Hi y’all,

Including a note from Ric that he posted on the Facebook page earlier today.  Not everyone is on Facebook, so I didn’t want anyone to miss.  We have a HUGE group this year and don’t want any one to slip through the cracks {that doesn’t want to}.

Also, in follow up to Ric’s note…we want to make sure that everyone is in a PACE GROUP.  If you are still floating around out there and on THIS LIST…please reply to this email so we can get you placed in a group!  I’m down to just 17 folks…several of which just joined in the past week!

More to follow tomorrow on specifics for Saturday. And just so you can sleep tonight…it will be early and it will be at Turner High School to run hills, one more than last week 🙂

Aimee Galley

aimee.galley2@gmail.com | 281-728-4848 cell

From Ric:

We now have everyone grouped according to MM and distance (FM/HM). I would like to encourage everyone starting this weekend and for the last few weeks of hills before we start long runs, to get together with your pace groups. Once in your groups, trade phone numbers, emails, twitter or FB info or whatever other methods you may have to connect with each other. We will be also be having group leaders, which will really be your group connector…and can help you GET and STAY connected to the others! More on them, soon…

If you are one of those that is not able to do their long run on Saturday but do them another day, we want you to get connected with others like you as well so you don’t have to run alone. If you need help doing so…just let us know. Make sure, if you will, to include all those in your group if you need to run at a different time…so that everyone has the opportunity to run with you or can make plans to run with others.

The grouping, as we have said in the past, is not something that is etched in stone and there is always the option to move to another group. I always recommend that if you are struggling with keeping up with people in your group, let us know and we will be more than happy to move you to a slightly slower group. We group people by pace to give you the opportunity to take full advantage of others of similar pace and distance. It also allows each of you to be an encouragement to each other and in most cases help each other to be accountable so that you all reach your desired goal.

On the other hand, the most discouraging thing to me is to show up for a scheduled run and no one else is there and/or find out that those in your group decided to run another time other than the one scheduled. Makes you think perhaps I did not use my deodorant last run or maybe you just don’t like me! Yes, I understand we all have friends we want to run with and that is great…but try to think of others as well and include them so that NO ONE is left behind. If the person is significantly slower, then encourage them to switch to a group that would be a better fit for them. We all joined a group because we want to run with others and to achieve our goal or to take part in the social interaction. Just remember, most us at one time joined a group and were “the outsider” and someone took the time to get to know you! Now is the time to pay it forward and help someone else to be successful and be a friend to them. Don’t let it be about you, but let it be about how you can help someone else! The giver is always blessed far more than the receiver.

We will be working to do a few different things this weekend if we can to reduce the congestion on the hills so that we can go as groups and not to be concerned with that over-crowding…which is a great thing! More info on that will come before Saturday too.

Have a great running week and look forward to seeing everyone this weekend running those hills!!!