So much for leading the pack. I ran 2 miles on Monday and then 3 today, and my leg hurts something awful. I was looking forward to running when I left for work this morning, but at about 11:00 I was dreading it because I knew my leg would hurt. I did it anyway, and then took two ibuprofen. All better....
Two of my friends at work who are running expressed an interest in the MIT program and so I have been giving them information as I get it. Last Saturday, one of them went to the orientation at 7:30 am (the first run started at 8) and then when she got out of the orientation she panicked and left. I never saw her. I guess trying to make your way through a couple hundred people in a high school hallway can be intimidating, even when you are an adult!
My first several times going to the Saturday runs I was very nervous. I spent half my morning in the bathroom until I absolutely had to go. I was ok once we started running, and felt great afterwards, but I had knots in my stomach before I left. It can be very intimidating to run with a lot of people, and then try to keep from looking like an idiot, or someone who shouldn't even be out there. When I first started running, I told my husband I wouldn't run anywhere except the cemetery so no one could see me except the dead.
But the MIT coaches are very encouraging, if not totally organized. They didn't really have a coach for anyone slower than 11:00 m/m pace, and removed the mile markers too soon in my opinion - us slow half marathoners were not going the distance the full marathoners were, and still needed to know where the first couple miles were (although having the Garmin Forerunner takes care of that issue for me!). But no one makes fun of you, and there are lots of different types of runners that come out. Everyone is supportive, and as they do the loop and pass you they will cheer you on. Even though it can be scary, I feel as though I would not stick with a training program if I didn't have a group to run with. And it's a great feeling to see them on the race course - if you have on your MIT gear someone will give you a "Yeah MIT!" as you run by.
This time it looks like they are more organized, too. The swag is nice (a very nice technical shirt and hat) and they already have a speaker schedule posted on their website. They have some new coaches and I think there are a lot of new people who will take some time to figure out where their pace is at.
The sport of running seems be at an all time popularity high. Almost everyone I talk to is running (or hates it - there is no in between!) or wants to get started. It's very exciting. It's a sport where you don't have to rely on anyone or anything but your feet. And elitists are few and far between (despite this ad to the contrary - some people will do anything to sell their product)- most people are really supportive.
I'm not sure why I felt the need to write this particular post, but I did. So there.
My new favorite show: The Closer. Gotta go.
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