First, today was our end-of-the-season Girls on the Run party. It's always hard to say goodbye to these girls, even if it's only for a few months until spring season. They are funny and sweet and sincere. I value each of them for their joy and innocence and ability to just be. This year I made sure to take lots of pictures at both the race and the party, since I want to always remember how important they are in my life. We even managed to get a decent one of almost the entire team.
But it was also rewarding because I got to hear another story about how the lessons we are imparting are actually sinking in. One of the mothers sought me out to tell me something that happened at soccer practice a few weeks earlier. This mom is about my height/weight/body type and her daughter is a beautiful, hardworking, athletic, smart girl. Anyway...mom tells me that there are a few soccer moms with their team who are fairly tall and thin. Well, her daughter a week or two ago turned to her and said "You know, Mom. Those women really shouldn't be that skinny. They don't look healthy. You and me are just the right size that we are supposed to be." Mom said she was just floored and at the same time so grateful that her daughter had such a strong healthy body image of both herself but those around her.
Once the party wrapped up, I raced home to change clothes and get to the Thursday night Potomac River Running women's group run. It's pouring down rain tonight, with flood warnings out and a chance of snow by morning, so I considered bailing. But I decided this was a chance to build some character and so off I went. Three of us showed up, plus Jess the "rabbit" group leader, and the "caboose" staff member, whose name I'm unfortunately forgetting right now. Not the 10 to 20 women who are normally there -- so we all started the run feeling tough for being out in the cold and rainy night. We all started out together, and I knew that I'd be the one with the caboose, but decided to try and hang with the lead group as long as possible. She was cool with it, and assured me that I could set the pace and she'd be happy to stay with me. They started to drop me at about the .75mile point, but when we hit the 1-mile mark, the caboose and I realized we'd just run a sub-9:00 mile!!! Remember, my normal run pace is about an 11:00+ min/mile, so somehow I was seriously moving!! At that point I said let's just run like this until I blow up, see how long I can sustain it and keep the front group in view.
A little more than halfway through the 4.3mile run I notice that the caboose is actually lagging behind me. Turns out she's getting over being sick, and her normal healthy pace is a 9min/mil, so I was close to dropping her!!! Now that's never happened before! For some reason, I was holding this crazy sub-10min pace. So, we dialed it back, kept running and finished strong. I was encouraging her in the same way that she had for me three weeks ago. We finished and high-fived each other, giving mutual thanks for kicking each other's a$$ and keeping each other motivated. At one point I said to myself "gee, how much faster would you be if you were ten or fifteen pounds lighter". And then I had to remind myself that I was already getting faster -- that while being healthier physically would be nice, I could be fit without being a size 4. I ran faster and stronger during totally miserable weather for one of the best runs I've had in months. It was the reassurance I needed that I am an athlete. I am strong and capable and able to push my own comfort zone. Now to just survive the winter without my amazing GOTR girls to remind me that I am as special as they are!
1 comment:
Nice run!!!
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