Good friends and jingle bells keep us going on a rainy Christmas run
Whether you are considering starting running as a New Year's resolution, returning to it, or just enjoying your runs more, joining a group run will help you achieve your goal.
One of the long-standing traditions in our area is the Florida Striders' Sunday morning group run that meets at Sun Tire on Blanding Boulevard in Orange Park at 6:30 a.m. every Sunday. There is typically a contingent of between 20 to 50 runners that meet together briefly, share any upcoming running news, and make sure that everyone has company for their preferred pace and distance that day. The regular routes vary from 6 miles to 20-plus miles but the majority of folks are usually going 10 to 12 miles.
Christmas morning was one of those occasions as I could hear the rain droning on the roof at 5 a.m. and thoughts of staying snuggled in bed did indeed go through my head. Quickly, I remembered a call two days earlier from a runner who was home for the holidays, Eric Chebi, asking if our regular Sunday morning run would still happen on Christmas.
"Sure, we will be out there," I had told him, so there was no backing out now. Eric was no fair weather runner as he did pull up in the light rain before our launch time ready to go. Angus Macvicar, a new Florida Strider member, was also there -- in his robe! I was tickled that Angus showed up in his robe so his regular running buddy, a Lab named Lucy, would not figure out he had slipped away without her for a run.
We trotted off together for a 10-mile run, chatting about Eric's past and planned Ironman events. I am very much impressed with anyone who can swim 2.4 miles, ride their bicycle another 112 miles, and then finish up with running 26.2 miles, all in a day's workout. We also learned that Angus had just quit smoking two months earlier and had not only finished the prior week's Jacksonville Half Marathon (13.1 miles) but did it in a personal record time of 1:34. Did I mention he does 300 push-ups three days a week?
Clearly I had hooked up with two over-achievers who were also great company. Two miles into our run we heard a chorus of "merry Christmas" greetings and the sound of jingling bells in a parking lot along Wells Road.
"Santa, is that you?" We jogged closer. 'Twas the next best thing to Santa and his reindeer -- another group of Florida Striders who regularly meet at 5 a.m. on Sundays (yes, there are other groups that get together even earlier than 6:30 a.m.) who had already done their miles and were now celebrating with a bounty of holiday goodies, libations, Santa hats, and jingle bells. These people know how to have a group run. They also meet during the week in the wee hours on Wells Road so this was the site of their Christmas celebration. This group includes not only some of the best age-group runners in the area, but, even better, the nicest group of people you will ever meet anywhere. They have a well-deserved reputation for helping and supporting new and old members alike.
Angus, Eric, and I trotted off to finish our run a bit later, suitably adorned with new jingle bell gifts, very well-refreshed tummies, richer by several hugs and handshakes from old and new friends, and the warmth of Christmas spirit. After finishing the 10 miles I also had got to know two new friends much better and enjoyed a Christmas feast later that day guilt-free.
While I can not promise Santa-esque moments of serendipity on every group run, I can guarantee you will find it much easier to keep those training commitments when you are meeting others, and have a safer experience and a lot more fun on your runs. The Florida Striders have a list of area group runs on their Web site at www.floridastriders.com and you can also contact me directly if you would like additional information about paces, distances, and such.
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