Sunday, October 19, 2008

Breakthrough! Woohoo!

So, it finally happened! I've met exercise partners! YAY! And it all happened because I joined the swim team. On Saturday the swim team had a fundraiser for the kids' side of the group, to raise money for them to get to international swim meets. Chris and I weren't going to volunteer, we thought we'd just drop off some of the world's best chocolate chip cookies and high tail it out of there. But being the punctual people we are, we were some of the first to arrive so we decided to stick around until more help showed up. Chris was the grill master serving up some tastey hotdogs while I worked the bake sale part of it. Well, while I was at the table another volunteer was talking to a lady who said 'I have to plan an 8 mile run for tomorrow.' The longer I'm a military spouse the bolder I get because I interrupted her and said, 'Excuse me, is there some kind of running club on the island because I haven't been able to find one?' And Tiffany said, 'We're not really a club, just a group of women who get together and run on a Sunday morning.' It sounded perfect, so she told me the time and place they were meeting and I agreed to see her the next morning.

Well, a little later in the morning a new volunteer, Kathleen, showed up and she mentioned biking earlier that morning. Chris had gone out biking earlier that morning and while on the way back from base with his bike in his van he saw 3 ladies biking. So, at a red light he rolls down the window and says,'Hey ladies! Just wondering if you let new people bike with you because my wife is looking for people to ride with'. Well, the lady said yes, but the light changed before any real details could be exchanged. It just so happens that the lady on the bike was Kathleen! Small world, huh? So, now I have a group to bike with - as soon as I get my bike!

I met the running group at 5:30 am Sunday for an 8 mile run. I was slightly apprehensive since I hadn't really been doing anything over 5, but figured with group support I'd make it. The group only had 5 this time (Tiffany says that sometimes it's as many as 24!). I started off with another Amy and we were very similar in pace, but she turned around early because of shin pain. There was no way I could catch up with the 2 front runners so I dropped back with Nadine and we ran the rest together. It was a nice, comfortable run and it was the farthest Nadine has ever run! Plus, while running I mentioned ultimate frisbee and Nadine is friends with the guy who runs ultimate here in Okinawa! So, in 2 days I went from having no connections to having running partners, a bike group, and an in on the ultimate! Woohoo!

5 comments:

The Bertsch Family said...

What a great weekend! Good job on the 8 miles too! I have missed a about 3 or so weeks from the gym cuz of family being in town and being in the States but I was back at it on Friday. In fact, I better get a move on to get to today's class. TTFN!

Mary said...

Amy, great to hear you're linking up with people with similar interests! Hope you and Chris are doing well, and I enjoy following your adventures! Take care,

Mary

Anonymous said...

Great job on the fitness hook ups. One thing I learned when I moved to a place where I didn't know anybody was to speak up and be bold. I invited myself a lot of times and people seem to be perceptive to it.

Unknown said...

Very proud of you Amy! On the speaking up that is! Too funny about Chris leaning out the window to shout out, clearly he too was anxious for you to meet people! I knew you would make friends eventually, hopefully they will turn out to be as great as the ones you made here in England! 8 miles is great! I have to work out a routine here and get to that place too...

Unknown said...

Glad you found some exercise friends. Hopefully they carry hand gel with them on a run to keep you in the style you are accostomed to.