12.28.07

Thanks teammates!

Posted in Uncategorized at 11:56 am by Rob

I just completed my 3rd consecutive Michigan workout last night.  While I cannot comfortably get out of my chair this morning, I feel great about the experience. 

I measured the tempo loops between intervals last night.  The first one was 2.05 miles, the second 1.63 miles, and the third 1.38 miles, making it a cumulative distance of 5 miles, and a total workout distance of 7.5 miles (8 if you include running up and down the steps).  The tempo pace was around 5:25-5:30 per mile, depending on the loop.

I feel great about the experience for one main reason: my teammates.  On the second tempo run, I fell off the pace of the lead pack with around 1000 meters left.  The top 3 guys slowed a little and Jason shouted back to me to push forward.  Brent then slowed further, to help pace me back into the group.  He also helped push me on the first mile, pacing me through 4:52, though I know he could run faster.

This is what makes this team special.  The top talent helps out the guys behind them, and the guys behind them cheer for and try to help out the top talent.  As I have said in a previous post, I truly get excited by my teammates accomplishments, and share them all with my friends in the running community.

I am not sure I had this kind of relationship with my teammates in college.  In fact, I am quite sure that I did NOT have this comraderie.  Perhaps it is because I was often in the lead group in those workouts, and not in the group behind, as I am now.  I was cheering on the younger guys, but was rarely cheered for by folks other than my close friends and coaches.  I think the greater reason, however, is that we have a great group of people in the CAC. 

When I ultimately stop with competitive running, I will remember details about splits in workouts.  What I will remember most of all, however, was moments like last night, when teammates slowed down to push me forward. 

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