Struggles of a Small Town

I have lived in Emporia, Virginia for just over a year now. I enjoy most things about small town life. I grew up in a town smaller than this so I am used to most aspects of it. One thing I can't seem to deal with is the lack of runner friends. I have been here over a year and the only consistent runner friend I have is a man from our church. I'm not complaining about him in any way! He trained with me for my long runs of my first half marathon training plan, paced me through my first half marathon and helped me train for my second half marathon. 
 

Mile 11 of being paced. (I never realized how good I look in this picture until I saw the guy in the right background covered in sweat. Also, note my Oiselle distance shorts.)

But now, he is helping train my husband for his first full marathon. I'm already getting left in the mileage dust as they press farther and faster than I can hang. I could probably keep their pace and mileage right now, if I hadn't taken time off for my calf injury. But if I hadn't taken that time off I wouldn't be healthy enough to be running at all right now. I'm feeling a little runner lonely.

I have run with a few girls here and there while living here. I ran Esprit de She Cary with Ansley. I have done some training runs with Elizabeth, but she is finishing up her PhD in England so I only get to run with her when she is back for visits. **Sidenote** Elizabeth is the daughter of the man who trained and paced me for my first half marathon. And I ran the Special Olympics Torch Run with Brenda and Sharon.


I miss my girlfriends in Pensacola. I miss Tina, Dawn, Regina, and Emily. I miss the Phat Girlz run group. I miss knowing that every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday morning there would always be someone to run with it. I'm realizing now how much I took the girlz for granted.

With two of my dear runner friends, Tina and Dawn. (See my Oiselle Bum Wrap?)

I guess I need to take the initiative and seek out other women. I have discussed some possibilities of making my own run group with my husband. He is all for it, I just need to seek out some avenues to really get it going. I had some other options in mind but they have fallen through. I would love to create a women's group that meets for a quick Bible Study (like five minutes) and then goes out and runs. How fun would that be?

Some of my struggles might also come from my lack of real races lined up. I haven't had a race since June. And after that race was when I took my seven week injury break. Here is my set (registered) race plan for the rest of the year.

1. Pretty Muddy Richmond
2. Picasso Run 10K
3. Tacky Lights Run 6k

I had plans to run the Richmond 8k that happens the same day as the Richmond Half and Full but I have conflict with a church function the same day. But I am truly looking forward to these next three races because they will be my first as part of the Oiselle family. 

Ok, I already feel better after getting this out of my head into writing. I missed my morning run this morning due to a sweet small redhead calling my name. But I will set out some time today and get my run in.

Any suggestions for me about getting out of my lonely slump are welcome. 

God Bless.