It's about time

With yesterday's pleasing temps and sunshine, I was looking forward to the Thursday group run. I even sported some shorts for the first time in 2008 (legs, meet sun. You might remember each other from last year).

Not wanting to be late (and to hopefully garner a decent parking spot that wouldn't require too much walking on my part...yes, I see the irony) I headed out of my apartment at 6:15.

There were cars lining the side streets and the Maine Running Company parking lot, but I managed to snag a spot close to the building (thank you, Car Gnome, for keeping me ticket-free for five years and always managing to locate a parking spot for me when I really need it. Your presence on my rear view mirror brings a calmness to my heart).

But as I walked up to the store, I took note of the quiet on the street. No other runners fighting for parking. No one walking up to the door. No one stretching on the sunlit sidewalk out front. Strange.

The inside of Maine Running Company proved equally still and empty. Typically the store is packed with people - and now it stood quiet except for a saleswoman on the phone and another helping a customer.

I looked at the clock. 6:24. Where IS everyone?

Turns out, I thought the start time was something like this:

But it's really something more like this:

I have no idea where I got 6:30 from. But there I was, standing dumbly at the checkout counter, the training group long gone, feeling like a moron.

Training leader John Rogers said I might be able to catch up to my group, who had taken the Back Cove path toward Payson Park.

The moment of truth came when I had to walk past my closely parked car to get to the Back Cove.

"I can just leave," I thought. But my legs didn't turn toward the car. They didn't hesitate or slow down to give me time to ponder what to do. Instead, they started jogging. Jogging!

I ran (read: very slowly ran) to the Back Cove path and headed toward the park, figuring I'd eventually hit the group on their way back. I did - and Janice was kind enough to turn around and run the distance again with me.

"We're doing a 4:2 run/walk ratio today," she said.

"You know what, I've been running for 8 minutes already and I feel great. Let's just keep going." Damn straight.

We ran approx. two miles without walking. Ever. (Well, okay, a few blocks at the end to cool down. Why all the nit picking?)

It took me weeks to build up to that point last year, which means the runs at the gym really have paid off. Which also means that I'm feeling just a wee bit proud of myself today (okay, hugely proud of myself. You just don't anything go by, do you?).