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Run Flagstaff



Xterra '09

After a week of being forced to take things easy (when it comes to training) because of our move to Flagstaff, AZ, I started to slowly but surely go crazy! I was having a hard time getting up early after staying up late unpacking things and making this apartment look more like home. No races coming up, no serious training plan, and no workout buddies does not exactly help me drag my butt out of bed at 5 am either. To top it of, Max has consistently been waking up super early ever since we got here. Because he and Noah share a room now, they are both dancing around the house by 6 am. Awesome! Just what I need!

So, after 5 days, I decided it was time to take matters into my own hands. I called the local running store, Run Flagstaff, to see if they have some kind of running group/team workout. They do! Every Tuesday they meet at the High School track for speed work. Sweet! It was Tuesday and so I jumped on my bike (actually, Karl's mountain bike) and rode 2 miles on beautiful trails to the track.


I had no idea what to expect. I was slightly worried that I might not be able to keep up with any of them, but that worry could not hold me back. So I showed up, introduced myself to the coach, picked out two beautiful and fit ladies, and started to warm up behind them. I soon realized that they were not just going to turn around and start talking to me. After a little pep-talk to myself, I ran up next to them and pretty much forced them to talk to me.

Turns out that one of them, Robin, is an amazing triathlete. I have not figured out just how good she really is but I would not be surprised if she was the top girl around here. The other girl, Josie, is preparing for her first triathlon and about to buy a road bike. She also happens to be LDS and remembered seeing me in the hall at church. I sure picked the right girls to talk to.

I met a few other great people and really enjoyed the workout. There were at least 40 runners of all levels on the track. (We set a new record the other night with 66!) My plan was to stay low, hang back, and check out everything. Well, that did not happen. My body had other plans! It mistakenly thought that the past few weeks of 'taking things easy' was actually a taper, and the track workout a race. It was probably the most enjoyable speed work I have ever done. I just felt like going fast! I hardly ever feel like going fast. Especially not at 7,000 feet. So I just went with it.

I have been back every week since then. We tried to all go a couple of times, so Karl could meet some other runners and get in some speed work as well. The boys did really well, actually, and lasted the entire time. But, unfortunately, it is not free and pretty cold and dark by now. So we (or I) decided that Karl and the boys would stay home while I get to have some fun. Karl, after all, gets to be social and talk to adults all day long, while I am hanging out with the kids. My turn to try to get in some decent conversation in between intervals!

So much for running in Flagstaff. Most other days I am confined to a 40-minute jog with Max in the Chariot. Gotta love the off-season!

Happy run training to you!



Comments

Barbie said…
I'm like you, if no-one makes the effort to talk to me - I just introduce myself :) Glad you have found a running group and get to continue with your training.
October 15, 2010
Leslie said…
That's great though Sarah, glad you found people! And the numbers are huge! That must be wild!
October 16, 2010
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