Tonight was the first night of meeting up with/joining the larger version of the group I’ve run with a handful of times over the summer. The larger group more closely affiliated with the one of the larger groups in the area. Their official training season began tonight with an orientation, welcome newcomers, discuss training plans and events from now through next spring. Most of the group fractures through the relentless triple digit heat of the summer and regroups when Randy says so in the fall.
My nerves were shot as my knuckles grew whiter grabbing the steering wheel in the Monsoon storm on the way to the meeting location. Both from driving in the massive storm as well as the typical nervousness in joining a new group. I pulled into the park and nearly stalled as I made my way through the flooded parking lot. Following the taillights in front of me I pulled into a spot amidst the only grouping of vehicles in the park. Surely a running group was the only group quirky enough to meet at a (flooded) park in the middle of a powerful storm. I swapped out shirts and started to greeese up my tender spots—something felt (and smelled) odd and after a few swipes I realized in the darkness of the storm I was slathering up with a mini-stick of Sure. Great; wrong pouch in my bag. Start over with the right stuff so surely even in the storm no chaffing was to be had. Nerves still festering….
I hoped out of the car, walked over to the one guy I did know and was introduced to Randy, our coach. After just a few words with/from him I was finally at ease; yup; only the kind of group I’d fit in with would show up in these conditions.
As we gathered under the shelter Randy made sure the new folks (five of us) were properly introduced and allowed to give a (literally) 15 second bio. Details later he said. Then one of the gals walked up with a massive chocolate cake for two other gals who had birthdays this month. Mmmm….chocolate cake with chocolate frosting.
We took off for a lap around the park and quickly broke into pecking order. Randy ordered the new folks back with him so he could get a better idea of who we are. As we finished back at the tables the group immediately turned into Social Hour. Cake was cut and passed around and two guys trotted back from their cars with coolers. Yup, multiple options for cold drinks: G2, Coors heavy, Coors Light and Bud. I think I’ll be ok.
Recap of the last couple of weeks–unbelievable; nearly two more weeks in the books.
- Pool party up in the OV
- Babysat for a super active seven year-old
- Plenty of practice on my newly learned pool maintenance skills
- Lounged for a day at a client’s pool
- Two trips to Sabino Canyon , one for a trail run, one a bike ride out there
- Still fumbling through AMPS+ details, turned down my first potential client due to logistics
- Established a schedule for watering plants according to their unique needs
- Cleaned the garage
- Only one nap (amazingly too busy, not enough time)
- Stuffed several heavy doors into the car–met the guys at the local recommended True Value
- Learned the quickest roads during rush hour
- Covered every mile of Sweetwater trail
I’m sure more to come, as always,
AniMal