Jews don't run. Don't know where I heard it but it makes sense to me, since I'm Jewish and I don't run. There are a lot of things Jews do well but I don't remember ever having heard of a famous Jewish runner. I googled "Jewish Runners" so that I could really speak with authority. Because I love to speak with authority (be right.) Turns out I was wrong. Just like there is J Date, there is an organization called J Runners.
In spite of my feelings about running, I started training for the 5K a couple of months ago. And yes, if you've never run anything before, you actually do train for a 5K even though it's just about 3 miles. My friend John, of Burgers & Sisters fame, had offered to run it with me and found the race itself, in Playa Del Rey. I started by walking or jogging the Silverlake reservoir, sometimes with Maya, sometimes with Wei-ning, and sometimes alone.
A few of the albums on my 80's playlist
When I run alone, I listen to 80's music and let my mind go wherever it wants to. All those thoughts that I keep in check for the rest of the day (so I can be productive and happy) can roam freely; hopes, dreams, fantasies, and sometimes an evil thought works its way in. If I'm with Maya or Wei-ning, it's more of a good catch-up session then an actual workout.
Me and Wei-ning on graduation day last month
July 18th, which once seemed so far away, finally rolled around and I got up early, put my running shoes on and headed to Playa Del Rey with Wei-ning, Nate and John. Wei-ning is a close friend and an extraordinary writer, and she's been my saving grace at the AFI. For those of you who were with me through "the split," you know that it happened the week before I started the AFI, so there was some personal unraveling the first few months of school. Wei-ning was there for all of it; listening, being sweet, kind and offering sound advice. We also had the good fortune of being in the same writing workshop both years so we're incredibly familiar with each other's writing which makes for really good, constructive critique.
Nate "Show-off" Crocker, finishing in 6th place!!!
Nate Crocker is another AFI screenwriting fellow, and I'm really impressed with his writing, which is way beyond his years. He wrote a great original TV pilot about boxers this past semester, which helped me not look entirely stupid when I started my training for Boxing Match a few weeks ago, incidentally at the boxing gym Nate also frequents, Fortune Gym. He is an all around athlete; runner, swimmer, boxer and I had a feeling he was going to put us all to shame. At least Wei-ning and I, since John has already completed various half-marathons and most recently, the LA marathon. Stay tuned for a biographical essay on John in next week's blog.
The organizers jumped the gun on my age...
We got there, quickly checked in and got our numbers. Then the race started and Nate took off because he's a serious competitor. I needed to go to the bathroom right that very second, so I did. John and Wei-ning thought I was kidding at first, but when you gotta go, you gotta go. Of course, as I took off towards the bathrooms, people laughed at me, cheekily pointing out that I was going in the wrong direction, but Wei-ning and John waited patiently. So we got a late start, meaning we were actually the last people starting.
It quickly became clear that everyone served some sort of purpose on this beautiful day. Nate, who passed us by a couple of times was the carrot. Dressed in orange, he inspired me to keep going. Wei-ning, who had been sure she would be walking most of the way, quietly ran without whining once. So how could I? After all, this was my race...
John was the champion of positive energy and optimism, irritatingly so at times. Seriously though, he could have run ahead, but stayed back with us and kept me running with his positive reinforcements. After I told him I had hit my wall, about five minutes into the race, he enthusiastically declared "look we're already at 1 mile!" He also negotiated harshly with me when I wanted to slow down or power walk, telling me I could only do it until the next cone.
I won't lie to you. The race was HARD for me. Really HARD. What I thought was going to be easy was not, and quite tolling for my body it turns out. I had all my excuses ready to go; the blister, the asthma, my age....I only used the short legs one. "My legs are shorter than yours so I'm doing more work..." I said to John who rolled his eyes. Finally Wei-ning tapped into her evil side and said, "See that fat lady? You gonna let her beat you?" and off I went.
The Finish Line, which once had seemed so far away, all of a sudden appeared and I felt elated, happy, energized and proud. I sped up. John ran ahead to get the photo of me crossing it, and it was such an incredible feeling. My time? 38 minutes and 2 seconds, so certainly not medal worthy or ground breaking. But shave off a couple of minutes for my potty run...and yeah...it's only slightly better.
A minute later I got a little teary eyed. The thing about me and crying is that I cry more when I'm happy or moved, then when I'm upset. And I know, 5K isn't a lot. But it was a lot for me and my short legs. I accomplished something today. Something I honestly didn't ever picture myself doing. And I learned something about myself, as with so many of these challenges...that my strong will and stubborn mind takes over where my athletic ability falls short. And that if there is something that I really want to do, I can do it.
As long as I have good friends to cheer and support and train and run with. So thanks to my friends John, Wei-ning and Nate for today!
I love reading your blog! congrats!
Posted by: Gail Willmore | 07/19/2010 at 10:48 AM