This cult called Team in Training is wonderful.
I've been struggling lately, trying to get back into my running routine. OK. I'll say it. I've been afraid.
It hasn't been easy -- these IT band issues. They both hurt, the right more than the left, since San Diego. I don't want to freak up my knees, but I don't want to stop running, either.
I've run only slightly since the marathon, mainly because I have wanted to try and see if I could actually run again without pain so I could be a mentor for the winter season. But you can't really mentor runners very well if you can't run with them, can you?
So I've been trying to gather inspiration where I can.
I even got the bag out again, the one that TNT Captain Laura and the mentors put together for the team for this summer's events. They gave it to us in April, at our 15-miler, the first really long run we did at White Rock.
I pulled it out on Wednesday. I took it to work with me for inspiration. It also was the day the team leader at the LLS office blew up e-mails to remind folks that the deadline was near to apply to be a mentor.
I felt I needed something here at this point if I was going to get back to where I was, something that had become my cocoon, my comfort zone. Running. With the team. For a purpose.
I opened the bag again. Because I had it at work and didn't want to have to explain to each person who walked by, I just mainly looked inside. but really kept it shut so that others wouldn't start going through my stuff. Things like that happen in my new/old digs at my new job. But that's a different blog post...
The surprise of the day came on yahoo, when I got an e-mail from Laura. I hadn't been out to Wednesday Night Run in about a month. They missed me. She wanted me to apply to be a mentor.
So I did, and I got in. The new season kicks off while I'm running the Crim at the end of the month.
I still worry about the IT bands, so I've been diligent about seeing my new chiropractor, a sports medicine doctor who is really more like a Whisperer (doesn't look like Robert Redford, more like Doogie Howser).
He hasn't adjusted me once, he's done mostly physical therapy on me and my homework assignments are exercises that look a lot like pushups without lifting the body below the pelvis.
Yesterday, Dr. Doogie put his fingers between my IT band AND my knee and leg bones on the right and pulled the sucker out from behind the knee bone and away from the rest of the leg. (I don't think I need to describe the pain here). But it feels better and other than just being sore from that maneuver, it doesn't stab like it did. (We do this again on Tuesday. I can't wait).
He says I'll be fine.
So all you TNTers out there who have gone down this road before, what do you look for, want, in a mentor?
More inspiration please?
7 comments:
Who's going through your stuff at work?
Even my boss knows better than to look through my stuff. That would drive me insane.
As for mentoring, just be available and friendly. My first mentor was pretty worthless but the 2nd one was really good. I would love to be a mentor. Good job on making ht etime for something that really is important.
I had a good mentor the first time, not so good the second. The third time, I was the mentor. I don't think I was as good as I wanted to be. I got frustrated with the people who never responded. And I wasn't sure what to do about it. But the group that was really into it, made it so worth it. I loved being a mentor to them and it was a beautiful thing to see them do well. As Amy said, just be available, friendly and resourceful. Also, stay on people to raise money. This is very important. You'll be fabulous.
Congradualtions on being a mentor. It is a fun and rewarding experience. This season is my 4th time being a mentor. Just be supportive, send some insiring e-mails and be there when they need you. Plus if you lose people do not take it to personal. There is only so much help you can give a person. If they drop, remember it is not your fault.
Am I the only one who had to look up what IT bands was?
Communicate, communicate, and communicate with your team. If that means email, telephone or in person. I loved seeing the mentors at the group training runs it was so helpful. Having experienced the journey really helps to give people a comfort zone. Help your coaches as much and often as possible. Al is a great mentor. He has been invaluable to the east side coaching staff, but don’t let him know that. You’ll do great
Yes, Andrew I, you were probably the only one. Running is a cult and you know all the lingo. I did my first TNT race with a new friend I met at the info meeting in Lansing. It was her first really big run too. She struggled a little with the race and after the race her husband made some calls to friends back home to tell how she did. He told them that she hit the wall at mile 17. One particular friend called her later that day to ask her if she was okay. She said yes, just a little tired but why?? The friend replied that she heard she had hit a wall and wondered if she was injured. She was serious. We laughed long over that one. That means you feel like you can't go anymore Andrew. It is like anything else. You probably have interests with expressions that other people don't know about. Once you have an IT band issue, you remember. It is a pain. You could probably handle it though as it sounds like you are tough!
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