Next Thursday, May 15 is Calgary Roadrunners Club Night.
This is a monthly event when we go for a nice social run by the river starting promptly at 6:30, and then gather upstairs at the Key West Bar & Grill downtown for supper. Newcomers and regulars welcome.
“I caught a cold”
“My dog ate my shorts”
One of the frustrating things about following along in a learn to run group is that not only do the individuals come from different fitness levels and backgrounds, they develop and improve physically and mentally at different rates.
“I don’t want to hold anyone else back”
“I don’t know anyone who goes my pace”
Add to that a week or two of suffering through a bout of flu, or a particularly stressful, overtime-laden week of work, or a family crisis, and suddenly the group is running 9 minutes at a time when you’re back struggling with 3’s & 1’s. Hey, wait up!
“I just ate a burrito”
“I haven’t eaten yet”
There are so many obstacles that can get in the way of building running into your routine. What has kept you from getting out this spring?
“My GPS/mp3/watch battery died”
“It’s too hot/cold/wet/dry/hilly/flat/far/sunny/cloudy/windy/slippery/hard…”
Now, flip that thought, and think to yourself, “What will I (or have I) overcome in my quest to build regular running into my life?”
“My (insert body part of choice here) aches”
“The jogging stroller pulls to the left on Thursdays”
Write it down. Then bring your written excuses or obstacles, however big or small, and trade them in for a group run, free of charge, on Thursday, May 29, 2008. Meet at the Edworthy North Parking lot at the south end of Shaganappi Trail, at the picnic table south of the bathroom building, at 6:30 PM.
Various distances/paces will be assigned, depending on the creative, enormous, serious, humourous nature of the excuses. Even if you can only run 30 seconds, come. We’ll have some fun, and run.
Stepping outside the door, especially in this week’s weather (yes, I know it’s April) is winning more than half the battle when it comes to running. Earlier this week a couple of our new Penguins were not sure about coming out to run on potentially very slippery terrain, due to the snow and re-frozen ice. Here is my response:
“If you were experienced cross country runners with proper trail shoes, I would definitely encourage you to come out and run on terrain like today’s.
You’re not.
Yet 
Still, I would probably show up and walk, with some running thrown in where the path is clear. When spring finally does come, this experience will make you so much more grateful for solid ground and “just a little rain”.
It will do you good to get out there, meet the die-hards, support each other, and set Tuesday nights into your routine, even if it means a 20 minute brisk walk and a coffee afterwards. Last night only one person from my Learn to Run class showed up. We went out for a 20 minute walk and it turned into 40, with some trotting involved.
Showing up is more than half the battle. Once you decide to do that, the rest comes along with it.”
Here is a response I received later:
“Just wanted to say that I really enjoyed the run yesterday and I’m grateful for all of the encouragement! Thanks!”
It made my day.
While I’m here, I need to pass on a hilarious post from an American runner. She’s not in Calgary, but she’s got an amazing story, and I know you’ll enjoy her funny advice on How to Run Fartleks.
If anyone who is reading this is doing the Police Half Marathon this Sunday, I wish you my best. Watch out for the snow at the bottom of the hill heading into the Weaselhead, and remember when you’re heading up the hill out of the park:
“You only have to run it once.”
Have a great weekend!
When you’re showing up for a group run with other new runners, keep in mind:
We often receive e-mails from inspired new runners who are ready to take the next step and try a run or two with our Team Penguin, especially in the spring. Unfortunately, the Penguins are not currently a group who meets as consistently as one might assume.
It gets a little complicated from here, but bear with me - there is hope.
There are some challenges in maintaining consistency in a “group” of newbies, in that if they’re all new, they haven’t bonded as group yet, and it’s kind of like herding cats. They come out when they want, run whatever pace they can manage, and hide when it threatens to rain.
New runners who persist in returning week after week do see substantial results in becoming happier, sometimes faster, runners over a fairly short time, with the added benefit of being able to develop supportive friendships with others who are doing the same. The challenge then is that it becomes hard for more new runners, who are often slower and less confident, to join them.
It’s a vicious cycle.
In addition to inspiration and commitment, timing is a vital part of a beginning group’s success. If too few participants have the time to attend consistently, it still falls apart.
Usually I and one or two other stubborn, speed-optional type souls show up and run a modified version of the 10k group’s workout, with or behind the 10k group on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but at present I’ve been teaching a Learn to Run class with the North Tech Shop, and am committed to that until mid-May.
Hang in there, because here’s that hope I promised you earlier:
You don’t have to wait until May!
Come out to the Edworthy Park north parking lot at the south end of Shaganappi Trail at 6:25 pm, April 15, 2008 and meet some beginning (or chronically beginning) runners like yourself.
Membership is not necessary for the first few trial runs, and even then, it costs less than most learn to run clinic registrations. Drop me a line in the comments section or through the Team Penguin contact link if you’d like more information.
Still having a little trouble getting out the door? Perhaps you’d rather not commit to paying for a clinic yet, but would like to try running with a group? You can do that, even if you’re a beginner.
Many running stores have “free nights”, where you can run with the groups even if you haven’t committed to a class. Call ahead and ask the staff if there’s a beginner’s group or class with which you can tag along.
Check out these group runs below:
North Calgary
South Calgary
If you know of any other groups we should list here, let me know in the comments and I’ll be happy to add them in.
The first couple of years in my running life I stopped and started over several times, until it “took”. Eventually I realized that if I kept starting over more and more often, I’d be continuing.
There are many times, still, when I just have to “start” as I lace up my shoes and get out the door. The rest of the run follows as I get into it, but I wouldn’t get out there if I didn’t start and start and start over and over again.
Keep starting!
An emerging runner asked me this week “When does it become easy?”
I’ve been rummaging through my memories of my early running years (I’m an adult onset athlete), trying to remember when some runs, in between the hard ones, felt “easy”. I do experience easy runs now, often in fact, but I wonder if my definition of easy has changed since I began.
Answering this question is tougher than I thought. In fact, it brought on more questions:
I’d love to see your answers in the comments, or answer it on your own blog, if you have one. In the meantime, I’ll work on my answers, too.
When I began my first running program I found it helpful to keep a simple log to track my progress. I penciled in the dates and the program assignments into a paper notepad, leaving space to log the experience. After each run I’d note basic information such as:
By the time I picked up my first race package I had a great reference and record of how much I’d improved - inspiring! In addition to the confidence boost, I had developed a very personalized resource which helped me know what to eat, wear and bring for races and group runs.
Using the log with a running program showed me how to do the math in setting my own realistic short and long term goals. Keeping track of my progress as well as my setbacks also helped me to understand where in future endeavours I might give myself some wiggle room for illness or injury prevention/recovery, or even outside influences like work cycles or family traditions.
For instance, I might to build in an extra recovery week after a particularly long run if I notice that certain distances are a particular challenge to my body. I know from looking back at my records that certain times of the year involve more personal challenges with time commitment, motivation, or weather, so I try different things to get myself out the door.
Need a little help getting off the couch? Is your “run a 5k in 2008″ resolution gathering dust? Maybe committing to a clinic with an instructor, a set schedule and some built-in camaraderie can help. Starting now can help you to be ready to take in Calgary’s beautiful pathways and take on some fun races this summer.
The Tech Shop North and South still have a little room in their beginner’s clinics, geared for May’s Mother’s Day race. They’re heading into their 4th week of training, but depending on your experience, you might still be able to give it a go.
Strides Running Store has a couple of new clinics starting this week and next. Check them out and let them help you get to a start line this spring.
