Two Social Runs in a Day

Today I woke when it was still dark and cold. I went to Décathlon for a run and got there early so I waited in the car, where it was warm. I saw people arrive, and when 07:50 arrived I walked into the shop.

I learned at that moment that there were two runs planned. One was the usual Final Saturday of the Month Run, and the second was exclusively for women, to run, discuss running for women, and to shop without guys being around. It is part of the Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Octobre.

As a result of this segregation of genders we were six guys to run. The group was small so the pace was fast. I wasn’t so happy about the pace being fast because I knew that at 11 I would be going for another social run so I had banked on having an easy first run.

That didn’t work out and I got three PRs on the run with the pace edging towards 05:20 at moments. It isn’t the first time that going for two social runs in a day has backfired. If the first run is fast, then we’re fatigued ahead of the second.

I arrived back to my village to see that there was an event blocking the street I live on. As a result of this I parked the car, and ran into Nyon, adding 4km to the 5 kilometres that I had run at 8. We then did warm ups ahead of the social run, and then ran another 6km. As a result today I ran around 16km in three parts, via two social runs, and I then walked home.

During the second social run I felt fatigue. My legs were tired from running 9km before joining the second social run. I still kept up, and I was happy when we had two or three stops, either for traffic lights, rehydration at a fountain and at other traffic lights.

What you don’t know is that I had the choice of four runs, but I easily settled for the two I mentioned above. In the past I would have hesitated for a while about all four activities but both events, that I didn’t even consider, gave me reasons to skip their activities if I had other options.

I like having groups that I immediately say yes to. I didn’t like hesitating for hours before. Now I see Group A, and immediately I join. Group B and immediately I join.

I like the Décathlon, and Nju Collective Running groups. The diving group I was part of, the climbing group that I was part of, the book club that I am part of, don’t have off seasons, so you can rely on them year-round.

With cycling, skiing and other activities you rely on summer. It’s good to have groups that are persistent and evergreen, rather than deciduous. I’m playing with a concept, rather than judging.