A. I hope your legs are miserable sore today and B. I hope you learned a lesson.
A wise, older runner once told me that there are two kinds of people when it comes to running: dog people and cat people. “Dog runners” enjoy running in a pack, chatting, pushing each other, etc. “Cat runners” enjoy the solitude and working on their inner drive to push on. I am a cat runner. I run because after the first miserable mile, it feels good, I can zone out on hockey or music on the treadmill or on the amazing scenery on a trail run. I work through stuff that keeps me awake at night or just enjoy being by myself for a bit. I am not rude when running in a group, just not chatty…mostly because I’m trying not trip or I can’t breathe. I am not fast and my only goal is a half marathon before I turn 40.
So watching this girl next to me on the treadmill last night spend a full 45 minutes with nothing better to do than checking my mileage and pace and then adjusting hers to either out do mine (not hard that first half!!) or keep up (kicked her 20 something butt miles 2-4!) made me a little sad. Had their been other treadmills open, I would’ve moved, but as is, I plodded on, amazed that out of all the amazing runners at the gym last night, she would choose to race me. Maybe that’s what was so sad to me. If you are hoping to get better and use my run as your bar, sister, that bar is loooow! Next time, I’m looking for an open spot next to a guy. They seem to do a much better job of minding their business and focusing on their run. For the record, crazy lady, that was my longest run to date and I never switched a thing up about my run to deal with your issues. Still sore, though!! Everyone who is at the gym is trying to do something good, so let’s support each other with a smile instead of competing with a scowl and a super annoying ponytail flick.