First Run with the Group

Last night I went for my first run with the Half Marathon Clinic.

This class may well be the end of my running career. I looked around at the marathoners that were 'kickin' back' with the 21K slacker set and they were SO PREMATURELY AGED! Is it forgetting sunscreen? Is it the jarring on the facial muscles? There was a group of women near the front of the pack that looked like a set of luggage, I kid you not.

I was also concerned with not pushing myself too hard. Being the genius that I am, I realized that the leather gazelles over there were to be avoided if I wanted to survive. I sneaked to the back of the pack with the more laid-back looking crew. Out stepped the instructor behind me and hollered "This way people!" and turned around and took off. I was RIGHT behind her. Once it hit me how screwed I was, there was no way to convince my pride to let me hang back. I FINISHED right behind her (by God!) and was fixin' to die when she high-fived me and said "Great run!"

I won't lie. It felt damned good. But I have no intention of repeating that glory.