This summer, our McNair program decided to become more “health” conscious, even more so than we had been in the past. After all, we’ve been doing yoga with our scholars since 2010. Maureen and Julie initiated a McNair garden using several plots through campus grow. The scholars have “more than a couple” of gardening stories including Theia diligently tending to the basil, the full-out attack of horn worms (was it?), Katelyn with her deliveries of fresh produce to the office and a lovely mid-summer scholar gathering with the primary source of “eats” being from the McNair garden. All in all, a nice experience emphasizing camaraderie and the importance of eating good food. I love when Darnell tells me that he bought some fresh fruit. I love that!
What does this have to do with the title of this blog post? Well, another fun initiative sprang forth this past spring when Julie started running. Her excitement spilled over and we found ourselves talking about the idea of running a 5K with the scholars as a goal. Julie found the Color Run, which if you didn’t know, is the “happiest 5K on the planet” (Google it for some really cool videos). This would be perfect, something not too serious (in fact, FUN), but still a physical activity that the group could rally around and support one another in. I announced the opportunity right after the scholars presented their proposals at the end of April and most were in. Nice!
With our Wednesday group yoga (and meditation) session serving as an anchor, scholars played around with this idea of running a 5K together at differing levels. I, myself, can recall attending Harley Blake’s goal setting seminar with the scholars on *several* occasions and coming up with the goal of running a 5K by the end of the summer. Running a 5K at a 10-minute mile at that. Needless to say, goals can be fun to set, can make you feel like you are moving forward with a positive vision, but unless you get down and dirty about it, they won’t do you any good (you may even end up feeling bad about yourself for not following through). Over the years I continued to call what I *occasionally* did – trotting. Trotting at about a 14-minute mile pace for about two miles at most.
We did the Color Run on July 22 in Ann Arbor, complete with t-shirts stating, “We Are McNair.” This event deserves an entire blog post unto itself, so I won’t go into the “fun and entertaining” details here. We all made it through. Some of us walked, I stuck with my running partner, Katelyn, adeptly following her lead dodging the “walkers” as we progressed through the color stations. We completed the race and it was awesome. Like yoga and the garden, this shared experience really brought the group together. I know I won’t forget it! We posted on Facebook and McNair alumni loved it too. We’re making it an annual event.
So, about a month later, Julie and I are talking about how she’s been working on her speed and how she was doing another 5K that weekend – this one just “down the road” from my house in Edmore. This is how I went from a Color Runner to a Tater Trotter. Ken had the kids camping, it was a beautiful Saturday morning; I had no excuse but to join her. Julie’s running partner (and coach) was awesome with her support and encouragement and she set out to keep us at a 10-minute mile pace (or lower if things were looking good). I thought to myself, that’s okay if they jet ahead, I’ll just keep at my own pace as best I can.
That morning I found the zone. I had a great start and then I just hit it. I kept calm and steady and simply moving ahead. I tried not to think about what my pace actually was. Or that I might start to feel tired. I just listened to my music (download this awesome track compliments of Go W/ The Flow creators Ben Rivet and Tori Reynolds @ http://practiceyogadayton.com/web/gwtf/) and kept my gaze forward. I used techniques I learned in yoga and focused on my breathing.
Not a huge race, the Tater Trot, the final stretch did have quite a few supporters urging us toward the finish line. My result: I completed the race with a 10-minute mile pace. I was ecstatic! I felt strong and accomplished. I had achieved my goal after all these years. This was kind of fun! Maybe I should set more goals and be more serious about them. For me, it became a significant breakthrough.
As I continue to build confidence in my work and life I feel only that much more qualified to work with and inspire others, like our McNair scholars. I couldn’t wait to text Katelyn and tell her about my 10-minute mile. I told her that I really missed her and wished she could have raced with us (she was having a lot of fun in California!). I called a lot of people that day and it felt awesome. Since then, I find myself coming back to this moment and just feeling really good. Shelly Hinck, one of our dear McNair mentors (who actually ran the Color Run with us), is suggesting we do a 10K next. This fall.
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