Wow, I haven't posted in a while. That's because I've been so busy living up life, I've had few moments to sit down and write about it.
One of the things that's kept me busy is discovering new hobbies. Running for one. "Running?", you say? "Doesn't that date back to when they invented feet?" Relax, my friend, running's an old sport, but it's never been my cup of tea. The idea of tirelessly and repetitively pounding one foot ahead of the other, usually while you're alone, and out of breath...I just never really understood it.
But, the Nike Running Club has got me running! How'd they accomplish such a herculean task? They've made running social. They've made it supportive. They've made it exciting.
Usually, I'm skeptical of corporate-run marketing events. At some point, during college, they told me I should be smart enough to see through them. But I'm smart enough to see through this one, and I still enjoy it. From a marketing perspective, it's brilliant. From a personal perspective, it's a lot of fun.
What does this involve? Every Wednesday at 6:30 pm, hundreds of runners, mostly women, show up at the Niketown store in Union Square. You can pick one of 7 models of Nike shoe to trial run that day. Music is pumping, people are chatting and meeting each other, and there's an announcer on the mike with raffles, training tips, and general encouragement. You group according to your running pace, and they cheer you off!
Someone else is setting the pace, so you don't have to worry about running too fast. You're chatting and getting to know people as you're running. Aid stations with water and snacks are sprinkled along the way so you don't have to carry water. Pressure to stay with the group keeps you going when your energy is flagging. And everyone's in a positive and friendly mindset!
Pretty soon, the faster running groups are passing by on their way back, and we cheer each other on. When we return, the music's going, people are cheering, and there's water, food and a festive atmosphere. "What an accomplishment!", you feel. And you're ready to do it again.
I'll admit: the 4 miles I ran on Wednesday was probably the farthest I'd ever run. In fact, after my first run on Wednesday, I convinced Ted to go with me at 8am this Sunday morning! He's such a saint that he decided to go. At 9:30 am, we felt so charged: normally we'd still be in bed now, but today, we've already achieved so much!
What a great win-win event! Nike wins because we're running more and trying their products. I win because I'm getting healthier, achieving new heights, and having fun!
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