Why I need my running group

Since I can only run so far with only myself as company, I've been doing my long runs with my buddies at Fleet Feet. Last weekend, we ran 12 miles, wandering around Algonquin Park and back by the zoo. Though I finished, I spent the majority of the run wanting - nay, hoping - that I would puke. The previous night's dinner (babah ganoush, fatoush, and falafel from this awesome, cheap joint around the corner) kept coming back to visit. I've eaten this same combination many times before (and several times the night before a run), but this time, it did not like me. Needless to say, I was praying that this week's run would go better.

And for me, at least, it did. For poor Kara (Howard's daughter), it did not. Our merry group set off (this time to cut through the park and then meander down Frankfort Ave), but by the time we got to the first mile, something cramped up in Kara's side and would not let go. She dropped back, and rejoined us at a water fountain a mile and a half or so later. Ben was keeping pace with Donna and Harry, and Howard had a girl named Sara to talk to, so I decided to drop back with Kara.

It took about 8 miles for whatever was bugging Kara to finally go away, and by then, even though we had talked about cutting the run short (to about 10 instead of 12), we were so far out it was at least 4 miles back to the store. We had a system going - any time we saw a red light ahead, we'd go ahead and walk, since we'd have to stop and wait once we got there anyway. We'd take a little longer to start running after each time our gang regrouped to map out the next section of the run. We'd stop to look at houses for sale (Ben and I are going to be putting our house on the market soon). Any reason we could find for a 15 second walk break, we took it (see what you missed, Debi?). It was glorious. At first, Kara encouraged me to go on, keep running, she'd catch up. She didn't seem to understand - Walk? Oh, no. Don't make me walk. I *hate* walking - but quickly caught on. We then spent the rest of the run looking at clothes in store windows as we ran by, standing up taller when male runners passed, and in general being catty because we could be.

So even though it was cold and windy, I was tired, and Kara was in pain, we still managed to have a good run. And we even got our 12 miles in.