October Wisdom

        While thinking about the weekend’s runs and trying to put it all into perspective, it occurs to me that the best part about this weekend’s activities is that I got to spend so much time with my friends.  I always adore the Saturday Morning runs because it’s an absolute ritual that connects me to my women friends.  We run, talk, share deep thoughts, observations, pains and triumphs, and then we stop running and gather for coffee.  Coffee is another chance to yak with someone that you didn’t get to run with, which expands your group of friends and connections even more.

         I ran two trails this weekend.  Saturday morning’s weekly group run was the first installment, totaling roughly seven miles.  Sunday’s run was a training run for Shari and a tempo run for Juli, with me happily pulling up the rear.  Shari and I ran together yesterday and encouraged each other up the steep inclines.  Juli couldn’t join us yesterday, so was fresh for today’s jaunt.  She and I totaled eleven miles. Shari ran a little extra before we got there, probably about three miles, which brought her grand total for the day to fourteen miles and twenty one miles for the weekend.  She’s decided to do the Half Marathon in Las Vegas on December 6 and wants to come in under ninety minutes.  That means she needs to do a sub-seven minute per mile race.  Today was the start of her training.  She’ll do long runs on the weekends with a day each of speed work and tempo during the week.  The Las Vegas course will be completely flat and on pavement, which will be brutal.  With the proper speed work though, she’ll pull out all the stops and will probably come it at about 1:26.  Just a prediction!

         Last night a group of us went out to Bloom’s, a fun restaurant in the Flatiron Crossing Mall with expensive wines and cocktails that showcased food almost too pretty to eat.  Luckily I got over the beauty of the plated meals and easily worked my way through my grilled salmon perched atop sautéed spinach and a white bean ragout.  The gathering was billed as a going-away party for Shari (who’s moving to San Diego soon) but doubled as a 40^th b-day celebration for her and a congratulatory party for Heidi who finished 10^th in her age group at the Kona Ironman Championships last weekend.  We laughed so much, talked like the hens we are, and melted into our seats for a few hours.  I got home absolutely refreshed and energized by the company I keep.

         I’m sitting outside in the backyard watching leaves fall from the trees.  It’s 80 degrees, sunny and the breeze is making the dead leaves still attached to the branches, crackle.  It’s a perfect Indian Summer day in Colorado and I could not be more content.  My endorphin rush has eased into a full-on mellow.  As I sit here drinking a lovely screwdriver and contemplating life, a few things occur to me.

1. Life isn’t worth much if you don’t have good friends to share your hopes, dreams, secrets and joy with.  Yes, Hallmark, you can have that nugget.
2. Sometimes play is disguised as work.  Example:  an 11 mile trail run is actually fun.
3. Bruises, calluses and blisters on the feet are all proof that you use for feet for something more than walking.  This is a good thing.
4. Seeing grown men on their bikes turn around to stare at a group of running women is an incredibly funny sight.
5. Women’s bodies are a miracle of sorts; they’re soft and squishy in a good, sexy kind of way, they’re built for babies and nourishment, and they stockpile muscle, energy, focus and determination in every pore.
6. When you declare yourself an athlete, other athletes welcome and cheer you in a way only other athletes can.
7. Inspiration comes in every shape, size and package.  Don’t be afraid to be awed by the tenacity of another person.

         Okay, that’s all the wisdom I have today.  October is in full swing, the pumpkins are rotting in the fields after last week’s snow, leaves continue to pummel me as they drop from the trees, and my head and body are in a really good place.  Thank you, body, for allowing me two days of gorgeous running.  I’ll sleep well tonight, I promise!