Positive Results by Sabrina

Run clubs aren’t just for running. At least not the good ones. Run clubs can be where you finally meet the people who share your same interests, habits and obsessions. But the only way to know that you’ve finally found your tribe is to have time to actually talk to the people you’re sweating and panting beside. When the running endorphins are high is often when we have the best conversations. The time after run club is a great time to catch up with the friends that you literally couldn’t catch up with during the run. I don’t always get to hang out after our run club meetings because I usually have to get my Assistant Coach home for her bath and bedtime but sometimes I get to relax with my friends and the vibes are awesome.

We talk about upcoming races, past trials and tribulations, as every good runner will. We want to hear about the race on your shirt. We want to hear about your favorite races and your traumatic experiences. We talk about all the crazy things you’ve talked other runners into doing because sometime in the past someone talked you into things too. “How exactly does someone decide that running 100 miles against a clock is a good idea?”  We talk about hat collections and ambassador programs. What fuel works for you and what makes you sick. What life traumas brought you to running and what demons have you abolished. Chafing and blisters and dehydration, hallucinations and passing out at finish lines. Very few topics are off limits when you’re with the best, most adventurous people you know.

We also talk about the joys of running that we can’t feel anywhere else. If you read my last blog about Trail and Long Run Therapy, I referenced the connections that we build while on long runs and compared it to the intoxicated conversations friends may have while drinking with each other. This conversation came up again a few times. The endorphins of a long run and the release of inhibitions that come from drinking may have similar freeing effects on your personality but which one is going to lead to lasting friendships and actions you’ll still remember tomorrow? Conversely, the challenges that we come up with while intoxicated by alcohol are not generally the same challenges that we issue while experiencing a runners high, lol.

We also talked about the amazing range of emotions we feel so many athletes are missing out on. For whatever reason, many athletes are hitting the streets with just their shoes and their egos. They’re running every run as hard as they can and ending up exhausted and injured. They don’t know the joy of running. Running with friends. Running and laughing. Running and discovering new joys, passions and environments. The temporary ego boost they get from knowing they ran a little faster today than yesterday is soon to be replaced with aches, pains and fear for how slowly the pain of this new injury will pass. Instead of looking forward to their next group out, they’re mourning the experiences while in recovery, yet again.

One of the first things I teach as a Coach is the importance of slowing down. This is not new knowledge. It’s something every coach knows. Especially those of us who received our certifications from 80/20 Endurance. 80 % of your workouts throughout the week should be EASY. Only 20 % should be moderate to hard. If you’re running three times a week and running each mile as hard as you can, you’re missing out on so much, not the least of which is the opportunity for your body to recover. When you slow down and look at the beauty around you, you could develop a completely different relationship with running and with yourself. This is the important part.

Do you run at conversational pace? Can you sing your favorite song while running? Can you sip water while running or do you have to come to a stop? These are questions that come up when you’re considering a longer race but they’re also important for you to consider if your goal is simply to build your long term endurance. If you’re consistently running at a pace that leaves you out of breath and limits you to ‘yes’, ‘no’ answers, you’re running too hard.

Have you ever intentionally run with a friend that was slower than you? (PS if you’re interested in a group run specifically designed for everyone to run at party pace, over a 12 min/mile pace, TOGETHER, let me know. We’re scheduling one!) When you run at a pace that is conversational for you and possibly a push for your friend, you’re opening the door to so many possibilities. You may find a kindred spirit that you’ve been missing out on. You could be the source of encouragement that they needed to keep showing up for public events and keep pursuing their goals. You could be the motivation they need to keep working. Speaking for many of the back-of-the-pack runners I know, when someone chooses to slow down and run at our speed, our hearts are opened to the possibilities of new friendships, we’re often thankful for the company and we’re reminded that we’re not invisible. You may find the missing piece to your friend puzzle, the professional connection you’ve been seeking or the answer to some of your internal struggles. These are not random examples. These are collected connections that I’ve seen over the last few years.

Running saves lives. Running bridges gaps. Running helps many of us regulate our moods while working to maintain our mental and physical health. Running keeps you looking ahead, even if it’s one day at a time. “I have a long run tomorrow. So that means I have to feed myself well today. I have to drink more water and I’m not going to drink any alcohol.” “I ran this morning. So that means I have to feed myself well today. I have to drink more water and I’m too tired to drink any alcohol.” This is the only thing that has kept many people I know sober, healthy and alive. If this is what it takes to keep you healthy today and looking forward to tomorrow, hold on to it. Running is here for you. We’re here for you! Keep going.