Strength in Numbers

Last night at track practice, instead of a grueling interval workout, we had a night of " fun and games". in which the runners present divided into two teams  and competed to see which team could run the most miles in 40 minutes. In my running club, it seems,  there's a natural social gap based on ability-- you chat with and get to know people who run your pace and those whose footfalls fly past you are blurry shirts instead of faces, competitors instead of teammates. This gap is not due to lack of social will but rather natural skill and for me --a proud, solid member of the 8-9 minute mile club, its a thrill to run  alongside and cheer for the 6 minute mile crew. I even learned some of their names. 

The relay forced us to think beyond our own time splits to the larger effort of the team,  and to put one foot in front of the other for the good of all, not just self. At first, it was hard to think of the others; I was too busy pushing myself for myself and proving myself to the track to focus on the team. But after a while, when other, faster runners came wearily to the finish and asked me to run in their place, I felt honored.  "I got it!" I told them each time, and every time I could, I ran two laps just to give them an extra second to breathe.

This two-lap strategy may not have been the most effective as I am far from the fastest runner on the team, but it kept me motivated and made me feel as though I was contributing something to the score. 

This, I can do. I told myself. I am always ready to run for a friend and to support a team. This is what I am BEST at. 

As these thoughts pushed me to the finish over and over again, I helped my relay team to complete 78 miles--one lap at a time. 

I've been wondering for a while now what it means to be strong. Is it the capacity to exert effort and withstand pain, the mental fortitude to push onwards or the emotional resolve to never give in--even when your heart is crushed or your body's burning?

I still don't have an answer or a singular definition for strength, but part of it must be, the will to push on, to let go of the time or the miles or the runners racing by, to run for the team, for the good of the team, as fast as you can.

I/ We  ran strong and did well.

I can't wait for tomorrow.