Alone or in a group...

There have been times in my life when I have been able to set a goal and reach it - by myself, all on my own, just working at it steadily each day. I started myself on a running program 8 years ago after watching other people race in the Tulsa Run. It's a 15K race through downtown and along the river in Tulsa. I always wished I could do that too. So after years of 'wishing' I decided to make it happen. I followed a running program that I found on line - someone recommended it to me. I really liked it - and it worked! I ran my first 5K at the end of May in 2000. That was a great accomplishment. I don't think there is anything more satisfying than achieving a goal you set out to do! I really felt like I could do anything! So my next goal was to train for the Tulsa Run. I trained 4 days a week that summer and fall. On Sunday mornings before church I would run with a Tulsa Run Training Group. I remember on one of those mornings I decided to just try and keep up with all the 'fast' runners and just go as long as I could. I was amazed that I could run at a 10min mile pace!!! I went 6 miles that day (although I did slow down towards the end...). It was then that I realized I could go 9 miles (15K). It wasn't really that much further! I entered the Tulsa Zoo Run in September which was 10K. That was my first experience at running "K's" instead of "miles" so it took me awhile to figure out my splits - I was so used to using the 1/4 mile markers along the river running path. My vivid memory of that Zoo race was all the kids that were running. It was a race that benefitted Tulsa Public Schools so lots of PE kids running for their school. I ended up running with a couple of middle school kids and we were just encouraging each other to finish without walking!!! :-) I was really glad I had someone to encourage - that kept me going!!! Anyway, the big day came for the Tulsa Run. What a rush that whole thing was!! There were so many people - unbeleivable! All along the route there were people cheering, music playing, entertainment in front of peoples houses. It was kind of like running through a party!:-) The very beat part of the race was having Nigel, Kirsten and Chelsea cheer for me at the beginning, the middle and the end of the race. They drove all over the place to do that! :-) I can still recall that great feeling of finishing. I have a picture of me at the finish of my race! After that, I trained again for all three of those same races the next year. It wasn't quite as exciting as the first year, but pretty close! My sister Debi and her husband Hartley came and ran the race with me! That made it double the fun!!! :-)

There are other times in my life when I need to have help accomplishing a goal. This is one of those times.... I have joined a running class that has a coach. I went to my first session last night. It was dark (thanks to the time change), but not too cold. We train on Mondays and Thursdays at Shelby Farms in the parking lots that surround the "Agri-center" building. Our coach, Mark, has plotted out a one mile course around two of the parking lots. It was a very interesting first session. He actually "taught" us how to run - the correct form (head up, shoulders back, swing arms with elbows behind your back), "talking technique" (I have to be able to say "When I eat, I will make healthy choice, When I eat, I will make healthy choices" without gasping for breath),pacing oursleves, etc... We walked/ran a total of 3 miles, although only about a mile of that was actually running. Lots of walking breaks in between. Mark says the goal is to increase gradually to let my body adapt to what I am demading it to do. My commitment is to go to "class" two days a week and then run around my neighborhood on a third day (either Saturday or Sunday). He says there is not really any bad weather days, only bad clothing days. :-)

My personal goal is to get back into running shape and then continue to train, with the ultimate goal of losing weight! To what extent (race?) I'm not sure. I just know that training with a group will help me accomplish my goals this time around. Mark says he can get us ready for a marathon if we want. Again, I'm not sure.... My sister, Debi, is such an inspiration in this area. She has become the master at setting unbelievable goals and then reaching them (2 ironman triathlons this year!!!). So maybe by next December I will be ready to tackle the Memphis Marathon or the 1/2 marathon. They hold it every year the first Saturday in December. Who knows? If I follow through with this goal maybe Debi and Hartley will come and run with me?
I will keep you posted on my progress in this area.