Envelope please.....

I handed my sister, M, two Christmas envelopes yesterday. The first one had a card. It said:

Choices:
1. May 6, 2007
2. May 27, 2007
3. Oct. 13, 2007

You can do it. I'll be there every step of the way!

She read it three or four times. Maybe she thought we were going on a trip. In some ways we are.

I handed her a second envelope. It contained printouts to Hal Higdon's 10K program and also his beginner 30/30 program (30 minutes of exercise for 30 days). Then I told her the dates in the first card were for her choice of a 10K race. Whichever one she chose, I would pay her entry fee and run the race with her. Every step. I also asked her to pick a day of the week -- except Tuesday because of my Afterwork RunClub commitment -- and I would accompany her on that day's scheduled mileage. That day is still up for discussion. Her next question: do I have to give up drinking?

M has been complaining about her weight (she's not fat, not even close, but don't ever try to rationalize weight with any woman), and how she doesn't want to spend (waste?) money on a gym membership. So she's been bugging me about taking her running because she's seen me gradually morph into a "skinny minny". And she was really proud of me, cheering me on in Chicago, and I think deep down, she probably wants to experience that kind of runner's high of her own, her own seemingly impossible achievement to call a victory. And hence me pushing her, via Christmas gift the season of giving, to run by investing in her. Quality sister time coming up next year. We'll start with a trip to the local shoe store in the new year to get her proper running shoes.

So, the choice of races I threw at her were partly selfish on my part, I admit. It's a sneak peek into my 2007 Race Calendar because I'm thinking I'll do all three, or at least Choices 1 and 2. I'm 95-percent ready to commit to a Big Race but not quite ready to admit it yet. Maybe in a couple of days when I'm really comfortable about declaring something.

Originally, I was going to just sign her up for the October race, figuring nearly 300 days to train for a 10K would be more than enough for her. But maybe she would step up to the challenge of a spring race?

So, I offered up my favorite spring 10K, Sporting Life,because it's the fastest, possibly the easiest course -- all downhill! I've done this two years in a row. And then there's the Zoo Run in October. Partly because I think it'd be fun to run around the zoo. And also because she loves animals. Free admission to the zoo after the run. That's awesome! (We'll smell like the animals anyway, won't we?)

And I chose the May 27 race because it coincides with a possible spring half-mary I'm considering in our nation's capital, Ottawa. Road trip! Apart from a marathon and half-marathon option, there's also 5K, 10K races too, and even a 2K. (I suggested she could register for the 2K to see what racing is like in a very achievable distance for her to aim for, boost the confidence, that kind of thing. Then we could graduate to a 5 or 10K race. Because although I had run all of 3 races -- an 8K, and two 10Ks, sprinkled among very inconsistent efforts in building mileage -- before I flippantly decided to go the distance and run a full marathon-- my sister is not me: ie: crazy.) She has time to learn how to run, ease her way through a training program, maybe starting in March after her birthday. Or start in the summer when the weather's good. She'll be more than ready to tackle a 10K by October. I know it.

M sent me a short email today, saying: "I just wanted to thank you again for the present... it's a great motivator and I'm definitely going to do it! It'll be a really great experience and finally force me to stop complaining and get me off my butt. You rock! Thanks, dude. And see you out on the street!"

Next step: get her into the blogosphere too.