Saturday, October 4, 2008

My Running Group

I joined Vancouver Front Runners today. International Front Runners is 'an affiliation of GLBT running/walking clubs that have organized in many of larger cities around the world'. The Vancouver group meets twice a week for a 7ish kilometer run and a meal and socializing after. I drove down to Brockton Oval today but in the future I will probably ride my bike, which will also serve as my warm up. Today I wanted to drive just because I was not sure of the facilities and the routine etc.

The run was great, along parts the seawall, through the park, around Beaver Lake and back. Routes I have never done before and so scenic. There sure are lots of people out and active at
that time of the morning. It is great to be part of the 'doing' part of the population. So I was 'buddied up' with another runner, Jim, and we chatted for a lot of the run. He was, as all of the guys I met today, a very nice and friendly guy. I did have to stop and walk though some of the way as my right calf was causing me some grief. I think I just need to stretch it out more. I've reduced the amount of stretching I have been doing lately as my exercise time is getting cut short sometimes and I am shortchanging my stretching. That's a bad thing.
It's great to have this opportunity to just join up with a group of people who are strangers to me and be able to fit in, be included and partake right away. We went for brunch at Wild Garlic after and chatted and hung out for a while. There were about 20 guys at the run today and about 12 went for brunch. They also meet on Wednesdays in Yaletown at 6:30 and of course go for dinner after as well. I am going to try to attend that run as well, it is usually around False Creek and over the Cambie Bridge, a route I am very familiar with. No that work finishes at 5:30 I can easily make it home in time and zip down there on my bike.
This is great. I am so glad I found out about this. I have been wanting to join a running or cycling group as I always do that stuff on my own so this worked out great.

No comments: