Wednesday, January 9, 2008

I'm not a runner...

…Not by a long shot. Runners are people who find pleasure in getting out there and running—they enjoy the pound of the pavement, the wind blowing by, and the euphoric feeling they experience which also may be referred to as arunner’s high. I happen to think they must be high to find enjoyment in that! I would even venture to say that is the least favorite part of my job and the one thing you will probably never find me doing after I retire from this sport. Running for enjoyment…puhleeze!

I was pondering this whole idea today while I went on my “long” run that constitutes my form of recovery on Wednesdays. It is considered to be my day off but running for a full 30 minutes is not my idea of recovery. More like torture. I have surprised myself in my ability to even finish, simply because this is something that I would not have ever done back in my college days. Back then, I was absolutely allergic to anything that required running for what in my mind was an unnecessary distance and I had convinced myself that it was something I was simply incapable of doing. You think I’m kidding. I’m not. I told my coach that I COULD NOT run over a mile. Not that I just didn’t want to, but that I couldn’t. Impossible. Not feasible. Totally impractical.

In fact, I remember trying to convince him back in college that the run we did in the fall just had to be over a mile, even though he claimed it wasn’t. The darn thing would take me approx. 17 min to do and I just knew it was his attempt to try and get me to run longer. That was until I came back to Tucson this fall and ran it in just over 10 min. I guess that means it probably is a mile and I was just running that slow. 10 min is now about my mile pace. It doesn’t really matter if I’m jogging 2 laps around the track or a half marathon. Who am I kidding—I’d never run a half marathon but if I did start one, I’d run about a 10 min mile pace until I dropped out. I don’t ever really go faster then that and if I went slower I guess I could just walk.

Anyway, every time I go on my Wednesday runs along the riverbank, I get this idea that people are looking at me and wondering to themselves just why I’m going so slow yet seem to be laboring away. I look like a runner. I have all the appropriate clothes on, my ipod is in place, and I’m definitely in shape. But Grandpa can pass me and there is nothing I can do about it. In fact, a few weeks ago when my best friend was out here visiting, I had her accompany me on my run. I knew it was probably slower then she was used to, but it’s still 30 minutes of work and that’s got to be worth something to a non-athlete. But she had the nerve to carry on a conversation and then halfway thru she began power walking at the same pace as my jog! Just because she could. Well excuse the heck outta me miss runner.

So I’d just like to give props to all the runners out there. I can’t do what you do. And if you pass me on the riverbank, please don’t whisper to your running buddy and point. I know I’m an embarrassment to your hobby but I do try my best to stay off to the side and out of your way.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

You are too cute! You say you won't run for enjoyment after you retire now, but just wait...it's in your blood girl!

Jackie E. said...

Bri I hear you. People are always surprised at how we track people - sprinters, jumpers, etc. dislike "running". You'd be really impressed with me. I now do my 4 laps in about 8 minutes - trust me, I shock myself considering when I first started in October I think I took like 12 mins or something. Funny though, I have no desire to run any faster - 8 mins. is fast enough!

Brianna said...

Kia...mark my words...I will NEVER run a half-marathon!!! In fact, I think you should be banned from ever saying you were a sprinter!

Jackie...I must see it with my own eyes! You were a worse jogger than me!!!

Anonymous said...

To add to your insight about "runners"...have you ever asked a "runner" to do one of your workouts? I used to run the 400h in college and I always got a kick out of the fact that when you tell someone who is not a sprinter what your workout was, such as "I did 8 200s today" they sort of give you that look that says "yeah big deal, I'm sure I can do that, that doesn't sound too hard, afterall I can run 2 whole miles on the treadmill without stopping." With that in mind I had my "runner" friend come to the track with me the other day because he is guilty of thinking my workouts are "easy" because they do not include running an insane amount of miles every week. I had him run a 600-400-300-200 with me and by the end he wanted to die and even said "I would rather run a marathon than ever do that again."
So, in the end, I think sprinters are the best because in time I am sure we could teach ourselves to run slow over a long period of time without wanting to die of fatigue and/or boredom, but some "runners" no matter what they do, will never have leg speed.

Brianna said...

amen, amen, amen!!! (even though I still say I am one of those people never capable of running a marathon)

melanie said...

you're funny :o)
but i'm still the funniest! ha!

Jasmine said...

Dang, your mysterious best friend who ran with you along the riverbank must be so cool and nice. And hot. Definitely hot.
RSS feed, huh? Your thumbprints are ALL OVER my home! :) And I LOVE it!
Miss u!

Liz Dwyer said...

See, I come over here and I don't feel so bad now about my slow 13 minute mile. I know my speed will improve as I continue to run, but it's hard for me to even do that! Glad I'm not alone!

Anonymous said...

Haha... I'm gonna have to start reading this blog of yours.

Anonymous said...

And to think I thought my 12.5 minute miles were fast...ha! No matter how slow I run, I simply love the feel of the pavement against my feet. The treadmill is so blah. If the weather was warm every day, I'd be outside.

Anonymous said...

Brianna, thank you. I ran my standard 3 miles in 21 or so minutes today, and though I felt no runner's high (cuz I never do, actually I hate to run, but I have to do it, it's one of those annoying burdens of being a Marine and all that), I did feel a certain satisfaction in knowing how much better an athlete I am than you!!!! You know they say ten year olds who can't run a mile in less than ten minutes are obese or at least totally out of shape? HAHAHHAH

Of course I'm joking, actually the fact that you cannot run any type of distance is a true testament to how effectively you have trained your body to the single specialty of a full blown sprint... and jump. So I guess two specialties then, but still, impressive.

Anonymous said...

Jackie,

This is for you: (323) 294-3736, it's the number to your local Marine Corps Officer Selection Officer. 8 minute mile, you got some potential. :)

Jackie E. said...

Marcus,

You got jokes....LOL! I'll pass..

Ron Bramlett said...

We had 2.5 mile runs about three times a week at Alabama during the fall, and two 3.5 mile TIME TRIALS that Coach Glance called the 3.5 mile dash.

Guess who was in the back?

Brianna said...

The 3.5 mile DASH. LOL. that is an oxy-moronic statement if i've ever heard one.

Kiajeen said...

Bri you are so right! You can start paperwork to revoke my sprinter's pass. It all seems like another lifetime with all the miles I've run since college. I can't remember the last time I ran anything under three miles. As a matter of fact, the only thing that causes my fast twitch muscles to react these days is that 2 year old son of mine in my make-up bag! Sephora is not cheap...shoot....lol!