Moving Up In The Pack

Last year I spent a great deal of time running.  I ran 4 marathons, 4 half marathons, 1 10K and several 5Ks.  I am a certified "Back of the Packer".  What does that mean?  It means I'm slow!  Most of my marathons are spent by myself away from any pack of runners.  I was running 13 minute miles which is a little over 4 miles per hour.  My fastest marathon wast 6 hours and 29 minutes.  My slowest marathon was over 8 hours (in Honolulu). However, the Honolulu Marathon is geared for walkers and racers of ever ability so there were ALWAYS people around me during that race.

Anyway, being a back of packer means that you are always worried about meeting that finish line before a "sweeper" comes and carries you away. Sometimes it means you  have the sweeper hovering behind you, sometimes rather uncomfortably. It's not like you don't know you are slow, you don't need the reminder!  Of course, they are there to make sure you are okay as much as they are there to encourage you to keep on going and push yourself.

My very first marathon in 2006, I literally had the police officer following me for the first 13 miles.  I was in last place and he was there to make sure I was safe.  He was very sweet, but Wow!  Talk about feeling a bit strange.  The thing is, I knew what pace I needed to run in order to finish in time.  I had 8 hours to finish this marathon and the pace I was keeping would have me finish just under that 8 hours. I finished at 7 hour and 57 minutes and I wasn't even last.  But I DO know what it's like to be followed by the sweeper.

Then there was my stint as Fresh Meat for a roller derby team.  In order to draft onto a team, you had to be able to skate 25 laps around the track in 5 minutes. While I was Fresh Meat, I wasn't able to do this. I was 30 seconds behind.  Last spring as I was losing weight, running and roller skating for fun, I decided to go out to the derby track and try my 25 laps in 5 minutes. Sure enough, I was able to do it with a few seconds remaining. I did it again last fall and cut off 15 seconds.  I was finally fast enough!

Now I am training for the Fuller Center for Housing Spring Bike Adventure.  I know they have sweepers in these rides.  The sweepers are part of the cycling team. A rider is designated as the sweeper, and it is their job to start last and cheer on/support the ones that are going slower.  I have heard stories about the sweepers.  One of my friends was a sweeper last summer.  I know their hearts are in the right place, but I can tell you I do NOT want to be the person they are having to "sweep up".

Being a back of the packer, I completely understand that everyone runs their own pace and their own race. You should never compare yourself to the runner ahead of you or behind you.  It is YOUR race, but there is ALWAYS that little bit of you that sings a song of joy when you pass a runner or lets out a curse beneath your breath when you get passed.  And I know what it feels like to have people waiting on you!  In joining this adventure, I have decided that I want to be a middle of the packer!

I am a Weight Watcher's member and I track all of my food and all of my exercise activity. For bicycling, there are a couple of options to track.  One of them is "Greater than 12 mph" (which is greater than a 5 minute mile).  This is the standard I work hard to hold myself to when I am training by myself or with other avid cyclists.  Some of my miles are slower and others are faster, but over my 35 mile rides, my average is about 4 minutes 47 seconds per mile.

I decided to ask my trip leader for the Bike Adventure, Melissa, how fast they would like us to ride.  Her answer was 12mph!  Sweet!!!!!  I'm on it!!!!  The Adventure is in 6 months!  By that time, I would like to be sustaining a 3 minute mile.  That is a good goal, and I think it will keep me from being chased by the sweeper :).

When I think about this goal, this is the song that comes to mind:

Here's to moving up in the pack!!!!!!!!  What are you doing today to make you "faster better stronger"?

Thank you for following me in this adventure!  To find more information on the Fuller Center for Housing, the Bike Adventure, or to make a donation to my $2000 goal, please click here.