Today marked my return to running after last week’s injury. My ankle still kind of ached when I bent it laterally, but since that motion isn’t really a “running” motion, I figured that I’d be fine.
Today also marked something of a new chapter in my whole running adventure. Nearing the end of the last clinic, there was talk from the leaders of this new clinic group about me becoming a pace leader. Well, in my whole self-deprecating way I found a great deal of irony in someone asking me of all people. So, perhaps I can think of a couple of reasons:
- They are somehow mistaking me for a different, much speedier Jason.
- They are suffering from a mental lapse in judgement.
- They recognize my levels of determination and enthusiasm–and they figure there’s no need for me to pay to be in the clinic one more time.
Guess which one I believe is most likely. 
So, OK. The interesting thing about this new group is that there are actually some people that are my pace. At the beginning they were running pretty fast–attempting to keep up with the speedier people. I checked my watch and asked them what their goals were. When they told me that they were aiming for a “finish upright and smiling” goal I told them flat out that they were running too fast. I slowed down and got them to stick with me. I kept a happy attitude and started sharing some of my experiences as a slower runner completing these distances. I would imagine that they appreciated my insight, you know? I wanted to make sure that they got through the distance without feeling gross or overworked–which would have been result if they kept pushing a fast pace. I was told that I was making them run at a good pace resulting in them feeling a whole lot better than previous runs where they’d just run fast. That made me feel great. I mean, if their goal is just to finish or make it under 3 hours, there’s really no point in going all out, right?
We finished our 12K in good spirits. We were greeted at the store by the clinic instructor. She asked the people with me how I did. To my surprise they said I did an awesome job. Whoo! I seriously would not have imagined that I’d get an “awesome” right away. I feel like I have new purpose now. I want to do well so that the people that rely on me can also do well: I want them to succeed with their goals. I think it’ll keep me honest with my training.
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5 comments
Hui says:
Mon. March 9, 2009 at 9:09 am (UTC -5 )
THat’s great to hear!
Hanneli says:
Mon. March 9, 2009 at 12:38 pm (UTC -5 )
Hi Jason,
That’s great, congrats! I knew something was different when I saw you yesterday along Carlton…
Don’t think too much about why the clinic instructors asked you to be a group pace leader. You have been given the opportunity to help other runners achieve their goal of doing their 1st half marathon.
Keep running!
wegrit says:
Tue. March 10, 2009 at 9:08 am (UTC -5 )
Yay!!! Good news. Well done…it’s always nice to know that people appreciate your hard work and dedication. Congrats!
Jay says:
Tue. March 10, 2009 at 10:05 am (UTC -5 )
Thanks, everyone!
You know, honestly, I’m not over-analyzing why people asked me. There are plenty of reasons spoken and unspoken, obvious and not obvious that allowed people to invite me as a guide. I feel kind of blessed to have been given this opportunity.
It kind of reminds me of my first half-marathon clinic. Jill had slowed down to run with me for a little while. I was having a bit of a rough day but she was encouraging me along. I remember her telling me that it seemed obvious to her that I’d be the type of person that would eventually one day end up helping people as an instructor or pace leader as a way to pay it forward. I still hold that to heart.
I will work hard to spread the enthusiasm and inspire dedication in others.
kyleen says:
Wed. March 11, 2009 at 6:18 am (UTC -5 )
I wish I could run. Your adventures make me jealous.
^_^