Workout buddies!

Nerd Camp was a treat in that I was able to work out several mornings with a running buddy. Generally, I train alone--none of my friends or acquaintances need a regimen like mine, other than people I know through soccer. Having someone else there is helpful, both in motivation (i can keep up with her), difficulty (talking while running is hard), and occasionally just plain getting your ass kicked (how can she be lapping me again?!). I like it when I can get it.

Lately, I've been jogging (on my own) to a park about .6 m. from my house. The math becomes easier at the end of the day: .6 there, .6 back, and a track that everyone swears is 1/3 m. around. I jog there, stretch, run a mile, die, stretch again, and jog back home exhausted but happy. Occasionally, during the final die/stretch segment, there will be other joggers taking a break. I swear, the chattiest people in my town go to this park: we've had fifteen or twenty-minute-long conversations around the park benches or water fountain!

The economy comes up often, as does President Obama. Today our big topic was motivation, especially in terms of change (though I suppose it doesn't take too much motivation to keep things the same). One woman very seriously believed that a change in thought is needed, is coming to the U.S. The teenager training for soccer felt that the first part of change was setting goals; I agreed that you needed a goal, and then you needed ways to get there and determination to stick it out, even on the bad days.

It's interesting to hear that this is the attitude around my community; it gives me a lot of hope. I know that it will be difficult to sustain, and an attitude doesn't immediately equal change, but it is a start. With luck, goals, and determination, maybe something will come of it.