Running Fit 501 Summer 2009

The 2009 summer session of Running Fit 501 is officially underway. Asia always hates the break between sessions. She still runs every day but misses her team.

Tuesday night the new members and some of the old from the Ann Arbor and Dexter/Chelsea locations met at the Running Fit Warehouse in Ann Arbor for 2 mile timed trials. Coach uses this to determine which color/pace group is the best fit for each runner. The Red Group trains at a 7:00-8:30 pace, Green Group, 8:30-9:30, Yellow 9:30-10:30, Blue 10:30-12:00, and Purple 12:00-14:00. Note: this is NOT the race pace, but the training pace. Asia is in the Green Group, and ran her 2-mile timed trial in 14:47.

After the timed trial, Coach introduced the Color group coaches, gave everyone instructions on using the website, staying hydrated on summer long runs, passed out registration packs with team hats and coupons.

The group has grown from 70 or so in 2006 to nearly 200 this summer, including all the stores.

This morning the Ann Arbor group met in the Huron High School parking lot at 7:15 for instructions before taking off for their first long run. The course was 5 miles, out and back, with 2 water stops, and included both Broadway and Sunset hills! Coach made sure all the new runners knew who their color group coaches were, and that they had running partners if they weren't familiar with the course. It was raining lightly, but Coach assured us that it would stop *any minute now*. (After what these folks ran in this past winter, a little light rain is nothing!) After making sure everyone was paired with like-paced runners going the same distance, Coach sent them off into the mist and I took off (by Jeep) for the first water stop.

The Red Group arrived first with a few new members, including John, Katie's husband, and Francisco and Andrea who *graduated* from the Green Group. Everyone looked strong and enjoying their run. Mandi, Jen, Katie, Asia and 2 new guys arrived next, had their water and Ultima and took off again.

The turn around point was 1 mile past the 2nd water stop, so I actually got to see most of the runners as I waited for Asia and Katie to come back. The Kinesio tape was holding up well on Asia's feet and blisters were no problem today.

I was amazed that the new runners looked so strong after the 5% grade on Broadway. I don't know the grade on Sunset, but I've been told it's the highest point in Ann Arbor, and it's long, and steep. I found a website last night that will calculate the grade of a hill, much like a pace calculator for a race. Plug in the horizontal distance and the vertical change and, voila, it calculates the grade.

Back at the high school, runners arrived sweaty and tired but smiling! There is a new runner, Linda, who has a son with autism. She's running the Chicago marathon to raise money for autism. It will be fun getting to know her and her son this summer.

It's going to be a good summer.