27
Apr
2010
Through the eyes of other runners X 4
I am blessed with the opportunity to be able to share the run with some great people. Lately I have been rather intrigued with the mindsets and thoughts of other runners. I am going to share with you some of the things that have left me smiling.
Runner number one…Tom Kish. Let me paint you the picture…Mr. Kish and I were doing an 8 mile run and the middle portion of our run was a speed workout. The day was cold and very windy and we found ourselves in an area of winding hills. We ran exactly 4 miles out and turned around and then headed the horribly uphill 4 miles back, about 7.5 miles into the run, Tom says….I don’t give a (bleep) where we are, when this garmin says 8 miles I am walking…that struck me as funny as it was going to say that at the very door we left from. 4 out and 4 back equals 8. I could completely relate to his desire to be done and have a chance to walk a bit, I can’t to math while running either. 
Runner number two…Trevor Coleman. I am regularly impressed with the quiet determination of this strong athlete. The morning was crisp and it was a race day. As per usual, I wanted to know his goals. Trevor said with a calm confidence that he will run 7 minute miles. I was pretty impressed as that was a bit of an improvement over his time from the same race last year. I was at the finish line when Trevor crossed. He spoke the absolute truth, he declared his goal and then he achieved it, to the T, Trevor averaged exactly 7 minute miles. I admire the confidence and ability to perform that he has.
Runner number three…Gretchen Shafer. Gretchen had trained for months, she put up with my coaching and encouragement for mile after mile month after month. Not along ago Gretchen and I left Davison on a nice crisp morning for a half marathon in Dearborn. Gretchen stuck to the plan and on race day she crossed the line 30 minutes faster then she ever had before….and then I asked if she wanted to watch the marathoners finish. As we waited we watched throngs of half marathoners finish, and she turns to me and says, “I think that’s the first time I have ever watched people finish behind me”…I couldn’t help but smile. I can’t put to words how that made me feel, I am sure she cant express it well either, Gretchen had reached a new level. I can say I am not sure I have ever been prouder of the determination of a single person. She tackled a goal, she trained hard and she successfully finished. She inspires me.
Runner number four…Stacie Tracy. I had the pleasure of running the last portion of a 26 mile run with Stacie. I was set to run only 8 miles that day…when I got there she informed me I would be running 9.5…you don’t dare argue with a woman 16.5 miles into a run! As we set out she seemed so light on her feet, as though keeping such a nice pace for another 9.5 miles would be cake, she is a power house, and I knew this but you know your dealing with a real runner when just before mile 25 of the 26 mile run they say, I sure wish I had gum for the last 13. I had to laugh a bit, she didn’t even understand the gravity of what she just said, I called her a bad ass and told her she amazed me…the last 13….you know you’re a rockin’ runnin’ badass when you need something for the LAST 13….Stacie will be rooming with me in Boston next April as I am sure she is going to qualify at the end of May.
It is something else being a runner, hitting the road or mill alone day after day, I often enjoy and embrace the solitude that running affords me however I can say that the experiences I share with other runners and athletes are second to none. I am a truly blessed girl and thought I would pass along some of the lil diddies I have been able to enjoy lately.
Go make some stories of your own…
Happy Running!