Class 1

Welcome to my class, or welcome back to many of you. Today was the ONLY time we’ll meet indoors (Room 87). Our standard start/finish spot for the rest of this term is the north end of the turf fields near 15th Avenue.

Thursday’s run will start with a good warmup, then you’ll take a one- or two-mile test. You will see how much faster that pace is than today’s, at half the opening distance.

Starting today, I’ll list your results in this blog. The mini-lesson on running will appear here each day.

TODAY’S 2 MILES

(with per-mile pace; target was to run relaxed, at about a minute per mile slower than you could race a 5K; if you didn’t stop your watch at lights, you probably ran faster than listed here)

Lyanne – 22:56 (11:28 pace)

Jessica N. – 21:55 (10:57s)

TODAY’S 4 MILES

(same info as above)

Erik – 36:19 (9:05 pace)

Alex – 36:25 (9:06s)

Jessica D. – 37:11 (9:17s)

Amina – 42:58 (10:44s)

Jannik – 34:30 (8:37s)

Sarah – 41:24 (10:21s)

Rana – 34:30 (8:37s)

Claire – 36:40 (9:10s)

Scott – 33:23 (8:20s)

Jack – 34:30 (8:37s)

Chelsea – 41:24 (10:21s)

Julian – did I miss your finish?

Alli – 36:55 (9:14s)

Katie – 37:32 (9:23s)

Arthur – 34:30 (8:37s)

Maca – 3.7 miles in 35:00 (9:33s)

James – 4.2 miles in 34:30 (8:12s)

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.