On The Run

After throwing on my Asics and doing a quick stretch, I headed out the door last night for a jog.  It’s summer in Williamsburg, so it’s best to run early in the morning or later in the evening to avoid melting in the afternoon heat.  I’ve been adjusting to the 8 to 5 work schedule at the Admissions Office (read: rolling out of bed, inhaling Eggo waffles, and just barely making it to work on time) and am not too keen on the idea of waking up at 6am, so I went out to run at dusk.

As the latest Beyoncé track blared through my headphones, I headed down Jamestown Road and passed the corner of Barksdale Field.  I couldn’t help but smile; this is the place where Running Club meets three times a week for practice.  Since high school, running has been the perfect way for me to work up a sweat, blow off some steam, and sort through my thoughts.  Coming to W&M, my cross country and track record was not exactly on par with the varsity teams here, but I wanted to keep running on my own time.  My friend Christina and I got into Running Club (RC) during the fall of our freshmen year and have been hooked ever since.

RC is a great example of how club sports at the College allow you to continue an athletic passion in college if the varsity level isn’t for you (read more on all levels of athletics at W&M).  I have friends on the club teams for soccer, rowing, ice hockey, ultimate frisbee and lacrosse, and I know all about their serious practice schedules and how they often travel far and wide for tournaments.  RC is a little more chill.  We run all over campus, on nearby trails, and do road races together.  Some of my favorite memories are from our socials.  We have a yearly picnic at Jamestown Beach, eat breakfast together at the Chickahominy House restaurant, and always push ourselves to the limit when we run to Ben & Jerry’s on Free Scoop Day and attempt to run back.  No matter what we’re doing, we’re always having a good time.

After trailing through Colonial Williamsburg and then heading back up Richmond Road, I turned back onto campus via Dillard Street, and was greeted by the massive structure that is William & Mary Hall.  This building reminds me of body-paint at basketball games, Commencement, and a very cool race I’ve been running for the past few winters.  Along with my friend Christina and other teammates from RC, I have completed the Colonial Half Marathon every February since freshmen year.  While I’m not so happy about getting progressively slower each year, I am thrilled that I’ve been able to train through the colder months and finish the race without passing out on the side of the road.

When I finished up my run last night, I stopped my watch and cut off my music.  I was panting, grimy with sweat, and really thirsty…and I felt great.  Though Williamsburg can get pretty humid in the summertime, it is without a doubt one of my favorite places to experience on the run.