Coaching

Today when I arrived at the Adult Running Club, I was called to not run but "coach." One of my friends who has never run before was nervous about being there without a buddy. Especially because I had run yesterday, I felt no qualms about offering to partner with her. Over the course of our run, I helped her pick a run-walk ratio, helped her slow down to a pace she could sustain, and encouraged her along the way. It was the greatest feeling of accomplishment I've felt in a long time. I explained to her I feel like a new runner each time I start over. I know that feeling of wanting to stop and being encouraged to not think of stopping as choice. I loved helping her give herself the gift of the feeling at the end of a run. To me there are few greater feelings of satisfaction. Today I may have learned that paying it forward is the greatest feeling of all.