Get by with a little help from my friends

I typically run alone simply because it’s easier. I don’t have to wait on anyone, I can stop and go whenever I please and I don’t have to wait for a symbiotic relationship between two life schedules to happen. Also, selfishly, I don’t feel like I have to keep up with anyone else. However, I do still enjoy running with good friends. I don’t suggest trying to run with me if your goal is to beat me or show me up. I may try and trip you. This morning I went running with my friend Amy who has been out of town for the past 3 weeks on various vacations with her family. I’ve missed her terribly as she lives around the corner from me (maybe 3/10 of a mile away) and we talk pretty regularly. Amy and I have a strange relationship that I don’t question often as it becomes complicated in the same way the Trinity does for me. Lots of different relationships, all important in their existence and function, but you can never really explain it. Over the past year Amy has played roles of friend, sister, mom, job coach, therapist and I’m sure there are more I could add to the list. She’s like a chameleon in life because she can fit in to any situation and be just as happy. I suggest you all find a chameleon friend if you don’t already have one. They’re amazing.

Anyway, Amy and I went running this morning at 7:30 (yawn). The original plan was for 8, but due to one of my little brothers (one of her twins) yakking last night she requested we change it to 7:30. Not too much to ask plus it would hold me accountable to actually get up before 9. If I wait to run in the afternoon these days it has to be at the gym, but if I get myself up early enough I can still run outside since the temps don’t reach 80 until about 9am. I got up, no problem; because I think my body is still somewhat conditioned to get up early for school. Amy hadn’t run in a while since she’s been out of town, but she’s taller than me, in fantastic shape and is a member of the local running club. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little fearful. I had a little bit of a head start on her as I walked from my apartment to her house and she still needed to warm up so we walked a little bit, she updated me on the vomit-acious state of her household and I listened, thankful I didn’t have whatever they did. While walking I said to Amy, “Your strides are so much longer than mine. I feel like it takes 2 of mine to keep up with yours!” Mind you, we’re still walking at this point. So she turns to me and says the worst words I can imagine while exercising with somebody else, “Oh, well, I can slow down a little bit for you. It’s totally fine.” No. No, no, no, no, no. NO! I don’t want you to slow down for me. I want my tail to pick up the pace to keep up with you. Sigh. I thought the running was going to be my doom.

Amy had to be back by 8 to make sure her house wasn’t covered in an encore of last night’s dinner so we didn’t go too far. We didn’t make it to the hill ‘o hell which I think we were both grateful for. Her watch is super awesome and said we did a little less than a mile and a half and our average pace was 11:20. It told the truth (contrary to Vernon), but also calculated in our pre-walk leading up the run so I’d put us at about a 10 minute mile since we were out about 15 minutes. It was the first run where I didn’t feel like I had to keep up with someone else, but rather we were running together. I could just do what I set out to do…run. It was actually nice having Amy there because I had somebody to push me without saying or doing anything (other than the small incident when we were warm-up walking). To me, that’s what a great friend does. A great friend challenges you and pushes you to do better without having to say anything or very little anyway. A great friend will listen to you always and offer advice only when seen fit. A great friend will get up and run with you the day after they get back from spending 18 nights away from their home regardless of any GI problems that household may be undergoing.

So here’s to a nice morning run with a great friend. Now to just work on getting my stumpy legs to take longer strides…or at least make it cool to look like the energizer bunny while running.