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Dave Griffin On Running
The Carroll County Times – Sunday, July 5, 2009
The runners were feeling apprehensive as they gathered after warming up, waiting for me to tell them about the workout they were about to do.
It was late May, and most of them were in better shape than they had ever been before, so the apprehension wasn’t necessary, but it was there nonetheless. Their eyes told me they were hoping I would say there wasn’t going to be any workout at all, that the warm-up itself had been enough.
I told them they would be doing fast repeats with a short recovery between each one. We stayed off the track and went onto a grassy field where they could focus on their pace without counting laps.
The first repeat always feels a little sluggish as the body slowly agrees to cooperate, and I encouraged the runners to start conservatively. They looped around the field at a fast but relaxed pace, knowing the hardest running would come later in the workout.
I blew the whistle, letting them know the first repeat was over, and they slowed to a jog. The rest was too short for their breathing to return to normal, and they started the next repeat beginning to realize what they were in for.
As the workout progressed, I made my way to various places in the field shouting encouragement. I could tell who is struggling and who was feeling good; you get to know the signs of each individual.
During the final recovery period, I moved to the middle of the field to get a good view of the last repeat. I blew the whistle, and they accelerated back to a hard run.
Runners always share their goals with me before they begin my running program, Flying Feet. Some goals might seem meager, but each one is significant to the individual who takes ownership of it. As this spring came to an end, most, but not all, had achieved what they wanted to.
And yet, progress doesn’t always show itself the way we hope it will on race day. Sometimes, it shows in other ways, like with increased resolve or by getting passed apprehension. Sometimes, progress shows itself in the final sixty seconds of a workout, when just moments before a sprinting runner had thought she was already past the point of complete exhaustion.
As I watched the final sprint, I felt like I was standing back to admire some masterpiece that I had a hand in creating. I could see new potential in many of the runners, and I understand what that can mean to a person. Potential gives hope and, more importantly, removes hopelessness, because it helps a person understand that the weight of fatigue can be carried to the finish line.
There have been times when I’ve wondered why I spend so much time coaching other runners. To say the very least, this wasn’t one of those times.
I blew the whistle, signaling the end of the workout, and they gathered together for a drink. Then, they headed off for their cool down, carrying with them something I was proud to have helped them find.