Elite

On a daily basis, I am surrounded by people who soar so much higher than the typical person.  Unfortunately, also on a daily basis, I am surrounded by people who are okay with accepting mediocracy.  For a long time, I focused on the pains of dealing with these types, not understanding their apathy toward anything, especially something they loved.

I remember once, my super-awesome first English professor at school, Simeone Davis, wrote on the board during election time in 2000, "Apathy is for the weak." Sadly, she had to ask the honor's class what "apathy" meant.  I didn't understand the multitude of uncaring people in the world until I opened up my eyes.  In class once, a few years later, she asked basic, stupid questions about a book we were supposed to read.  When students couldn't answer the simple questions, she decided not to waste her time on us anymore and stormed out of the room.  Most students were just happy to have an extra hour and twenty minutes free of English class.

This semester, I have five classes, I'd say that four out of the five of them are great.  The other one, eh. There's a large majority of "slackers" in the class.  The other day I was looking up new career paths because this one class just really turns my stomach.  I dreaded waking up and going on my not-so-merry way to work, and the day actually went pretty smoothly. My final class of the day (a good class) was fabulous, and I felt better, realizing that I was so silly to be getting myself all worked up because of ONE group of idiots, when there actually are people who care and make my day enjoyable.

On that day, on my way to my car and onto my Alter-G training, I checked my phone for loads of emails that fill up my inbox quickly.  One was from the Cherry Blossom 10-Miler, explaining that I would be in the Elite Advanced Women Start of the race, meaning I would start with Olympians, professionals, Kenyans, Joan Benoit-Samuelson.  Our start is going to be 10 minutes before the elite men's start (along with the rest of the 15,000 runners) so that we have that chance to feel elite, without interruption by any mediocre man looking to challenge a girl who he knows will whoop his ass. This email and my successful day gave me a nice boost for my 10-miler on the Alter-G (mile warmup, 8-mile run in 49 minutes, mile cooldown - at 75-80% body weight).  My trainer Julie, along with several of the geriatric patients at the office, were excited for my "elite" news, more people to make my day a little better than before.

As I am approaching my "elite" race, I can't lie and say that I am not nervous.  On Tuesday, I tweaked my hamstring a little while doing a speed workout that I probably shouldn't have done since I have been doing mostly longer type of workouts to prepare for the 10-miler.  So far, I have taken two days off and things are feeling pretty good.  I think I will be all set, especially after I take my legs for a test run in a few minutes.

A group of my runner gal pals, the Divas, are also running the race and were talking about being nervous.  I shared my theory of nerves with them, which ultimately also teaches a nice life lesson about losing a negative focus and replacing it with positive views, like I had to do with my classes.

There are two types of nerves: bad nerves and good nerves.

1. Bad nerves are the negative, worry-wort "what if's." What if I don't finish? What if she beats me? What if I cramp? What if a fire starts at the starting line right in front of me? We think of the craziest worst things that can happen and forget about the amazing what ifs. What if I run amazing? What if I win? What if I PR? It has taken me almost 25 years, but I am getting pretty good at being a better dreamer than worrier.

2. As for the good nerves, I like to think they are the ones that are cause by the thought, "Okay, I am about to put my body through hell, and I'm a bit nervous for that pain but know that it will be worth it." These are my new nerves, good ones, realistic ones. It's kind of like pre-surgery nerves. You know the surgery will be fixing something, but your a little nervous about the pain you will feel afterward. 

My husband's "I love you because you are elite" message.

I'm pretty excited, as a 29-year-old, I can still put my body through a high level of competition.  I have never actually ever felt "elite," considering people like Kara, Desi, Shalane, Jenny are my idea of untouchable elite, but for now, I can believe that it's pretty freekin' awesome that I am seeded within the top 50 women of a race of 15,000 people.  So maybe I am not going to race a Kenyan, but 54-year-old Joan might be right next to me at points in the race, and a whole lot of people are going to think I am pretty darn fast. Plus, my bib will have a special sticker to prove it.  And I'm pretty sure my legs can prove it too.