Drop the smear campaign.

Laura and Cristal (Laura's pushing Cristal's girls in the Chariot).

Christy brought a friend this week. A non-Mom named Heidi. The first non-Mom we've had on our runs; is it weird that she fit right in? Kidding. 


Those who know me know that if I like you, I will bug you. Heidi, when you read this, you will know that I like you a lot. 

Heidi ran the Times Colonist 10K with Christy this year with zero training. Zero. Nada. Zilch. She made it in 1:11:00 and apparently cried when she crossed the finish line. In an I've-just-finished-a-goddamn-running-race-holy-crap moment, Heidi signed up for the Half Marathon. Her training for that race has been... inadequate? I'm trying to be delicate in how I phrase this, because I trained on my own without the benefit of a running clinic for years. I prefer running with a clinic because it keeps me on track, but I'm by no means saying it's the only way to go. 

That being said, Heidi is someone who classifies herself as "not a runner." The funny thing is that Christy was also "not a runner" when I first met her. I need to point out that Christy has bought the most running apparel and shoes out of anyone in the clinic since we started together. She also mentioned this week how her heart rate is dropping much quicker after exercise than it used to. She's also kicking some major butt on the runs and during the workouts. I'm beginning to think her "not a runner" days are numbered. 

I had a moment of deja vu Sunday during our long run when I told Heidi that the only thing keeping her from being a "real" runner was her brain. Basically, if you tell yourself you aren't a runner, then you won't be a runner. If instead you defy what your brain insists and go for it, you'll stop thinking about what you aren't and get excited about what you are: a person who runs - a runner. The deja vu occurred because I recall telling Christy the exact same thing a few months ago. Things change fast!

I read a great quote the other day from John "the Penguin" Bingham:


"If you run, you are a runner. It doesn't matter how fast or how far. It doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run."


I couldn't have said it any better except maybe to add, "if you think you can't do it, stop thinking." Or something to that effect.

Christy and Heidi.

I have to give props where props are due: Heidi took a huge step coming out with us on an hour-and-a-half run. She was brave in doing so; it takes courage to do something that scares the crap out of you. She was slower than any of us, but she did it and I was super impressed. I gave her a slightly shorter route to run, but that's a minor detail.


Christy on the other hand gave Heidi no quarter (in the way that only a good friend can). She kept Heidi going throughout the run and even though Christy was tough on her, I know that Heidi would not have made it without her. I even gave Heidi some options to turn back early, but she persevered with Christy's urging. ...never thought I'd use the term "urging" as a euphemism... Ahem. But seriously, Heidi's mind is the single biggest thing holding her back from being a "real" runner and Christy knows that better than anyone. More props.

I'm hoping to see Heidi out on some more of our runs leading up to the Half. She signed up for the Next Steps clinic at Frontrunners to keep herself motivated; good call, it's a fantastic group. I just hope I'm around to witness that subtle switch when Heidi's brain drops the smear campaign and concedes that she is indeed a runner after all.