Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Walking the Line

There's a woman who sometimes trains on the same trails I use. I've watched her running in the mornings and totally admired her more than once. Because she has A Body.

She's tiny, but she is built. Very muscular and athletic, and the way she runs is truly beautiful. She's always friendly as she runs by me, yelling "Hello! What are you training for?"

I don't think she's ever heard my answer, because by the time I snap out of my trance to realize she's talking to me, she's already gone. Mercifully she probably has never heard me say, " I, uh, sudfknsdajkgh;i jhfioumdcfnj hjdaghg8w." Good answer. Brilliant.

About 2 weeks ago I saw her in an interview on TV. They were talking to her as the front runner to actually win the Denver Marathon. I said Win The Marathon.

So naturally, I've been watching for her on my morning runs. This morning? Success.

My running partner, Kami and I were out gingerly testing our bodies after our respective marathons over the last couple of weeks, when we looked up and saw Alexa (learned her name from the interview) coming toward us.

So I yelled - "ALEXA! How did the marathon go?!" At which point she turned around and began to run in the same direction we were going. She wanted to talk. Wow! right?

Let me just say, that professional runners and amateur runners do NOT run the same pace.

I'm sure she slowed way down for us. I'm also sure we sped way up for her. I'm very very sure of that last thing.

She ran with us the better part of 3 miles, during which she never stopped talking. Which was probably a good thing, because Kami and I were both sucking wind and couldn't have actually, you know, carried on a conversation.

We (and I use the term loosely) covered topics like how Kami and I could both use some help with our running form. She showed us a different way to run. Which is a lot harder.

We (see above) also talked about that extra weight that Kami and I were obviously trying to lose, and what we should do about it. I was listening intently, but seriously, if Kami lost 5 pounds, she would blow away in the wind. But Alexa kept saying "both of you".

"Both of us" also shouldn't wear so many clothes to run (it was 38 degrees!) and "both of us" needed to start a weightlifting program so we wouldn't hunch our shoulders.

Oh yes, and "both of us" needed to use more energy - you know - just explode. The lack of energy thing? That's all in "both of our" heads.

By the time we got back to our cars - well, Kami and my cars - Alexa was just going to run home, "both of us" had about Enough Of Alexa.

There's a fine line between friendly adviser and annoying know-it-all. I'm pretty sure we were darn close to it today.

13 comments:

Lena said...

LOL! I LOVE this post! You are great for running on a regular basis! I don't think my feet know what running even means anymore (Except the occasional spurt to chase after the 2 year old...)

Lack of energy all in my head huh? Somebody needs to tell my body that because it doesn't seem to know.

The Wiz said...

A different way to run? Isn't it all just one foot in front of the other and try not to fall down? Clearly I do not do marathons.

Anonymous said...

Isn't amazing to admire people and then they open their mouth! LOLOL

One of my Very good friends just ran 13.1 in KC at 50!!!! I'd say if I can run 13.1 at 30 something that is great... But 50 will be wonderful!!!

First goal is run a mile without being out of breath!

I'm getting there!

goddessdivine said...

I didn't realize there was so much involved in running. I guess that's why I don't do it. (That and the bad knees....)

Randi said...

lena- well, you know - just explode!
Which is almost what I did at the end there. I don't think that's what she meant.

wiz-Well, she was trying to help us with our form. Something about keeping the arms low, elbows back, and heels higher. I don't know.

ramona- YOU GO GIRL!

kristin- I didn't either.

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

Wow. Good thing you were out of breath!

Heather said...

Hmmm... interesting. Did she win??

Anonymous said...

randi:
i love you just the way you are girl! sorry you were slammed like that. you are awesome and i am proud of you that you run marathons. you are the bomb!

funny how ramona said you can admire people until they open their mouths!

now, i am done visiting your blog, i hadn't been here for a few days (but i wanted to make sure none of your posts had zero comments, i would've been at least one comment to you). now, don't freak too much when you see you inbox tonight with all these messages at one visit from me. love you friend and don't believe any of this garbage. you are awesome just the way you are, kathleen :)

Yvonne said...

I got such a kick out of Ramona's comments about admiring people until they open their mouths and then being able to run at 50. I would love to enter a 1/2 marathon, but I just don't know if I could muster the energy, but I think it would be such a sense of accomplishment!!! But then again, to be able to "walk" a 1/2 marathon would be an accomplishment for me--maybe just one step at a time!!!

This was great, randi.

Randi said...

Kim- you got that right!

Heather- actually, at mile 21 she slipped and fell and twisted her knee. (It poured rain the entire marathon morning, so the streets were slick.) Anyway, her knee was so swollen she couldn't finish.

kathleen- thanks!

Yvonne- lots of people do the walking half marathons! you just have to train for what you want to do. You could so do it.

Tonya said...

Sometimes it's better to just admire someone from afar so they can't open their mouths and ruin it.

I can't even tell you the last time I ran. The closet I have gotten is a little trot when I was late for the train home :o)

Melissa said...

I haven't been around for a few days... I love the little chick! I'm gonna have to read through the rest of your posts to see if you blogged about it :)
I thought there was only one way to run: painfully. Who knew there were other ways?

Vern said...

It's my personal experience that women with names like "Alexa" and "Alexis" simply can't be trusted. Has anyone ever known a nice Alexa?