The Old Lady Run

One of the many reasons my parents rock? They're supporting me on my next big adventure.

This is not, "Oh, that sounds good, we're proud of you, honey," support, which is always appreciated. This is, "What do you need to do to get ready? Where can we help? Are you up to date on everything?" Etc, etc.

For one thing, I need to be in much better physical shape than I am now. Best shape I'm in all year is about the third week of June through the end of Camp. Camp just works you hard, you're running and hiking everywhere. It's definitely not a sit-down job. But then school starts. And you're sitting in class. And you walk to class. And you sit and work and write papers on your computer. And you sit and play in the band. Sit sit sit sit sit.

Work, at least, I'm standing and moving around a bit.

Now, let us briefly consider my family. My two younger sisters both ran cross-country for most of high school, and the youngest is heavily into swing dancing (if you don't think this is exercise, you don't know what 'heavily into swing dancing' looks like). My Dad used to do half-marathons, and is the leader of a running club at his workplace. My Mom competes in 5ks.

I ran sprint races in high school, and like hiking. This whole 'running distance' concept is a difficult one for me.

So, today, Mom took me along on what she calls, "The Old Lady Run." It should be noted, my mother is not an old lady. At all. She's older than me, and that's about it. She's pretty, her eyes and smile sparkle, and she has soft black hair that bounces when she runs. She can kick my butt on sax, it should be noted.

The Old Lady Run is, for half the distance, paved bike trail, and the rest, county road, going out of town. You're supposed to run the flats, sprint the downhills, and, since it's the old lady run, walk the uphills.

Maybe if it had been a little shorter, I would have been able to do that. I managed to do that pretty well on the way OUT, and for about a third of the way back. And then my legs just said, "Forget it." I can keep moving, but there's not a thing I can do to make them go faster. I think, "sprint," or even "jack it up a notch," and there's nothing left. My legs cannot go any faster. There's nothing left.

I know this. I need new running shoes. I know this also: My stamina is crud. There are activities where I can last for hours. Running is evidently not one of them. Rollerblading, yes. I've done 29 miles in a day, rollerblading. The furthest I've walked is actually only thirteen miles, to my friend Ari's house. Various other physical activities, I can do for hours. Running, not one of 'em yet.

Nor is swimming. However, I already have free membership at two gyms, I'm not going to get a third at another just for the pool. But I'd really like to

Dude. Foster Arends. Yes, people drown there a lot for being stupid (there's this weird thing with a cold current running underneath), but it's free. As long as the weather's good, I can use that beach, and it's not all that far from school. On the other hand, it's not really ideal for swimming. Playing with friends in the water, sure, but that's different. Hmm. I will consider.

But, I now have my next goal plotted out.