Ground Rules

Today we ran the “skunk run,” only Mark “super” modified this, normally 4 mile, route to make it the schedule-dictated 3 mile run. I am the one who insists that a 5 mile run is not a hundredth short, and Mark is ensuring that we stick as close to the required mileage as possible. It’s a good check and balance system. I don’t mind too much.

Mark is a good running buddy because he knows the unwritten (until now) ground rules. I don’t say running partner; I like to think of my “running friends” as just that and no more. Mark knows me and my quirks well. We trained for our first marathons together – well, mostly together. I did my long runs with my husband and YaYa – but that is a story for another entry.

When I did my first marathon, there were several of us at my work who all trained together during the week. Of the five of us, who trained for Napa 2002, only three of us are still working there. Only Mark and I are still running. Here is the photo taken of us after the marathon for a story about us in the company newsletter.

From experience, Mark knows that at any time I will let him know that I need to run alone. He doesn’t take it personal. It happens regularly with me; I just need my alone fix. Running is like a meditation for me, and meditation is not a group thing.

Mark also knows that I race alone. He knows of at least one of my prior race experiences where I was challenged to focus. He doesn’t ever try to weasel in on that. We can go to the pasta feed together (or not), to the start together, and find eachother after the race. But stay away from me during the race. I need my space.

I dictate my training runs. I run my pace runs, mostly, by myself. I do speedwork on Wednesday and that’s just how it is. As for the long runs, I may or may not include Mark, or Cindy, or anyone else. I run my pace, and where I want. Stay with me if you want, or fall behind. It doesn’t matter. If I am feeling stinky, I won’t try to run your pace and if I am feeling exceptionally good I will charge ahead whether you follow or not.

Whew. I feel better now. I just had to get it out.