Establishing The Pace
I met up with my five running partners (pace-pushers). These women are all older than me. You’d think I’d have an advantage. No way! They are part of the ultra marathon crowd. That distance both intimidates and taunts me. They run 30-100 mile races. I understand the whole endurance sport, having done a couple of Ironman Triathlons. However, I just can’t fathom being on my feet for up to 24 hours for one of those ultra marathons. If I could check into a little hotel – of which there are none on those courses – and put my feet up for about 3 hours I could see that distance as somewhat more attractive. For now, I’ll hang on to their training pace on our Saturday runs and log on to find out their race results. But today we had some business to take care of – a fast 12 mile run.
After we made our last visit to the port-o-potty (because women after having babies=NO bladder control) we started out at a comfortable warm up pace and by the first half mile I knew I was going to be okay today. I chatted with Liz for about 3 miles and then at a stream crossing I switched and paired up with Judy through some tall narrow grasses. Each of us switched off and took the lead at certain times througout the run.
Feeding off Each Other for Strength
There was an unspoken law that the one feeling the best would step forward and push the pace while the others would be off her shoulder keeping stride. It was obvious that some were hurting more than others at times. I know that there was no way I could have held on without those women to drive me up the hills and encourage me. I know that I offered them the same. We were all drawing on the power of tandem (when a group works together) running.
The success that I experienced and the speed that I was able to pull off was not soley because of my physical training. There was a huge mental aspect that John Hanc wrote about in his article Team In Training.
Hanc wrote:
One Rat, Bill Gironda, began training with the group in the late 1980s. The longer he’s run with them, the better he’s run: Two years ago, at 46, he clocked a 16:54 5-K. The following year, he ran a 1:19 half-marathon. Both were personal bests. Running with the group, Gironda says, “makes workouts easier. You feed off each other.”
So it was for me. The run was hard, but not as impossible as it would have been had I been alone. I also enjoyed the social aspect that made the time and hills fly by. So, as much as I may kick and scream, I will still make it to the trail head for my Saturday group runs.
If you’ve experience the power of collaboration, group training – fitness or otherwise – add it here. I’d love to know your story.
Best of Energy!
Ashley Mahaffey