Marathon friends are the best

I got to Fleet Feet Saturday morning ready to run more this week than I did last week. Fran and Bobbie kept me going. Here comes the mushy part: If you don't have someone you're running with on these long runs, get to know someone and run with them. I couldn't have done any of the long runs, short runs, or two marathons by myself. I think about all of the wonderful friends I've made in just the last two years who would do anything for me. Well, almost anything. Last year, when I got the teaching job at Richland, Carol, Sally, and Hallie didn't hesitate meeting me at 5am instead of six on Tues/Thurs. so I could run before school. Last Saturday's run was really enjoyable; not because of the running, not because of the scenery or the hills, but because I got to run with Bobbie and Fran. Fran and her husband, Andy ran most of Chicago with me last year. What a fun time we had; from singing Happy Birthday to my Mom in B'ham via cell phone to seeing all of the old people in the windows of a retirement home waving and cheering us on. These are things the three of us will never forget. Find someone that goes your speed and strike up a conversation. You'll probably find out you know some of the same people or have some of the same interests. Heck, the whole group has one thing in common; we're all crazy for training and running a marathon. Yeah, there are times I like running, just my itunes Slvr phone and me, but most of the time it's the people you run with that make this experience so enjoyable.
The ten miles was good, but the hills toward the end were hard. I was ready for it to be over by the time we got back to Fleet Feet. It's a nice route. I met Sally and Carol yesterday for four plus miles. I can tell the running is getting easier, but I have a ways to go. Hope everyone has a great run this Saturday. Remember, run your own race and don't over do.