Clubbin' for 55:20

Non-runner Nancy hosted yet another race today--the 10k on the 10th: Virtual Club Run--and as I had an unusually not-so-good week in work and running, I was beyond motivated to go out there and put in a decent 10k this morning. I'd been crazy productive with writing all week, yet an unbelievable bonk-head at running. I was forced to take walking breaks on both short runs this week, and Thursday was a first I'd rather not have had: 3 walking breaks in 4 miles. Humidity? General fatigue? Allergies? I don't know, but I felt like I left my stamina with my shirt and shoes at the marathon.

So I invited some company for my 10k to make sure I wouldn't make it a 3-fer in bonking. A good DFMC friend made the trek out to Westford this morning and was perfect company for the 10k, albeit a bit agog at the hills on our route. I picked our course because it was the most rural, though out here, that sorta translates to most hilly. But I bet she doesn't often have to run around roosters milling around the road in Wellesley, so I considered it a "destination race" for her.

We had a great time rehashing the marathon and discussing the 9 miles or so of it that we didn't run together. We're both contemplating our next races, too, so it was good to talk about what's on deck. We did the 10k in 55:20, which amounted to about an 8:55 pace--neither of our best performances, but I think our bodies are still tired from the marathon, even though the soreness is gone.

Here's the great thing, though. I have always been an introvert--like off the charts on the Myers-Briggs. And running has been the only way to crack open that shell. I have made such good friends and developed a social side I never knew I had from an activity I got into precisely because it was a form of exercise that would accommodate my shyness. It's a sport that requires no people for an amateur, but it's the only outlet I've discovered to be most comfortable, most myself, and most happy when with others than alone. Funny that.

Whether it's through the blog, a virtual club run (huge thanks to Nancy for another one), or through a team, I am so grateful to have found such good people.

Enough sap. Tomorrow I'll go back to the riveting details of my phlegm output while running.