When Emmett suggested that I may want to contribute to an article, I had two thoughts: one, being new and wanting to carry my own weight (which had risen dramatically over the years), I thought it wise. Two, I don’t know as much as you other folks about running successfully. What would others want to hear from someone who has never run “fast?” Or regularly? For the past several years, I have been a “non-runner” more than a “runner.” In fact, upon arriving that first January night (gee, has it been THAT long?) at Limerick’s, I asked if this “was the jogging group?” and was told vehemently, it was a “runner’s group!”
Years ago, I remember someone being asked, “How far are you jogging?” --”I’m not a jogger – I AM A RUNNER!” was the correction. --”If you are a runner, then why are you jogging?!?”
Well, whatever group it was and whatever ambulation was occurring, I enjoyed it. And just like those reformed drunks in AA say I keep coming back because it “works if you work it and don’t if you won’t.” Another analogy from 12 Stepping is “fake it ‘til you make it!”
I realize, as a runner, I am a fraud. A 7-minute mile is beyond my reach. It is not probable for a fat guy to move that quickly. But, while Khoury diners see a chubby older fellow struggling along, I see Alberto Salazar flying along the waterfront! Perhaps one day the two visions will merge a bit closer!
I think life can be enjoyed more with new perspective coming from new experience. I had run along Marina Drive before, but never in the dark (closet nictophobe) and it seemed odd, yet adventurous. At 6:30pm, I wasn’t watching Dan Rather, I was RUNNING IN THE DARK WITH A RUNNER’S GROUP! Just being in the collective seemed strange. In 25 years of running and “non-running,” I’ve never run with a fun-run group. It was always the loneliness of the long distance runner for me. As a single person again, I’d had enough of the isolation. Just riding trail IN THE GROUP felt pretty good, as did the Guinness afterward (fat bad, “stout” good). In fact, I enjoyed it so much that, the next night, I ran with that “other group” (albeit briefly… only water).
After 25 years of doing something unsuccessfully, I am ready to change my wicked ways: How do you all keep running? How do you become faster? How come you’re not limping? How do you not let running become obsessive? How come a lot of you “hash?” How come Limerick’s doesn’t have Murphy’s? The answers to these questions will surface in time, but meanwhile, I am enjoying these jogging…er, running sessions along with the beer and the bread.
So what’s the point of these ramblings? Perhaps some insight into the mentality of a NEW “old” runner. It’s my impression that AREC would like to grow – cohesively – with new members. For what it’s worth, this has been my experience so far. Now, when is that Jimmy Stewart race and what’s the course record?