Group Practice #11
9 miles on the schedule
Start time: 6:00 AM & 6:30 AM

This week we started using a split start: the walkers started at 6:00 AM and the runners started at 6:30 AM.  Unfortunately I decided to push the limits of how long I could sleep before practice, sleeping until 4:50.  I had to leave my house by 5:30 AM to get to practice on time, so that left me just 40 minutes to get dressed, covered in sunblock, eat something, take Jade out, feed her and use the facilities myself.  Of course, Jade decided to be a little bratty this morning so she took her sweet time on the bathroom business and eating.  Probably because I was trying to make her do those things 80 minutes earlier than she normally has to get up each day.  So I was late… just a little bit though.

My co-coach was out of town as his girlfriend was in a climbing competition out of town.  He usually brings a quote to share with the group, so today I brought the quote for the team:

“Being an athlete is a state of mind which is not bound by age, performance or place in the pack.”
– Jeff Galloway

After we did a quick dynamic warm-up, I got the walkers on their way and went back to meet the runners.  We went through the same drill with the runners (quote and warm-up) and then I started off running with them.  Our route was a 3 mile loop that the group had to do 3 times.  I enjoyed running one-on-one with just about everyone on the team this week.  After the first loop I took a “short-cut” through the loop and started going backwards to meet some of the team members.  I did this short-cut method a couple more times, it worked really well to catch different people.

We did have a few people feeling the heat by the end. It wasn’t as hot as when we did this same run last year, but it was warm enough.  I think it was around 82 when we wrapped up.  I ended up running and walking a total of 9.5 miles today.  I thought for sure my distance would be less than our anticipated total with my short-cut action, but that actually enabled me to run more with more people!

Next week we’re not doing the split start though, we’re all gathering at the same time to run at Red Rock.  We have some tough courses we take our team on… they’re going to be prepared for just about any race course they encounter!

I am coaching a group of runners for the organization Team Challenge. They are fundraising for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America while training to run the 2011 Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon in July.