The awesomeness of training buddies

Something happened recently that still bothers me somewhat, so I thought I vent my spleen here and be gone with my grudge.

I used to have a wonderful training partner whom I met at my running club. She was great: we live close-by and are at a similar sort of pace. Things were going well...until...well  a few weeks ago, where I organised a 20+mile long run, where it was planned I start to run with her after I have done around 8 miles as she was only meant to do 12 miles.

Seriously - all she needs to do was...turn up at this place at this time. Simple, right?

No. Not only she didn't turn up on time (at least 45 minutes late), she also rocked up at the wrong place; and when I called her she has started running...after I have waited all this time for her!

I was livid. I have never felt such annoyance and anger since … god knows when!

Not only this person was not sorry, when she finally rocks up, she coos "Oh great! We are arguing like old married couple now, aye?”  I said: "Look, it’s not that hard to turn up at a place at a set time. I have called, emailed, and texted you confirming the time and place! Jeez!”

Ok – I be frank – there are times where I am late, and I also have friends who are late. I usually don’t get angry about little things like that etc. That’s fine. Just – let me know and I will be happy to wait. It’s too small of a thing to be annoyed about. I accept some people are just late and/or running on island time is the norm. I also understand that people make mistakes, but how can I forgive a mistake when someone don't even have the courage to admit the mistake?

And the, fast-forward a week, this same person fantastically organised our club tent. She was, on time, at the right place, everything was perfectly catered. Everything was done to showcase how responsible she can be! I came to the conclusion that she was just disrespectful towards me.

This incident made me sad. I was quite sad for weeks. I also felt our friendship has been compromised because of this incident. For one I can no longer trust this person. And the foundation of friendship is trust.

I am pretty lucky to be part of an amazing running club, and met and continue meeting, a group of amazingly supportive people who also shares my love for running.  I have spoken to people about this incident, and they said: “You know we also run, right?”

And so while one friend organised a group for my last Sunday long run, another offered to do mid-week runs with me. I needed some motivation to run 4 weeks before the marathon while they needed some motivation to keep running when they are not training for any upcoming events. Mutual benefits. Incentives. Economic theory working in practice.

You lose one, but you gain some. I have now gained myself a new group of training buddies!

http://www.vitalitytv.com/blog/132160/why-it-s-better-to-train-with-a-partner/