A year ago, I made one of the best decisions of my life, to start training for a marathon. Inspired by Julie, a runner of many marathons in my Community Bootcamp class, I joined a group of motivated runners meeting in Willow Glen at 7:00 a.m. on Saturdays. (Since my Bootcamp class meets at 6:00 a.m., I actually sleep in a bit those days.)
Technically, I started the Galloway group, the one of which I’m a member meets at Athletic Performance, at the end of a season. The group I joined up with was winding down, having only a few more runs before the season started again, however, Jenny Lockwood, who was the leader of the group, graciously told me I could run with the group a few times to see if it was for me, so I ran with them several times. Jenny is pictured above discussing the imprortance of woven running socks to a fellow runner.
My first run with the group was 6 miles. The group was scheduled for 5 miles, yet as 6 miles was a perfect distance, so the group, me included voted to gp the extra mile.
I started the Galloway program with a run-walk interval of 2 minutes to one minutes or 2:1. I’ve tried out 3:1, 1:1, even 4:1 for short runs, truly 2:1 is the best fit for me.
Just a few weeks prior to my first half marathon the group was treated to having the program’s founder, former Olympian Jeff Galloway come speak to us as a group.
Among other things that Jeff talked about, he mentioned that running has many benefits including making you stronger, possible weight loss (when combined with the proper diet), increased overall health and possible life extension.
Jeff spoke at length to Sid about his injuries. Sid had injured his IT band, yet was determined to keep running. Jeff advised him how he could do so, and later gave him further advice over email. Seeing Sid run even though there was some pain for him, and seeing him at the finish area of the San Francisco Marathon was a huge inspiration for me.
Jeff graciously signed copies of his books, one of which was the textbook for the class. I had him sign something different than a book, an item I could take with me on races (photo to follow later in the post).
After Jeff spoke to the group we had a regular running session. We were scheduled for a short run to a nearby school, a timed one mile run around the school’s track and a run back for about four miles. I ran the mile in the fastest time I had to date, perhaps motivated by Jeff being there.
After the session, some of us stayed for an additional running clinic with Jeff. As part of the clinic Jeff watched us run individually, then instructed us on how we could improve as individuals. Here he is talking with my friend Felix who went from casual exercising to running my first half marathon with me.
Jeff instructed me further that my overall leg motion and gait was correct, however, I needed to stop swinging my arms out so much (a problem I still struggle with on the longest runs).
The thing I wanted Jeff to sign most was my running shirt. As Galloway members we got two, one long sleeved one and no sleeved version. I had Jeff sign the white shirt I’m wearing in that and this photo below, and wore it to my first half marathon.
by Danielle Stolman
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