Run Like a Girl: 26.2

Change in plans, guys. I told you I was going to talk about a new race today. I’m gonna get to that tomorrow instead. 

In the meantime, I would love to tell you about my awesome debrief with Julie, Sara, and Noemi on Monday night.

Monday was the first time we had all been back together since the Cleveland Marathon on May 17. It’s strange going from seeing friends at least once a week for 18 weeks to seeing them zero times a week for three. I definitely needed a break from our training schedule, but it was such a change.

So what prompted our evening out? Well, a couple things. There are two things the four of us are really good at. Eating and running. Since we weren’t training, we should at least get together so we could be eating. Another reason for the get together: several years ago, I received a coffee mug from a runner friend. I looked up to her and was so grateful when she gave me a mug for my birthday that read, “Run Like A Mother.” It was the perfect gift and I still treasure it to this day. I wanted to bestow a similar gift to the girls I trained with. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to get them but I realized a coffee mug is the perfect gift, and that’s probably why I received mine in the first place.

While I was searching for said coffee mugs, I came across these:

Perfect. 

I added 3 to my cart, paid, and waited.

As soon as I received them, I emailed the girls to see when we could get together for dinner. I’m pretty sure they had no idea I was cooking anything up. In the meantime, remember the book I reviewed yesterday? Sole Sisters? Well I asked Noemi if she wouldn’t mind if I passed it along, so I was planning on bringing that to dinner as well. 

(Meanwhile, I had to hurry through the last three chapters so I could finish the book on time. I was reading up until I had to leave to pick up Julie!)

On Sunday, I lovingly placed the mugs into gift bags and put them on the dresser to bring to dinner on Monday. Monday finally rolled around. I picked up Julie and off we went. Sara, Julie and I arrived first. And as soon as Noemi got there, we toasted and cheers’ed. The book went to Sara, and the mugs were distributed.

I don’t know if the girls liked the mugs, and I frankly don’t even care if they do. I just hope it put a smile on their faces when they opened them (which it did), and I hope every time they drink their coffee, tea, water, beverage of choice — they think of all the hard work and tough miles we put in together. The bonds we forged on the road seem unbreakable. It would take something pretty big to change our dynamic. The coffee mugs were a small way for me to say thanks to them for an amazing marathon experience.

After our delicious dinner, we headed off from some fro-yo. And look — we have proof that we don’t always wear running clothes!

It was a magical evening. We debriefed and discussed all the things that went right — and wrong — during our race as well as over our 18 weeks of training. And we chatted with Sara about her recent ultra experience. We even discussed possible upcoming races, as well as our hopes and dreams for the rest of the summer and into next racing season. It was great to see everyone again and be able to enjoy each other’s company. I can’t wait to start running with these wonderful ladies again. 

You guys rock!