I’ve mentioned before that what I miss most about not being able to run marathons anymore is not the race, but the long training runs. I LOVED those runs and referred to them as a party on the trail. When else can you have that much uninterrupted time with your friends? Long training runs were such a staple of my Saturday mornings for so many years that I felt lost when suddenly my long runs were rarely longer than ten miles.
A couple of days ago, I learned that some of my friends were heading to Point of Rocks, Maryland to run fourteen miles on the C&O Canal. Cue my sad face. I love running on the C&O Canal. It’s packed dirt and gravel, it’s situated between the Potomac River and the canal, it’s pretty flat, mostly shaded, and it’s lovely.
Not sure that I could manage fourteen miles and not wanting to hold my friends back if I couldn’t keep their pace, and certainly not wanting to get up at zero dark thirty to be able to meet them in Maryland for a 5 AM start (it’s a half hour drive to get there), I passed. I knew that I would be missing out on a lot of fun, happy chatter, and at least a few shenanigans, but hey, I’m a big girl and I can handle a little disappointment here and there!
Photo credit: Erin
Don’t feel too sorry for me though; I still had a 6 AM date with these lovely ladies at our nearby trail! After slightly over-stretching my back in yoga yesterday afternoon and still feeling an odd pain this morning, I decided to show up for my run, try to run, and walk back to my car if necessary.
Despite the 75° and super high humidity, I fell into a decent pace with two ladies I’d never met and another I’d only run with briefly on a previous Saturday. We ran out the trail for three miles chatting away until two of the ladies turned to finish their six-mile run. The other runner, Allison, and I continued on for two more miles for ten miles total. Even though we’re over twenty years apart in age, we learned quickly that we have a lot in common besides loving to run. We are both Virginia Tech alumnae and we’re both boy moms! Conversation flowed easily and before we knew it, we’d finished ten miles – something neither of us would have probably done without the other.
Did I have a great run? Heck yeah!
Did I make some new friends? Of course!
Did I miss my other running friends? You bet!
Did I leave the trail without an ounce of self pity left in me? Absolutely!
Will I get other little twinges of envy when my running buddies go on their long runs as training for their fall marathons continue? Yes, but if I’m lucky I can join them for a few miles here or there, and if I can’t join them, I now have even more running friends to train with. The thing that I must keep in mind is that I’m a part of a huge and very active MRTT chapter filled with lots of incredibly nice women, and there’s almost always someone ready to log a few miles. 🙂
Oh, and my back – how did it feel? I didn’t even notice it!
- Questions:
- What causes pity parties for you?
- How hot is it where you live?
- Who raced this morning or is racing tomorrow?
I love my saturday morning long runs with my BRF- when we miss one it does cause a frown :(. You are lucky to have such a big group- I need one here!
Mary Beth Jackson recently posted…Come ZOOMA with ME! Cape Cod is on!
Same here, and yes, I know I’m lucky to have so many different running friends!
oh gosh. I had major 26.2 envy last fall. Granted, I had done Grandma’s in June, and the 6-hour ultra in July (and I know my body needed some recovery time), but I was green with envy none-the -less. Having done two previous fall marathons, it felt like something was missing from my “usual” fall calendar. Even though I did a few half marathons, I really missed those long training runs. Crazy, huh!
Kimberly Hatting recently posted…Rest, Recovery, and Reflections aplenty
Race envy is real!
It’s very hard for me to find people who run as slowly as I do. I seem to be going through a dry spell with running buddies. 🙁
Judy @ Chocolaterunsjudy recently posted…Light at the end of the tunnel?: 7/18-24 Weekly Wrap
I wish you lived nearby! I have a client who I’d love to match up with you. Her running buddy moved to Maryland and now she’s looking for a new one. I don’t think she’s as committed to running as you, and you’d be a great influence!
I am glad that went well for you! I love it when you are “having fun” on your run and before you know it, you are done.
Zenaida Arroyo recently posted…2016 Chicago Marathon Training Week 7
Thanks! I always say that the road (or trail) seems shorter when shared with a friend. 🙂