Missing AND Remembering Great Friends

This morning, after an unplanned 20-mile run on Saturday and a very much planned 56-mile ride yesterday, my legs were simply "not feeling the love" of high intensity exercise.  So, I grabbed the iPod and headed out for an extremely unusual WALK.  Yes, I walked my 5-mile run route and I must say I enjoyed it.

This particular morning I was bemoaning the fact that I had not talked with several of my dearest friends recently, or even in months.  I am very much to blame as I am sure that my schedule and involvement in "everything" just is not conducive to in-depth relationships unless we can run, ride, swim, or eat together.  Wow.  What a horrible friend I must be in the end...  Anyway, I was thinking of Michelle B., Nancy, Ana, and Darcey, Chuck D., Audra, Laura, Stann, Robin, Karen, Richard H. (yes, Richard), and Mac, just to name a "few."  The last time I had a "Heart-to-Heart" with Mac, I heard "For Good" one of my all time favorite songs from the Wicked soundtrack.  It is sort of like being pushed over when Mac and this song show up together.  This morning was no different, and I was glad to be walking and not cruising up Highway 319 at 20 m.p.h.  And, even though I  have posted these lyrics before, I never cease to be amazed at the lesson(s) they teach me each and every time I hear them. Today's lesson was to not give up on friends or forget them simply because you don't cross paths every day.  Do your (my) share to keep the friendship glowing and positive, and try to not let life get too much in the way of what is really important.  With that said, below are the lyrics in case you haven't heard the song, and an explanation of what is going on in the song follows.

I miss you my friends.  I hope to see you and share honest time with you soon.

I'm limited
Just look at me - I'm limited
And just look at you -
You can do all I couldn't do, Glinda
So now it's up to you.
For both of us - now it's up to you.

I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you...

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the Better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for Good...

It may well be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a hand-print on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend

Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the Better?
But because I knew you ...

Because I knew you...

I have been changed for Good...

And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the things I've done you blame for

But then, I guess we know
There's blame to share

And none of it seems to matter anymore

Who can say if I've been changed for the Better?
I do believe I have been changed for the Better.

Because I knew you...
Because I knew you...
Because I knew you...
I have been changed for GOOD

One of my favorite songs from the Wicked: A New Musical soundtrack is "For Good." Elphaba (Wicked Witch of the West) and Glinda (Good Witch of the North) are about to part ways after having been thrown together as roommates in "college" and discovering that they could actually be friends. The lyrics are magical and sentimental and bring tears to my eyes every time I hear them.

Running as a Resume' Item: Who'd Have Thought?

About two months ago I was on my way into the bank taking a check from the 15 year-old boy for deposit as reimbursement for the overly extravagant radio control helicopter Colin he "just had to have", when I am stopped on the steps leading into to the bank by a nice, younger, man and his very attractive wife.

He says to me that he noticed the stickers on the Odyssey - as if anyone could miss them, really - and asked if I ran locally and if I was also "doing triathlons."  Knowing that my triathlon bike is at this moment on the roof rack of the Odyssey, I politely answer, "Yes."  I explain that I am new to triathlon but that I have been running for some time now.  He introduces himself as Nate Brannen, one of the partners/owners of a new running and triathlon shop getting ready to open here in Tallahassee.  Many of us in the running and triathlon community have been waiting with somewhat anxious feet for this shop to get out of the blocks.  I have read here and there about their shop, so I was somewhat familiar with his and his partner's goals as well as their accolades.  His partner, by-the-way, is Kevin Sullivan (husband of Karen Harvey, coach of the Florida State University Women's Cross Country Team).

Now to most of you, except our Grandpa Don McEwen, these names mean next to nothing.  However, they are BOTH Canadian and ran at the University of Michigan ... and they BOTH ran in the 2008 Beijing Olympics for Canada.  I find that peculiar, knowing Don and his history as we do, so I have to include it here.  So, back to my story.  When I met Nate, I joked with him that I would love to chat with the two of them about working part time in the shop.  Not too many weeks later, Colin and I run a 5K that Nate and Kevin and Karen are also running.  No shock to either of us when the "Canooks" win 1st and 2nd, because we actually know "who they are."  Colin, who finished 5th overall, chats with them both after the race as he waits for his slow mother to shuffle to the finish.  Nate, Kevin, and Karen are all quite pleasant we talk very briefly and then go our separate ways.

A day or so after the race, I get a short message from Nate that he and Kevin would be interested in talking to me about working with them in the new shop, Capital City Runners, would I please send him my resume'.  So I do.  I am not completely stupid you know.  Well, turns out that my massive retail experience, running finesse, and ties to the local running/triathlon community simply wowed and overwhelmed them.  Bah, ha, ha!!!  No, really, they quite plainly told me that they believe we will be a good match to get the shop open and off and running.  I can only hope that they like working with me as much as I believe I am going to enjoy working with them.

 

Holy Moly!  Leave it to me to find, yet another something new out there in a runner's world to get in on.  I am lovin' it to the max.  Start looking for me, the Boston Qualifier on staff, over there on Thomasville Road between Five Guys Burgers and Red Elephant starting October 16.  It's going to be a blast.  Real runners getting more real runners ready to run.  What more could a running girl want?