Tuesday, June 24 – 2025: Team sport

Hey Gang!

Congrats to all Ekiden racers!!!! I was so sad to miss it this year but was so proud of everyone who ran and cheered. Way to go team!

That’s what I’ve been thinking about this week. The concept of having and being part of a team. I’ve mentioned this before, but when I’m traveling, and I go for a run by myself, I often think of my team back home doing similar things. Because when I’m somewhere new and running, it feels even lonelier than running alone back home. But I picture my friends and teammates doing the same thing hundreds of miles away, and it feels like we’re together in a way. And then I realize, individual running really is a team sport.

I also had the thought that life is a team sport. We’re all team mates on various peoples’ teams, and we all play different roles. Some of us have a few teams, some have big teams and some have smaller teams. But everyone who we’ve chosen to be in our lives serves a role for us, and we are the same for them. And this is the key point: diversity matters. We can’t have a team full of only cheerleaders, or just people who play defence, or only star players. Sometimes we need the uncomplaining benchwarmer who is always ready to jump in whenever things get hairy and they get called up. We can’t expect anyone to be everything, but there is strength in numbers. I had this thought as I was on a trip with friends from high school, and I was reminded why I had become friends with them 35 years ago. I don’t see these friends very often – our lives have all taken us in different directions. But I definitely still consider them all to be part of my team. 

I think of our running team the same way. No matter who you are or what your pace, you play a role in making the whole thing work. When I’m running on my own and thinking of “the team”, I’m not thinking of any one person in specific. I think of everyone and the strength of how we all interact together. Some are leading, (actually, many are leading because there are groups within groups), some are pulling others along, some are a beacon of consistency who you can count on showing up with a smile, some bring grit, some bring humour, some bring the chill vibe. Even those who are finishing their workout in the early hours just as the rest of us are getting there are an important part of the team. It all matters! It’s the variety of different roles that makes the team work. As always, I’m grateful for all of it and for all of you. Thanks for being on my team!

On to tomorrow’s workout!

We’re doing hills. However, I am making a heat adjustment. Working out in the heat is do-able, but it’s like adjusting to altitude: you have to do shorter work reps and take longer rests.

So let’s do sets of: 2 x half hill, WALK to tempo (or take a few minutes), 3 min tempo. Take another few minutes, repeat 3-4 times. 3 will be enough if it’s still very hot. Bring water.

We will adapt to this, we just have to be patient during the process.

I will be at Pottery around 6:15/6:20.

That is all – see you in the a.m.!

xo

Seanna