Giving Thanks

Hi Everyone!

 

Wow – huge congratulations go out to all of our Boston Marathon runners from yesterday. I’m still tired from following all of you on the app! But seriously – a huge day run with so much heart. Most of you overcame some significant obstacles just to get there, (physical injuries and setbacks, family schedule juggling and accommodating, work stresses, logistical and travel hurdles…) When you’re the type of person who doesn’t put yourself first all the time, (and I’m not sure I’d really want to coach someone who did), getting to the start of an international major marathon after (during?) a pandemic is a pretty big accomplishment.

 

We still have other teammates running marathons in the next bit: Georgina this weekend and New York in a few weeks. So pumped for all of you!

 

Since it was Thanksgiving weekend, I’ve been thinking about gratitude.

 

Last night my family had a hard time adjusting to the last day of a long weekend. My kids (yes, they’re teenagers) kept appearing in my room for various reasons well into the night. I had a morning run with friends planned which relied on my kids getting organized and out the door on their own. But by the time the morning rolled around I realized they would need my help. So I regrettably bailed on my friends. But as I said to them, I’m actually grateful that I can still have a role in helping my kids. As they get older, there is less and less I can actually do to help to influence their days. So instead of feeling put out or annoyed at the experience I was missing, I felt gratitude for the opportunity I had. (I am well aware that in 5 years I will wish I could help my kids with something as simple as making their breakfast and sending them off with a hug)

 

Gratitude is a way of seeing the world, and it’s a muscle which can stay in shape, or atrophy if we forget about it.

 

Not everyone had the race they had planned in Boston. This is life. But everyone I’ve spoken to or seen posts from so far has found so much to be grateful for. From our training and running support community (huge!!!), to our physical health (never to be taken for granted), to the opportunity to experience a huge celebratory event with strangers who wish us well and want the best for us instead of yelling at us (that alone makes me want to weep with gratitude), to small moments of personal human connection, like the little kid who hands us licorice to help us on, or having friends to laugh and cry and experience all of this with.

 

As a coach I can feel responsible for the concrete time outcomes that I know everyone wanted so badly, but I am happy that you’ve all found growth and gratitude through your experiences. I suppose if I had to pick one, I’d pick growth and gratitude for you over achieving a specific time. And I would say you have all been successful in that. And for that, I am proud and grateful!

 

Tomorrow’s workout is Hills!!!!

 

Boston runners, obviously take at least a few weeks off. One week off running and at least another one or two off workouts (we can chat individually)

Georgina runners – no hills! For you, 1 mile at race pace and 2 x 600 a tad zippier. Less is more now.

NYC runners – these hills will help you!!!!

Scotia 10K runners – I’d leave the hills out. Instead do a fartlek of 8-10 x 1 min pick up, 1 min easy

New members to this group: hills are less formal than our speed workout days. We show up at Pottery Rd sometime between 5:45 and 6:30 (depends how many hills you plan to do) and just start going up and down. Some people do a hill in the beach, but I think most of that crew ran Boston.

For Pottery Road let’s do: sets of 2 full, 1 half. (the half hill starts at the stairs). I’ll plan to be there around 6-ish.

 

Thanks all!!!!

 

xoxo

 

Seanna