Sisterhood + Ron

Those that like running and have found a group of people to run with, probably feel the same that I feel about my running buddies.

A couple years ago, when I joined my first running clinic, I did not know anyone from the running world. Up to that point I was a solitary runner. I remember when people were introducing themselves we all looked at each other with this curious, head to toe look. Who are these people? Are they nice? Are they experienced runners?

Since you end up seeing them three times a week for 4 month in a row, plus the fact that you have to run next to them, there is no way out of a minimal conversation. After the first couple months you start getting this familiarity feeling that leads to deeper conversations. And one day, after running for a couple of hours, you realize you have opened yourself to this stranger and it actually felt really good. You also realize that this person you have been running with has just told you something very private. You keep running. There is no space for judging, just listening.

My running days are my therapeutic days. I get to vent, to talk about stupid things, to listen to similar stories, to laugh.

We have been running together three days a week for almost 2 years, non-stop. We feel so comfortable with each other, and we know each other so well, that we can’t wait to start talking, listening or just running next to one another.

I can say I belong to a sisterhood of runners + Ron: Laura, Melanie, Andy, Teena and Ron are my people, my therapists and my friends. I feel blessed to know them and to be part of their lives.



My Animal Lover Note: 

Too Responsible

I can’t believe what running has done to me. It has become a staple in my life and it gives me as much (or even more) pleasure as other fun things that I love to do. I rarely go out dancing. Last night I went with a bunch of friends to a Salsa concert. I love dancing and I love Latin music. The event started at 8:00pm with great dancing music. We danced non-stop until midnight. But by midnight, the Salsa singer had not come out yet. At that time I was already getting worried because, according to my math, I should be back home by 1:00am to be able to have some decent hours of sleep before my 18k Sunday morning run. The singer decided to start singing at 1:00am! That was not part of my plan. So we stayed for 3 songs and around 1:20 we left. I was not tired but my conscious kept telling me, “you are running 18k tomorrow, you have to sleep, and you have to rest.”

By the time we got home, ate something and got ready for bed it was 2:30am. Some of my friends stayed there until the end and got home around 4:00am.

What I really wanted to do: stay until the end and then go to The Naam (vegetarian/vegan restaurant, open 24/7) for an early morning breakfast.

What I did: Left the actual concert basically when it started, went straight home and to bed.

How I feel today: I am glad I chose option number two because, even though I was tired, I was able to do my 18k run without any inconveniences, and every time I finish these long runs I feel sooooo good.

So being too responsible is good. Loving running as much, or even more, than staying on a pretty cool Salsa concert is good too.

My Animal Lover Note:

Commitment

This morning, when I arrived to my regular bootcamp class, one of the ladies I train with asked me why I was already all sweaty. I told her I had just finished my speed work out. She was very surprised that I had already been working out for an hour previous to the class, especially on Thanksgiving Day.

This is the kind of things you do when you are committed to something. I know among professional athletes this is part of their daily life, but it is not the case among normal, common people. I have seen that when someone is not committed to a sport, or does not have a specific fitness goal, they just find it a little extravagant when someone is very responsible with their workouts.

I had to double up my training to day because, due to work related activities, I won’t be able to do the speed work out on Wednesday night. I knew I had to, somehow, make up for it. It worked out perfect today because I had the time and Ron was able to run with me and guide me on the workout.

When I finished my bootcamp class I was leg-exhausted but happy and proud. Next Wednesday, when I can’t make it to my regular training, I won’t feel bad because I already did it.

I have learned that every little thing you do towards your goal makes a big difference at the end. I already have a goal for my next half marathon race. I want to run it in 2 hours. I know it is going to be hard, and who knows if I can make it, but one thing I know for sure: I will train as hard as I can to reach my goal, and I will enjoy the journey as much as I will enjoy the race because what proves that I am a good runner is not my time on race day but my level of commitment during my training.

My Animal Lover Note: Yesterday I went to the Langley Herbivores Thanksgiving potluck. This one was the biggest one I have ever been to. 40 people shared their vegan food and warmth with each other. The food was amazing. We had all the regulars but in a vegan, compassionate version. No turkey or any other animal were killed or harmed during the preparation of this dinner.

18K Destination Run

Today Ron, Mel and I headed to Vancouver for our 18K run. We were very lucky with the weather. It was a sunny and warm fall day. I always get very excited when I have ahead a new route to discover. This time we decided to run on the scenic sea wall, from Jericho Beach to Science World and back. For those who don’t know (I was one of them until today), there is a trail that goes by the water all the way from Jericho to Science World. No stop lights, no cars, just a wide and scenic trail that takes you by several marines, and under the three bridges that connect Vancouver (Burrard, Granville and Cambie), until you get to Science World. Once we got there we hit the 9th kilometer so we looped back to the car.

The route was full of runners, walkers and bikers. This, plus the amazing view made our 18k feel like 10k.

Here are some picks. I wanted to take more but I am so bad at remembering to stop and take pictures. I just get myself lost in the beauty and forget that I actually should be recording it.

As every good destination run should finish, we ended up having a great vegan brunch at Bandidas Taqueria.

My Animal Lover Note: Yesterday, while running some errands in Vancouver, I saw a group of people walking with signs. Most of them were wearing t-shirts that said VEGAN on them, so I definitely had to stop and find out what was going on. It was the walk for farmed animals. These people were their voices. They wanted everyone to know how hard and horrible their lives are and all the suffering they have to endure, for the solely reason of satisfying a selfish human whim.