Running Buddies take on the Hill

by Serena Burla on May 31, 2012

As I cooled down on Friday, worn ragged by our hill workout at Great Falls National park, I couldn’t help but smile as I glanced at our running crew.  All soaked with sweat, smelly, hair disheveled, legscovered in dirt; Jacqui Wentz, Yihunlish Bekele Delelecha, Amanda Marino and I were a beautifulpost workout crew.  We each wore a slightly different look of joy and exhaustion.   We chatted nonstop about topics I can’t remember, quite contrary to the amount that was spoken during the workout, when each one of us were almost silent except for the occasional keep it ups, good job, ready-set-go, or ___# more to go (an understanding that each of us was rooting for the other, but too tired to express it verbally) . 

Most people would never have guessed the voluntary early start time we set to escape a little bit of the heat(but not the humidity), or the sleepover that took place at my house the night before to limit the drive time for some of my teammates in the morning.  They might have questioned our sanity in hearing that we ran hard up and down a three minute beast of a hill numerous times voluntarily rather than taking a leisurely stroll down the paths that lead to the actual falls.  To us Great Falls is all about “the hill,” although the overlooks of the falls do serve as some great scenery while stretching.  Yes we are runners.

The thing that struck me most at this moment was not: thank goodness we survived the workout, or I am sore and I can’t wait for an ice bath (though, those two things did cross my mind), butrather how fortunate I was to have such awesome running buddies, training partners, and friends.  The life of a runner can be lonely, really lonely. But on days like these the loneliness fades and is replaced with energy, a common bond, some teasing, and with people that bring out the best in me.  Thanks for the workout ladies!

~Serena