Eat Drink Run Woman

Last Tuesday I ran seven miles for someone I don’t really know.

A fellow personal chef posted on our national message board her goal to lose 60 pounds; knowing support of friends, family and colleagues will be key to her success, she asked if any of us would be willing to “sponsor” a pound. Once she lost the designated pound, we’d have to do whatever we committed to — shaving our head, eliminating our favorite junk food for a month, volunteering at a local soup kitchen, etc.

I wanted to pick something I’d actually look forward to doing (shaving my head was NOT it!), so I told her I’d run the number of miles for pounds lost. Perhaps not the most creative, but given my weight loss (40 pounds) came as a result of running, I figured it’d be apropos. But I did give myself a challenge, sponsoring three goal pounds: 7, 15 and 22. On March 24 — three weeks after starting the challenge — Gabriella posted to say she had hit the first mark.

I had a 6-mile speed work session scheduled, but decided to add a mile in her honor. As I stood in my client’s kitchen that day looking out at the pouring rain, I contemplated postponing the run until the next day, my day off. But knowing I had made a promise — not only to Gabriella, but to myself (I wouldn’t let a little rain keep me from working toward my Boston goal) — I was determined to lace up.

While I got home at a reasonable hour, as usual I dawdled for well over an hour. I finally headed out at 5:30 p.m. Fortunately the rain had stopped, but mid-way through the run it started up again. RASSENFRASSEN! But again, I remembered my promise and was determined to finish the 7 miles. A little over an hour later I was back home, cold, wet, but elated I had reached my goal.

So Gabriella, I look forward to the day I get to write the reports for the 15- and 22-mile runs!