Know Thy Enemy

Yeah, I'll admit it. In my admittedly brief so far running career, I've never trained with a group. I'm not part of Team In Training (anyone else giggle when pondering why they are never abbreviated?), I've not signed up for the Sportsbackers marathon training team, nor have I joined the YMCA 10k training team. Maybe I'm a loner. Maybe I don't like being around a bunch of sweaty, smelly, snot blowing strangers. Honestly, other than in races, I've never run with a "group" (defined as being more than 5 people), and to be brutally honest, I usually run with a "small group" for just a few minutes til they speed up and disappear into the distance. Solo runner am I! I've learned to entertain myself, motivate myself, and I always read those "you should be running at a pace where you are able to carry on a conversation" training plans with curiosity, as I have no idea how to talk to someone else while running. That's NOT the way I roll, thank you very much.

HOWEVER, two of the girls are repeat coaches for the Sportsbackers Richmond Marathon Training team. PINK NATION, of course! From what they tell me, it's an awesome program, and I highly encourage anyone who doesn't have that support and accountability network to sign up for one of these groups. The coaches are there to make sure that everyone learns how to prepare themselves, has a good time, feels empowered, and will successfully cross the finish line at the end of their chosen distance. It really seems to be the love and support that I get from the girls, just times 200 more smelly, sweaty runners.

Anyway, back to me (DUH!) With my selfishness, I've been really jealous of the Pink Nation MTT as it's been taking "my" coaches away from ME! Strangely enough, they've been choosing to run long runs on Sunday mornings with those Pink creatures, rather than Saturdays with me. They've been skipping Tuesday speed work at the track cause they have a full schedule with the Pinkies. What's up with THAT? Don't they know that our friendship is a one-way street with all the benefit coming to me? Harumph. This has to stop!

I'm sure that in the "Art of War", that Japanese prince guy says something about having to know your enemy in order to defeat him. So in order to defeat, nay DESTROY the evil Pink Nation (don't they sound like some terrorist clan?), I must learn more about them. I do not have the nerve to actually sign up with them, but I must have a reconnaissance mission. How to do that? How to DO that? OOOH! I know! I will volunteer and be able to observe the evil Pink Nation in their normal activities, and they will pay me no mind as I gather what I need to defeat them! Bwah ha ha ha haaaa!

Today was the day. Today I would volunteer at a SAG stop for the MTT and learn what I would need to defeat them and return the girls to their proper position -- 100% my personal dedicated coaches. (I got an "Unsatisfactory" in sharing in Kindergarten, not that you cared, thank you very much)

With fellow Girl Dee at the helm, and her husband B as a decoy, we loaded up and set off to mile 12 on Forest Hill Ave to be a SAG stop. Dee & B brought the tent, iPod, decorations, pink disguises, and balloons. There was even a last minute stop at Starbucks to bring a BOX OF COFFEE. Through this, I would find their weakness and bring this madness to a stop.

Things were set up, and I was thankful for the tent due to the persistent drizzle / light rain. After cheering on some completely random runners who happened to be coming down Forest Hill Ave at the right time, the first official MTT runners appeared down the sidewalk. Things got busy as we kept the disco music playing, PowerAde and water flowing, and the Starbucks shots slammed. "Seriously? You've got STARBUCKS?!?!?!" As the morning went on, and the runners came through, I found my stern resolve and bitterness starting to fade as the gratitude and cheeriness of people who had run 12 miles in the rain and had 8 more to go more than made up for the lack of sunlight. These people are cool like me! I even met my other loyal blog reader and got a hug!

So now I have repented, seen the light, and been converted to the idea of training with a large group. Everyone was having a great time, and there's something to be said for the idea of meeting people with water, PowerAde, gummis, pretzels, and maybe even some Starbucks coffee while on your long runs. There was even one exchange where a woman gave her car key to another runner guy who was unable to finish the route due to injury. He drove her car back to the stadium, and he'd never met her before in his life -- as she was handing him her car key, she said "I guess I ought to at least know your name". That's part of the power of MTT. What were total strangers a couple of months ago now are united in a common bond and a common goal. They still may not know each others names, but with that bond, they are no longer strangers. (And he looked surprisingly happy as he drove off in a turquoise Miata with a breast cancer license plate.) Bungee cords from the back of B's truck were used for an impromptu stretching station for people with IT band issues. It was a big happy party in the parking lot of a restaurant, and the drunk woman who came out looking for a hug from girl Dee at 10 am only added to the festive party atmosphere.

Now I understand how I can see people out for runs without being weighed down with gallons of water and gels. THEY GOT PEOPLE WHO GOT THEIR BACK. People like me, today. And that makes today a happy sunshine day, regardless of the weather.

Maybe there's MTT or an equivalent in my future, after all! Go Pink Nation! Go MTT!

PS When we returned to the stadium, there was the turquoise Miata in a parking spot waiting for the female owner to run in) So we have closure there, too!