Even more than usual at a term's start, I enjoyed welcoming you all this morning. I'd missed this teaching while taking the winter months off.
The running start was a little shaky, as I didn't explain the route well enough. Still, everyone ran approximately the scheduled distance.
On Thursday (and from now on) we'll meet outside the Rec Center's east entrance, at the turf fields. You'll take a good warmup, then a one- or two-mile test.
Starting today I post everyone's results and a mini-lesson on running.
TODAY'S "2 MILES"
(with per-mile pace IF it had been that exact distance; target was to run relaxed, at a pace you can improve greatly on Thursday at a shorter distance; if you didn't pause your watch at stoplights, you probably ran faster than listed here)
Lyanne -- 29:26 (14:43 per mile)
Garrett -- 16:02 (8:01s)
Neal -- 16:16 (8:08s)
Spencer -- 17:59 (8:59s)
Tara -- 18:05 (9:02s)
Nicole -- 24:00 (12:00s)
Jeff -- 18:13 (9:06s)
Becky -- 29:55 (14:57s)
Eleanor -- 21:35 (10:47s)
Jerry -- 18:06 (9:03s)
TODAY'S "4 MILES"
(same info as above)
Joseph -- 39:08 (9:47s)
Osbaldo -- 27:45 (6:56s)
Joshua -- 33:16 (8:18s)
Brooke -- 38:03 (9:30s)
Justyne -- 37:40 (9:24s)
Baylie -- 38:50 (9:37s)
TODAY'S 7 MILES
(same info as above, for half-marathon and marathon training)
Michaela -- 50:38 (7:13s)
Jannik -- 50:38 (7:13s)
Isaac -- 50:38 (7:13s)
Juan -- 1:01:37 on Sunday (8:48s)
LESSON
1: WHY RACE?
Running in races is not a requirement for
calling yourself a runner. Running is easier and safer without this added
effort. Racing is hard, and moderately risky – but also exciting, challenging
and motivating as it pushes you farther and faster than you could go alone. The
race itself puts you on the line – not just the starting line but at the
red-line of your abilities, where you can push no harder without breaking.
Racing puts your training and resolve to their final test. You don’t take this
test alone but in the company of dozens, hundreds or even thousands of runners
like yourself. You aren’t competing with them; you’re cooperating. The
competition isn’t with others but with the distance, the course, the conditions
and the voice inside that pleads with you to ease off. Everyone else in the
race is tested the same ways. You push, pull and pace each other.
