afternoon, my teammate saw my husband and told him that she was likely to bail on our race, which was the following Sunday, because she was so tired and wasn't feeling up for it.  I talked to her later that evening and we decided that, despite the fact that we were both low on energy and going out again that night, we would go ahead and run and just treat the race like a regular workout.  We decided we would attempt to have fun and try not to worry about the results.  When I got home at midnight, I looked to see if she had texted me with a change of heart, which we both said we might do, but there was no message, so we were still on.  I picked her up on Sunday morning and though we were both fully committed by now, we were both pretty wiped out and neither of us had high expectations.  At the starting line, we smiled, high-fived, laughed a bit and off we went.  I'm guessing that something about our approach to this race released some of the pressure that we tend to put on ourselves and set us free to run just for the hell of it.  We both finished with faster times than we've had all season, feeling totally elated and stronger than ever.  It was truly amazing.  Chances of this happening for even one of us that morning were slim to none, but you just never know.  It's normal to question whether it's worth doing something when there are so many variables that lead us to believe it might not fall into place that way we want it to.  My new philosophy in this case - when in doubt, do.

As a side note to this story, my teammate decided to listen to her iPod during the race, something she doesn't normally do.  Afterwords, she mentioned that the music helped her out and that it will likely be something she adds to her routine from now on.  She specifically said, "I loved listening to the cheesy, pop songs when I was running because they made me smile and that made me go faster."  Amen to that.


Listen to this:
Walking On A Dream - Empire of the Sun  


and in honor of Team Bacon:
Ain't Nothing Wrong With That - Robert Randolph & the Family Band 

99 Cents

Ahhh...Saturdays.  They are such a treat.  No pressure to get my kids up and out the door to school.  Plenty of time to have one and maybe 2 cups of coffee before I even think about running or whatever else I have to do.  Lately, I've been adding a little bit of excitement to each Saturday run by purchasing a song on iTunes that I may have heard over the last couple days that I know will get me going.  Not only does this get me fired up to hit the road, but it puts that extra skip in my step as I get started.  I find myself playing it a couple times to explore the sound and then forgetting completely about how cold it might be or how tired my legs are; at least for the first mile or two.  All of that for just 99 cents.  Such a bargain.

Listen to this:
Miike Snow - Black & Blue