Yesterday was the last day of running group at the track. I am so glad that I finally put aside my fears and joined this group. It has been years that I have wanted to join a running group but had always let my fear of not being good enough or not fitting in keep me from joining. This group was nothing I thought and everything I needed and I am planning to join them through the winter for group 5 milers each Wednesday night....bring out the head lamps and reflective gear! There are many reasons I am thankful for this group but here are three....
1. "You're ready to run with the other group next session"....There are three groups that meet at the same time at the track, a run-walk group, our group, and the racing group. The racing group are mostly training for marathons, etc and do longer pick-ups like 2 and 3 minute pick-ups. The major difference between their group and ours is that......they're fast. One of the leaders of our group told me yesterday that I was ready to run with them. I had to hold myself back from jumping to give her a hug and cry! This means so much to me!!
2. Pushing the limits....As an overweight child, running was always something skinny people did. As I grew up and lost weight it was still something skinny people did. This has led to me never really thinking I fit the bill as a runner. It was something for many years that I did to get ready for sports teams, etc. During preseason when running with others, I would hold my breathe so that people wouldn't hear me breathe heavy! This group has pushed me out of my comfort zone and has pushed my limits with running. It is another step in seeing myself as a real runner!!
3. Amazing moments to remember....Since it gets dark so early, we run the track under the lights. Yesterday we were doing our thing and the leader decided it would be cool to do some sprints on the football field. As we were doing that, the lights clicked off (silly daylight savings). My first reaction was, well I guess we're done. Nope! The light of the full moon was enough to bath the track in a dim light....just enough to get in another set of pick-ups. It was one of those amazing running moments for me as cheesy as that may sound. After one round I looked around and thanked God for this moment....warm November evening bathed in moonlight running!!
I urge you....push through your fears with running!!! Whether it is joining a race you never thought you could do or joining a group to run with.....DO IT! You will be thankful you did!!!
I love this post Nancy. I watched the half marathon group leave from the running store the other day with their headlamps and hot pink vests and so wanted to go out with them. Maybe this will be the year that I do it.
ReplyDeleteLove it!!
ReplyDeleterunning under the moon sounds so neat!! Way to push yourself out of your comfort zone too, you are DEFININTELY a runner : )
ReplyDeleteHooray - you moved up to the speedy group! Love that you have a great group to run with it.
ReplyDeleteFor the reasons you listed and more I love running with a club/group. Some of my best running friends are people I met in a running club. I'm going to try a new running club in 2 weeks (unfortunately I have to wait until I've recovered from surgery) and look forward to meeting new people and making new friends.
ReplyDeleteThis post really resonates with me, from fearing I wouldn't fit in or be as good as the other runners, to believing I'm never really a runner because of being formerly overweight! Thanks for this post... it really hit home!
ReplyDeleteGreat post Nancy! I really want to step out of my comfort zone and join a running group - how did you find yours?
ReplyDeleteSuch a great post! I have speed work fears and really need to push myself out of my comfort zone.
ReplyDeleteI still have a hard time really calling myself a runner and I don't know why!
I am so happy you are with your track group! I miss mine, but I still keep in touch with the leader. It is funny because I felt so slow when I ran with them, and felt like I improved a ton. I have taken what I learned with them and have applied it to my current training (as well as continue to get their emails with the workouts to do on my own). I hope to find a good one once the spring hits.
ReplyDelete=) If I work out after dark I take my dog
ReplyDeleteSo glad you've found a group like this for the winter! I have a running group myself and we run with the headlamps and reflective gear. it's so fun running at night isn't it! And your going to be in the racing group!!!
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