I really enjoy running and I found an informal running group in Yarmouth that leaves at 7 AM rain, sleet, snow and dark (but not dark of night because we leave at 7 am). I went the first few times and ran a slow 3 miles with a small group of runners I was actually faster than.
I missed a few weeks due to travel, a 5k and the Christmas Fair.
Today, my first day back, it was 26 degrees to start and it had snowed a little over night. My short, slow group was not there. I took off a little before another group of runners heading my usual route, knowing they would pass me eventually.
They did. They slowed down a bit and we chatted a while but they took off after a bit. When we got to my usual turn to head back the cars, they kept going. I thought to myself, "I can go a little longer." We ran toward the high school and I thought, "They'll turn into the high school and head back." They didn't. I knew I could keep going for a bit and I decided to keep them in my sights and keep going.
Running got a bit hard. My knees were starting to ache and sweat was starting to drip off me. I began to think about heading back. The guys were starting to get farther away and I didn't want to loose them. They took a turn and I followed...then I realized I had no idea where I was! Now, I had to stay with them.
As we crossed into Cumberland, I decided that I had to catch up. I needed to find out how much longer they were running before I got further away from home and couldn't keep up and ended up lost. In order to do this I would need to catch up.
I started to run faster in between power poles. I was starting to get closer to the group and they turned a corner and I lost them. I sped up, it really hurt, but finally I was close enough to shout.
"Are we there yet?"
"Are you still back there?"
"Yep!"
I recounted the story of how I ended up still with them and how I had no idea where we were. They were 1. surprised I had stayed with them 2. impressed that I had caught up 3. sympathetic to the fact that is was the farthest I had ever run. They decided to cut their mileage to accommodate me and we headed up route one. I finally began to recognize where we were. I told them about my running background and they all seemed to be impressed that I had a 5 month old at home.
We made it back and I had run 5 miles! It took about 1:20.
I'm pleased that I did it, especially because it was on accident. DH is proud of me, which is an excellent feeling.
Since this time was accident, I'll try it again on purpose.
I don't know if this makes me hard core yet. But I am pretty sure that I can now call myself a runner.
