They give you that little extra motivation to get your butt out of bed at 5:30 a.m. when it is 20 degrees and dark outside, because you know they will be waiting for you at the mailbox at the end of the street. They push you just a little bit faster, when you'd rather not, as you are rounding the last corner during your interval track workouts. They encourage you to try new things, set new goals and challenge yourself. They pump you up when you are down, kick you in the butt when you start whining and cheer for you when you succeed, and I do the same for them. You can run and talk with them for 2 hours, finish and then say "Oh , we still didn't get to talk about..." There is nothing like seeing them work and train for their personal goals, and see them cross the finish line, or better yet crossing it with them. We support each other in our dreams. When things don't go so well, we pick each other up and figure out how to get back on track (no pun intended!) And of course, we giggle, laugh, snort or sometimes even cry when our workouts are done and we are finally enjoying the endorphin rush we all crave!!!
Here are just a few of my running buddies that I love so much! Thanks for being there...
Raelene, Terri and Cindy (Snowman Stampede 10Mile - Jan, 2009) This was the kick off to marathon training season. We all look so happy because there was not snow on the ground like all the previous years we have done this race.
Cindy, Terri and Raelene (Denver Marathon, Oct. 2009) Cindy did the full, Raelene and I resisted the peer pressure and we did the 1/2 marathon. Way to go Cindy on your PR!!! I'll be trying to chase you down at Boston this year, but until then - see ya at the mailbox...
Michelle and Larry (Harvest Moon Half-IronMan Triathlon, Sep., 2008) Michelle is an incredible IronMan triathlete - she makes us marathoners look like couch potatoes :). We have been friends for almost nine years, when we met in a "Help- I have a new baby!" class (Thank goodness we are no longer running with jog strollers!). In addition to teaching me a lot about running, she's taught me most of what I know about biking and open water swimming and encouraged me in my training for several sprint triathlons and this half-ironman triathlon a few years ago. Good luck this season Coyote!
Mary, Michelle and Terri (after the Harvest Moon Triathlon) Mary was coaching and I was just cheering this year:) Mary, another great IronMan triathlete, and I have the funny rhyming name thing in common, Terri Ary and Mary Carey, if you can believe it! And - our husbands are both Brians!
Terri and Raelene (Georgetown 1/2 Marathon, Aug 2008) Again, we are happy the race is over - bring on the endorphins. For future reference, friends don't let friends run in "Running Dresses"! See you in Boston next year... By the way - Raelene's husband is also a Brian!
Nancy and Terri (post-Boston Marathon, Apr. 2008) Cindy and I first met Nancy and her husband at the Sacramento Marathon in 2006 (Cindy meets nice people wherever she goes!)They are from Boise, ID. Then we ironically ran into them two years in a row at the race expo in Boston and ended up riding the bus to the start of the race together. Last year we had beer and pizza together after the race. This year, we are all going back to Boston and staying in the same hotel - pizza party in our room this time:)
And last, but not least, Marley, our 1-1/2 year old yellow lab. Every morning, as soon as he sees me put on my vest and running hat, he begins pacing, whining and jumping up on the windows as if to say "Come on lady, let's run!!!" I gave up taking him out for my warm-up, since he is like a rocket the second he is on the leash. I have however found him pretty handy at pulling me up the hills and maintaining a sub 9 minute pace at the end of my runs. I even have him trained to drink from a water bottle :)
Looking forward to our next run buddies!
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