“Are you really gonna run in this?” These were the first words I heard this morning as my iPhone alarm sent its first chime across the ears of my 7 year old, who had found her way into my M and I’s bed earlier this morning. Her pint sized body with feet perfectly placed perpendicular into my rib cage was just the reminder I needed not to hit snooze for another 10 minutes. With both feet planted, I made my way along the the hall, grabbed by gear and proceeded down the stairs to change and lace up the Hokas. Wescott Slack channel from the previous evening left off with confirmation of clown car pickup between YHC and Deadbolt. YHC confirmed Knight Rider shuttle service would leave at 5:45am for a 3 mile EC to start the morning off, then followed by a 6 mile Main Event.

As I finished with last minute checks of the news and the latest in sports, I did a double check of the weather through the window and thought, “am I really gonna run in this?” That thought quickly shifted to a Hard Commit as I had DB waiting for me one street over. Arrived at the foot of his driveway 2 minutes ahead of the 5:45 pickup. Looked down at the phone to see a text from Dauber indicating he was out this morning with an achilles issue. This was unfortunate as I was not only looking forward to a Dauber post, but I had the route planned this morning to allow 2 opportunities for a Lowe’s Food bathroom visit, which makes for some good humor on the run, especially when he posts.

Deadbolt arrived on the passenger side a bit distracted with both hands full of gear and essentials necessary for this morning’s run. So much so that as we started to drive off, he realized he left the garage door open. A quick regroup to secure the home front and we were off. Good mumblechatter along the way and pulled into the parking lot where we saw several familiar cars and a shovel flag, indicating an earlier start time for additional PAX who got even earlier miles in this morning. Parked the car, planted the flag, did some last minute stretching before we were joined by Roger Roger. A rare sighting on a Sunday. AGS is always full of surprises.  Started the Garmin and we were off.

The 3 mile EC took us on a tour along the standard Cletus Route. We went old school and took a quick left to proceed to Main Street, but were met with puddles that were more like landmines and some road construction that forced some maneuvers around construction cones until we got to City Hall and proceeded along the open sidewalks back to Holly Springs Road and then back on Raleigh St. Proceed back to Womble and came upon a figure in the opposite direction that had the gait of Nemo, but sporting a Boy George durag bandana. Which PAX was it? Whoever it was, they were pushing a strong pace.

As we approached Stinson, the 3 PAX decided to head back to the Womble lot instead of proceeding forward to get the 3rd mile in. We would make up for it during the Main Event. On our way over the speed bumps we were greeted by Emeril, who slowed down long enough to give a wave and were eventually reunited with him in the lot, where we also encountered a Sunday unicorn in the form of Pablo, who was making his AGS debut.

Boy George joined the mix sporting a breathtaker for some rucking miles. H1N1 then Yogurt, followed by Forceps, equipped with bike for today’s edition of AGS. Still a drizzle in the air with 49 degree temps as 6:30 hit. At AGS we begin on time and warm up started with a quick greeting to everyone and instruction by YHC to follow him for a quick jog around the soccer fields.

Warm Up: Made our way around the picnic shelter and when we had the playground to our right, we switched to some lunge walks, then went to a light jog to the Crazy Ivan lot to circle up for SSH x10. Picked the jog back up, but learning my lesson from Friday’s EC, navigated the PAX around the small lake\puddle that formed in the far corner on the Stinson side of the lot. Performed some heel and toe walks, with some butt kickers and high knees mixed in. Light jog back to the main lot where PAX held a squat hold while YHC explained the route…

The Workout:

With the drizzle and rain accumulation these past weeks, there was no way we would be putting the Lake in play this morning. No sunrise, wet, and hills was the unfortunate formula this morning, but we had 9 PAX who were committed to ’embracing the suck.’ A wise man once said, “We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.” At AGS, I have come to find that accountability along these many trails and roads can take many forms and every Sunday I am humbled by the commitment by PAX who post and help drive each other through impossible situations.  Now this morning’s conditions where not ‘impossible,’ but “Are you really gonna run in this?” becomes less of an obstacle and more of an opportunity when you have 9 other HIM driving you through the rain or whatever else the Sky Q puts in your path.

The path took us down Stinson, where we connected with 2 committed PAX in the form of Brexit and LED, who started their morning stroll early. Along the way, we also saw Darby headed in the other direction complete with headlamp and a rucking sack. As the six made their way into the half-pipe of Stinson, we could see the Emeril and Pablo proceed back for the six from the top of the hill at the intersection of Bass Lake. Moved left toward Holly Springs Road and into the Ramkhatte development where we did a quick loop and another periodic circle back to pick up the six. Proceeded left onto Holly Springs, Right on Linksland, and then Right onto Salem Ridge. On Linksland, Pablo informed the Q that this would be the last circle back as he needed to get home for Sunday Service. Pablo and Emeril got some good mileage this morning and at solid pace. Thank you both for picking up the six the morning, men!

As YHC made his way down Salem Ridge, I looked back to see Forceps and DB in the distance, but no Roger Roger. As I circled back for the six, I learned that Roger Roger pulled a ‘Dauber’ and decided to pay a visit to Lowe’s. That Lowe’s along this route is a magnet and fellas, you are welcome. This route was by design for those looking to lose some extra weight along the way. Mentally prepared for the final two hills on the Salem Ridge Stretch and proceeded with caution as we crossed the street and headed up Bass Lake. It wasn’t long before Banana Seat motored down in the white Volkswagon with some emphatic horn work signaling encouragement to PAX, who were pushing up the hill. With Bass Lake conquered, Forceps, DB, and YHC made the final decent down Stinson to meet their last hill. As we made our way down, Yogurt circled back for the six and we attacked the hill together and then made our way around the soccer fields. We were reunited with Boy George and then UTI, who put in a 1/2 marathon this morning.

It’s Sunday, it’s not even 8 o’clock, it’s raining, and we had 16 SouthWake PAX posting serious miles in the gloom. Definition of commitment right there.

Mary: Stretches OYO, while YHC shared some words of wisdom. Along the theme of commitment, YHC shared that he celebrated another birthday this past Wednesday.  I made a decision 2 years ago to commit to a healthier life style, found F3, remained committed and I feel younger now than I did before I started. Heck- I feel better than I did in my 30’s.  I’ve posted about finding your ‘why’ in several backblasts in the past.  This morning’s exchange with my 7 year old would never have occurred 2 years ago. I would have rolled over and hit snooze and never experienced the things that I have just written about. Now when she asks me “Are you really gonna run this morning?,” it’s more of a rhetorical question in my mind as long as I know that I’ve got PAX waiting for me in the parking lot no matter how ‘impossible’ the conditions are for that morning or evening. It’s not a matter of will I run, its how far and how fast am I gonna be pushed. We are all stronger because of the commitment by the PAX in our group and continue to be inspired by the new guys starting out that continue to show up. YHC challenged PAX this week to make 3 connections- 1) one to an old friend to reconnect 2) an existing friend who you may not have seen in a few weeks (M4L-I’ll see you this week), and 3) a person you have never met (maybe in line at the grocery store, Dunkin Donuts, work, etc..), reach out to them introduce yourself and connect. There are people out there that need us-old friends and new ones.

Announcements: Wrightsville is just around the corner. Tobacco Rd. is the week after.

Prayer: Prayers for Shredder, Moby’s dad, CrabLegs, DoubleD. Deadbolt took us out.