Which do you prefer: running alone, or running with a group?
I first started running by myself, as a way to create a quiet space, free of telephones and demands on my time. I never run with music, prefering to listen for the birds in the trees, the wind blowing through my hair, or even the thread of a song I heard on the radio earlier in the day that endlessly repeats in my mind.
Five years ago I started running with a group of women, and the dynamics of running were turned upside down. We rarely run in silence, instead talking over the latest news headlines or updating each other on our family's busy lives. We fall into a comfortable pace and instead of noticing the clouds racing across the sky in front of the wind we share thoughts on the best new restaurants in town.
Tonight I enjoyed both types of running, starting out on my own as daylight turned into darkness. As I headed up steep Center Hill Road, I paced my breath with my stride, focusing on the top of the hill, concentrating on maintaining a steady, even pace. Running down the sidewalks in front of the stores just closing for the evening, I thought about the way Manchester has changed over the past year. It seems like every month another store or restaurant closes, and the state of the economy is on everyone's mind. My pace quickened as I turned the last corner onto Richville Road, watching my headlamp light the sidewalk and enjoying the quiet darkness.
20 minutes later I headed out on the same route, this time with 9 women from my running group. Wendy, Patty, Laurie and talked about triathlons and the lack of an indoor pool in Manchester. We ran up Center Hill together, my thoughts not on my breath or pace but on the group conversation. I looked back down the hill, seeing the string of headlamps and high-vis yellow running gear stretching out behind us. At one point our route circles back, and the faster runners kept going toward the finish. I kept pace with Audrey, right behind Michelle and Morgan with Linda and Liz close behind us. We talked about the best meals for a slow cooker, the pricing of the newest restaurants, and the amount of snow in the mountains. As we turned the last corner onto Richville Road, instead of running by myself in the quiet darkness I was surrounded by women talking about the 7 mile run we have planned for this weekend.
I love the independence of running by myself and the opportunity to let my thoughts wander. I love running with other women, learning about their lives and finding common ground. Our ages tonight span 40 years, from 14 to 54. We live in 7 different towns within a 25 mile radius. We have young children, teenagers, college-age kids and grown-up children out on their own. This is the first year with the group for 4 of the women, and 2 started with the very first group 5 years ago. The running group brings us together, allowing us to match our pace and our breath as we run in the dark, conversation carrying us along.
I don't prefer one type of running over the other. Instead, I'm thankful I have the opportunity for both the silence and the talk, solitude and company.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Motivation
Why would any sane person sign up for a half-marathon training group that starts in early January? Even though southwestern Vermont is fondly known as 'the banana belt' when it comes to Vermont weather patterns, it's still winter in New England and that means snow, cold, and what the weather guys fondly call a 'wintry mix' (sleet, ice, freezing rain, thundersnow).
The 30 women in our group list a variety of reasons for setting off on a goal to complete a half-marathon:
9 more weeks until race day!
The 30 women in our group list a variety of reasons for setting off on a goal to complete a half-marathon:
- improve stamina
- friends talked them into it
- want to be fit and healthy
- the challenge of completing a 13.1 mile event
- the company of other active women
- group support and motivation
- enjoy outside exercise in the winter
- lose weight
- meet new people
- have fun!
- they run farther up Center Hill before they need to walk
- they've walked or run farther than ever before in their lives - 5 miles!
- they're meeting new friends and re-establishing friendships
- they get out of bed when the temperature is -8 because they know the group is counting on them
- we've been out in the snow, wind, sun, dark, rain: and we're still moving forward
9 more weeks until race day!
Monday, January 16, 2012
My Gatorade froze today!
It's been years since this last happened, but today my Gatorade froze.
Fern and I set out for a 9 mile out-and-back run on Richville Road at 7:30am when the temperature was a toasty -8 degrees. Since the sun was out and there was no wind, we figured we'd be perfectly warm in our layers of fleece and technical fabric that covered every inch of skin except for our eyes.
All our preparation paid off, because after tolerating cold toes during the first mile, my feet warmed up (thank you wool socks!). Frozen eyelashes and a runny nose are annoying, but nothing earthshattering. Frozen Gatorade, however, can turn a great run into disaster.
I wore my 6-bottle Fuel Belt under my jacket as usual. I learned the hard way several years ago that water bottles carried on the outside of the jacket freeze easily, and purposefully choose larger jackets for that reason. I always follow the same hydration routine: drink 4 ounces Gatorade at 20 and 40 minutes, and then drink 8 ounces water plus one gel on the hour. This plan went like clockwork only for the first drink of Gatorade at 20 minutes into the run. By the time 40 minutes rolled around, there were ice crystals in my Gatorade. The water at one hour was fine, and thank goodness I packed a Honey Stinger gel! This gel has the thinnest consistency, and in today's temperatures it was actually almost chewy. I never use it in the summer, when it thins out to the consistency of water and causes a huge mess.
Big trouble came at one hour and 20 minutes into our run: my Gatorade had turned into a slushy, making it almost impossible to drink. I managed to squeeze enough into my mouth to keep me going for the last 20 minutes of our run. By the time I drove the 1 mile home from Fern's house, the remaining Gatorade was frozen solid.
Positives for the day: we had a great 9 mile run, the sun shining on snow-covered Equinox was brilliant, and we stayed warm.
Thank goodness I wasn't running any farther since my remaining Gatorade was frozen solid. I wonder if anyone makes fleece-covered water bottles for this type of weather?
Fern and I set out for a 9 mile out-and-back run on Richville Road at 7:30am when the temperature was a toasty -8 degrees. Since the sun was out and there was no wind, we figured we'd be perfectly warm in our layers of fleece and technical fabric that covered every inch of skin except for our eyes.
All our preparation paid off, because after tolerating cold toes during the first mile, my feet warmed up (thank you wool socks!). Frozen eyelashes and a runny nose are annoying, but nothing earthshattering. Frozen Gatorade, however, can turn a great run into disaster.
I wore my 6-bottle Fuel Belt under my jacket as usual. I learned the hard way several years ago that water bottles carried on the outside of the jacket freeze easily, and purposefully choose larger jackets for that reason. I always follow the same hydration routine: drink 4 ounces Gatorade at 20 and 40 minutes, and then drink 8 ounces water plus one gel on the hour. This plan went like clockwork only for the first drink of Gatorade at 20 minutes into the run. By the time 40 minutes rolled around, there were ice crystals in my Gatorade. The water at one hour was fine, and thank goodness I packed a Honey Stinger gel! This gel has the thinnest consistency, and in today's temperatures it was actually almost chewy. I never use it in the summer, when it thins out to the consistency of water and causes a huge mess.
Big trouble came at one hour and 20 minutes into our run: my Gatorade had turned into a slushy, making it almost impossible to drink. I managed to squeeze enough into my mouth to keep me going for the last 20 minutes of our run. By the time I drove the 1 mile home from Fern's house, the remaining Gatorade was frozen solid.
Positives for the day: we had a great 9 mile run, the sun shining on snow-covered Equinox was brilliant, and we stayed warm.
Thank goodness I wasn't running any farther since my remaining Gatorade was frozen solid. I wonder if anyone makes fleece-covered water bottles for this type of weather?
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Frosty eyelashes!
When was the last time you ran with frosty eyelashes and frozen hair?
It was 3 degrees when I woke up this morning at 6:30, and by the time we started our 4 mile walk/run at 8am the temperature dropped to 1 degree. Good news: the sun was shining and there was no wind. I made sure everyone had something to cover their mouth and nose, we pulled on hats, mittens, and jackets and set off.
It was a beautiful day for a walk/run! Comments I heard along the way:
On to the second week of training!
It was 3 degrees when I woke up this morning at 6:30, and by the time we started our 4 mile walk/run at 8am the temperature dropped to 1 degree. Good news: the sun was shining and there was no wind. I made sure everyone had something to cover their mouth and nose, we pulled on hats, mittens, and jackets and set off.
It was a beautiful day for a walk/run! Comments I heard along the way:
- I'm not cold!
- I thought it would be colder than this.
- How can my butt be cold??
- I never thought I'd be able to run 4 miles in warm weather, and I'm doing it today!
- I thought about skipping today's walk, but I'm really glad I came.
On to the second week of training!
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| Lynn, Fern, Quinn, Kim, Kate and BJ at a post-run breakfast |
Friday, January 13, 2012
First run in the snow!
It's been snowing off and on, usually mixed with rain or even freezing rain, for the past day. Finally Vermont looks as it should in mid-January: cold and white.
As I drove to Cornerstone to meet everyone for the run, sheets of snow whipped across the road, powered by southwest winds gusting to over 20 miles per hour. I wondered if anyone would actually show up for our run, since this is only our fourth group run and the first one during a snowstorm.
Maribeth was sitting on the bench inside Cornerstone. She knew she wouldn't run alone because I always show up for a run, no matter the weather conditions. I've only cancelled one run in the five years of the group, and that was because my road hadn't been plowed and the snow was too deep for me to drive through.
Michelle and Lilibeth came in right behind me. "Exhilarating weather today!" "Finally, some snow!" Carol was the last to join us, ready to go no matter what the weather threw at us - and it was still throwing snow.
This is defnitely a hardy group, because no one complained about the wind, the snow, or the cold (25 degrees, but it felt like 10 degrees due to windchill). A quick stop outside for a picture, and we were on our way.
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| Michelle, Lilibeth, Carol and Maribeth |
Big smiles and laughter greeted everyone at the finish. "It's wonderful to run outside again in the snow" commented Maribeth. Everyone agreed that walking/running during a snowstorm was more fun than they expected, and not one person complained of the cold. Carol even thought perhaps she overdressed as she felt perfectly comfortable.
We finished up with stretching, talked about the type of clothing to wear on Sunday for our 4 mile walk/run since the temperatures are supposed to drop into the teens, and remarked how great it feels to be active. Everyone agreed that they definitely would not run in these conditions on their own, and that running together in a group made their day.
Bring it on Winter - the 2012 Training for More group is ready!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
First night run
What a gorgeous night for a run! It's hard to believe it was 40 degrees when we started running at 6pm this evening. Even more difficult to believe there's no snowy roads, no icy sidewalks, and no treacherous footing.
5 of us headed out for a fun 2 mile jaunt around Manchester. I love running at night for several reasons:
I can't see the hills, so they don't feel as difficult.
I get to window-shop while I run.
The stars light up the sky.
It feels great to be outside exercising while most people are driving home from work.
If you haven't tried running at night, you're missing out! Be safe by wearing reflective clothing or a reflective vest, and a headlamp to light the way and also to make you more visible to drivers.
Next Tuesday night I hope we have a light snow - it's an awesome feeling running through snowflakes at night!
5 of us headed out for a fun 2 mile jaunt around Manchester. I love running at night for several reasons:
I can't see the hills, so they don't feel as difficult.
I get to window-shop while I run.
The stars light up the sky.
It feels great to be outside exercising while most people are driving home from work.
If you haven't tried running at night, you're missing out! Be safe by wearing reflective clothing or a reflective vest, and a headlamp to light the way and also to make you more visible to drivers.
Next Tuesday night I hope we have a light snow - it's an awesome feeling running through snowflakes at night!
Monday, January 9, 2012
First day of marathon training a success!
We have an enthusiastic group of women ready to start the 2012 half-marathon training! We met for the first time yesterday, and after explaining the program and answering questions, we headed out for our first 3 mile group walk/run. I love seeing a line of women stretching down Richville Road, and it's great to see women greeting past training partners and meeting new friends.
We are, as usual, a diverse group:
- we live in Landgrove, Manchester, Jamaica, Dorset, Stratton Mountain, Sunderland, Bennington, Bondville, Shaftsbury, Pawlet
- our ages range from 15 - 70+
- some women have completed 5K's, 10K's, half-marathons
- this is the first race of any distance for several women!
- women join the group for exercise, health, company, develop running skills, accountability, lose weight, motivation, fitness, and for fun and friendship!
I always get energerized with a new training group, and yesterday was no exception. April 1st, here we come!
We are, as usual, a diverse group:
- we live in Landgrove, Manchester, Jamaica, Dorset, Stratton Mountain, Sunderland, Bennington, Bondville, Shaftsbury, Pawlet
- our ages range from 15 - 70+
- some women have completed 5K's, 10K's, half-marathons
- this is the first race of any distance for several women!
- women join the group for exercise, health, company, develop running skills, accountability, lose weight, motivation, fitness, and for fun and friendship!
I always get energerized with a new training group, and yesterday was no exception. April 1st, here we come!
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Women's half-marathon training begins!
4 years ago I had a wild idea: what if I could convince 4-5 women in my area to train for a half-marathon? The downsides: we live in southwestern Vermont, where wintertime outdoor activities typically revolve around snow: skiing, snowshoeing, snowboarding, and shoveling. Most people don't think about starting a running program in the winter, but I love winter running.
Running with a headlamp in the dark before dawn gives me the opportunity to watch the sky turn from black to pink, see the sun start to shine on the top of Mt. Equinox, and imagine folks groggily waking up as I'm enjoying the cold air as I run down the road.
Running through a snowstorm feels like I'm in the middle of a snowglobe. I can't see more than a couple feet in front of me, and the world seems soft in the swirling snow.
It's easier to pile on layers of clothing to stay warm in frosty winter temperatures than it is to run through muggy, hot summer days.
Evidently there are lots of hardy women who feel the same as I do about running in the winter, because we ended up with almost 60 women in the first Training for More group in 2008. We included everyone who wanted to participate: women with running experience, women who planned to walk the race, women new to running, women who combined walking and running. There was no requirement for speed - just a desire to complete a half-marathon.
I'll be honest: I was astounded and shocked at the number of women who enthusiastically walked and ran over the 13-week training program. We developed a motto: there's no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing. We laughed our way through a sleet storm, smiled while we were buffeted by northerly winds, and rejoiced on the rare sunny, warm (anything above 32 degrees) days.
Before this running group I had always been a solo runner. I could fit a run inbetween work and taking care of the kids. I ran on my own schedule, at times that suited my family. Often I ran for the silence: no ringing telephone, no one asking me questions, no demands for my attention. Running was my time.
With the running group, I learned to revel in running with other women. You can learn a lot about each other while you run together week after week. We shared stories about our families, our work, the joys in our life. We leaned on each other through injuries, illness, job loss, and death. People in town would wave and honk as they passed us running along East Manchester road early on a weekend morning, a long line of 30 or more women watching our frosty breath fill the air.
When we ran our first half-marathon together in New York City, I was overwhelmed with emotion. Our group of 60 lined up at the back of thousands of women of all ages and shapes, ready to start our 13.1 mile journey. We encouraged each other to keep going, even when we felt tired. We waited in line at the porty-potties together so no one was left alone. We laughed at the flatlanders complaining about the hills in Central Park, and loudly compared the 'hills' to speed bumps. We cheered enthusiastically when each woman crossed the finish line, then engulfed her in hugs as the tears streamed down our faces.
On the bus ride to NYC we watched a video about the Hawaii Ironman triathlon, in awe at the man with two prosthetic legs, the 70+ year old woman, the young man who willed himself into shape after a terrible car accident, and the pro athlete who had a horrible day, yet continued to walk the final marathon portion of the race because how could he give up when so many other people continued on the course? Their stories fueled our determination.
On the bus ride back to Vermont after the race, we shared champagne and stories. Stories about the race and the fun we had in NYC. Stories about our training and how at times we didn't think we'd ever be able to run 6 miles, much less 13.1 miles. Stories about bruised feet and sore quads, along with stories about increased strength, decreased waistlines, and pride of accomplishment.
I initially thought we'd train for a half-marathon, go home, and that would be it. These women would have none of it - they wanted more. We trained for the Freihofer women's 5K and the local Maple Leaf half-marathon. We kept coming back each January, meeting friends and encouraging women new to the group - and often new to running - to join us. For three years 6 of us shared the experience of the Vermont 100 on 100 relay - a 100 mile relay race from Stowe to Okemo that started at 6am as the sun rose over the Green Mountains and ended at 10pm with headlamps and stars lighting our way. Last year 20 women trained for the inaugural Shires marathon and numerous groups of women have completed countless other races from 5K's to marathons to triathlons together.
Most of us didn't know anyone else in the group when we started. Now we stay in touch and plan to walk or run together, or go for a bike ride or swim, or travel to the Albany Fleet Feet store for new shoes, or spy each other's cars in town proudly sporting a 'runner girl' sticker. Even when I run by myself, someone slows down and waves, or lets me know later in the day they saw me out on the road.
Tomorrow we start the 5th year of Training for More, and I can't wait to find out what this year has in store for us!
Running with a headlamp in the dark before dawn gives me the opportunity to watch the sky turn from black to pink, see the sun start to shine on the top of Mt. Equinox, and imagine folks groggily waking up as I'm enjoying the cold air as I run down the road.
Running through a snowstorm feels like I'm in the middle of a snowglobe. I can't see more than a couple feet in front of me, and the world seems soft in the swirling snow.
It's easier to pile on layers of clothing to stay warm in frosty winter temperatures than it is to run through muggy, hot summer days.
Evidently there are lots of hardy women who feel the same as I do about running in the winter, because we ended up with almost 60 women in the first Training for More group in 2008. We included everyone who wanted to participate: women with running experience, women who planned to walk the race, women new to running, women who combined walking and running. There was no requirement for speed - just a desire to complete a half-marathon.
I'll be honest: I was astounded and shocked at the number of women who enthusiastically walked and ran over the 13-week training program. We developed a motto: there's no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing. We laughed our way through a sleet storm, smiled while we were buffeted by northerly winds, and rejoiced on the rare sunny, warm (anything above 32 degrees) days.
Before this running group I had always been a solo runner. I could fit a run inbetween work and taking care of the kids. I ran on my own schedule, at times that suited my family. Often I ran for the silence: no ringing telephone, no one asking me questions, no demands for my attention. Running was my time.
With the running group, I learned to revel in running with other women. You can learn a lot about each other while you run together week after week. We shared stories about our families, our work, the joys in our life. We leaned on each other through injuries, illness, job loss, and death. People in town would wave and honk as they passed us running along East Manchester road early on a weekend morning, a long line of 30 or more women watching our frosty breath fill the air.
When we ran our first half-marathon together in New York City, I was overwhelmed with emotion. Our group of 60 lined up at the back of thousands of women of all ages and shapes, ready to start our 13.1 mile journey. We encouraged each other to keep going, even when we felt tired. We waited in line at the porty-potties together so no one was left alone. We laughed at the flatlanders complaining about the hills in Central Park, and loudly compared the 'hills' to speed bumps. We cheered enthusiastically when each woman crossed the finish line, then engulfed her in hugs as the tears streamed down our faces.
On the bus ride to NYC we watched a video about the Hawaii Ironman triathlon, in awe at the man with two prosthetic legs, the 70+ year old woman, the young man who willed himself into shape after a terrible car accident, and the pro athlete who had a horrible day, yet continued to walk the final marathon portion of the race because how could he give up when so many other people continued on the course? Their stories fueled our determination.
On the bus ride back to Vermont after the race, we shared champagne and stories. Stories about the race and the fun we had in NYC. Stories about our training and how at times we didn't think we'd ever be able to run 6 miles, much less 13.1 miles. Stories about bruised feet and sore quads, along with stories about increased strength, decreased waistlines, and pride of accomplishment.
I initially thought we'd train for a half-marathon, go home, and that would be it. These women would have none of it - they wanted more. We trained for the Freihofer women's 5K and the local Maple Leaf half-marathon. We kept coming back each January, meeting friends and encouraging women new to the group - and often new to running - to join us. For three years 6 of us shared the experience of the Vermont 100 on 100 relay - a 100 mile relay race from Stowe to Okemo that started at 6am as the sun rose over the Green Mountains and ended at 10pm with headlamps and stars lighting our way. Last year 20 women trained for the inaugural Shires marathon and numerous groups of women have completed countless other races from 5K's to marathons to triathlons together.
Most of us didn't know anyone else in the group when we started. Now we stay in touch and plan to walk or run together, or go for a bike ride or swim, or travel to the Albany Fleet Feet store for new shoes, or spy each other's cars in town proudly sporting a 'runner girl' sticker. Even when I run by myself, someone slows down and waves, or lets me know later in the day they saw me out on the road.
Tomorrow we start the 5th year of Training for More, and I can't wait to find out what this year has in store for us!
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