Finding a good groove

The participants and coaches we have at PIM are just a tremendously FUN bunch of folks. It is as true as it ever has been...The Houston running community is just made up of some seriously classy, fun, warm, friendly people. We had such a great run last night. I ran with one of the guys I'm coaching who is about my size. Actually, he's about what used to be my size, about 35 pounds ago. Anyway, this guy has been doing his workouts, attending on Wednesday nights, and has just come a long way. I won't mention his name since this is public and I don't have his permission but I'm telling you, this man is determined. Cool story...we started our 3x8run/2walk with an 8 minute run. Mind you, these are new runners, never run before, the farthest they've ever run before without stopping was last week and that was 5 minutes. This week, 8 minutes sounded daunting to most in my group. Anyway, we started running, me and J, and I made sure we kept a conversational effort and talked and just ran easy. Anyway, my Garmin went off and I looked at J and said, "Did you know you just ran 8 minutes without stopping?" J got this HUGE smile on his face and asked me if I was kidding. I said, "No, I'm not kidding." He couldn't believe it.

I'm really trying to stress with the new runners that running isn't all about pain and side stitches and gasping for air. It can be fun and easy. I told J that there will be a time for pain. It's called the Cinco de Mayo 5K. :) But that the bulk of your training right now should be easy runs at a conversational effort. I think this is physiologically beneficial but it's also psychologically necessary for new runners to realize that they CAN do this. They CAN run and see improvement. This has been so rewarding for me to have even the smallest part in these peoples', these friends' lives and to see them get off the couch and make a change in their life. I get WAY more out of them than they get out of me as a coach.

My ankle is really starting to stop feeling bad. I've been running moderately and consistenly and doing my exercises for my peroneals and I think the plan is starting to take shape. I started wearing some more comfortable shoes to work and I think that has helped too.

I had 4 Four the Park on my radar but I just don't think I'm up for racing yet. Easy does it until this summers' Heights 5K. Until then, I'm doing the best therapy I could possibly do for my ankle. That's to keep losing weight.