So as you may know I recently joined the local running club in Flagstaff. It has been very interesting to start running with a group. I have really liked the people that I have met thus far.
The running group, Team Run Flagstaff (TRF), hosts what they call Step into Running. It is a beginner program that takes someone who’s never ran to a runner in about 6 weeks. Typically they host this program in the spring and fall. They have asked those of us that are members to sign up to help with the group. We are there just to be supporters/encouragers. Not coaches.
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| At the Team Run Flagstaff Workout on Tuesday. It was rainy :) |
I convinced a coworker of mine to sign up for this program. She has wanted to get back into running for a while so I thought this may help. She was really excited about it! I told her that I would attend a few workouts with her also.
This last Thursday was their first practice. They had two groups “A” and “B”. I love that they never the words fast and slow! So basically the A group repeats running for 1 minute and walking for 1 minute for a total of 20 minutes and the B group repeats running for 2 minutes and walking for 1 minute for a total of 17 minutes. I signed up to help with the “A” group, as that was the one my coworker wanted to be in.
The first maybe ½ mile of the workout I ran with my coworker. It was a lot of fun just running and chatting with her but I felt as though I needed to breakaway from my comfort (just chatting with my coworker) and start encouraging the others that were in this group. So I drifted back in the pack…Most of the participants were already chatting with a volunteer. I was looking for someone that possibly was on his or her own.
I found two girls running together. You could tell they were friends and that they were working quite hard to keep up. I began chatting with those ladies as we were running. They were asking about “why do you run and walk” and “are my calves supposed to be burning”. I felt very honored to know how to respond to their questions and it was very humbling to remember how I used to feel when I started all of this.
Towards maybe the middle of the workout one of the girls had asked how long I had been running. At this point you could tell that she almost wanted to throw in the towel. I told her that I’d been running for just about a year now but only with the club, TRF, for a few months. I also told her that I had lost about 70 lbs in that year. Immediately, you could see her face light up. I wanted to give her a reason to keep going and thought that might help.
The questions then started pouring in. it was so awesome that both of them took interest in it. They ended up completing the run and took tired but accomplished. I hope to see them next week! They are going to do awesome if they stick with it!
Some things just touch my heart. I feel so compelled to “pay it forward”. I have been so blessed getting my health and life back and I feel as though I need to help others do the same. I hope that my story can help these ladies and maybe one of you. I consider myself an open book. If you have any questions, please let me know. You don’t have to do something crazy like sign up for a running group to get started you just need to start doing something.
“The difference between a goal and a dream is a deadline.” – Steve Smith
