Wednesday Feb 6 – Belonging Before Becoming
Hey Nasties. Duane here. One of your board members. My very first run with East Nasty was 10 years ago. We ran the Riverside route that Wednesday. I’ve been honored to run with and serve the club in a number of ways ever since then. But heath issues have curbed my running career (I’m fine, just not as sharp-visioned as i once was), and it’s time to step aside. It seems only appropriate that this weeks run, my last as a board member, is also the Riverside route.
Route #6
Route #6: Riverside. The way we run this route has changed due to the repaving and restriping on Riverside Drive. RUN IN THE NEW BIKE LANES on the right (inside) median – NOT ON THE LEFT shoulder where we usually have run. When running on streets with bike lanes but no sidewalks, runners may take the bike lane running into traffic when it is safer. But be prepared to yield to bikes – they have the right of way. Riverside also is one of the darker routes we run, so please remember to wear something that creates or reflects light!
We meet at the corner of 11th & Holly at 6pm. We run every Wednesday – rain or shine, hot or cold. You can READ HERE for more details on how our Wednesday night runs work. If you are a run/walker and/or want to get a head start, meet at 5:45pm and join our Lasty Nasty Group. No Pint Night at NRC this month (we hope you were able to enjoy NRC’s epic birthday party this past weekend), so bring a change of clothes (or not) – and head over to 3 Crow or one of the other local establishments for a drink and/or some dinner after the run.
Speed Workouts
Our Tuesday night speed workouts begin this week. Tuesday nights at our regular spot at 11th & Holly at 6pm. These workouts are much more structured than our regular Wednesday night runs. So, don’t be late and be ready to run at promptly at 6pm.
Belonging Before Becoming
That first Wednesday night run of mine was a hot humid night in July of 2009. I wore a cotton t-shirt and some old tennis shoes over some tube socks. I was miserable. I didn’t know anything about dressing appropriately for athletic activity. I’m 100% sure i was the very last one to finish. But, I did finish. And got hooked. I made good friends. I was challenged. I was encouraged. I accomplished things and ran races i had never even dreamed of. I broke 2 hours for my Half Marathon PR. East Nasty became one of the most important parts of my life – because I felt like I belonged to it. East Nasty founder Mark Miller was one of the very first people I met when I moved to Nashville in 2004. One of the things we talked about way back then that has had a continuing impact on me is the idea of ‘belonging before becoming’. I think that’s one of the very best things about East Nasty. You don’t have to have becomea great runner or achieve some great running goal before you can know you belonghere. You just have to show up. We all run the same routes and distances each Wednesday. Some are faster than others, some are there to work on their tempo pace, some are there just to work off some calories, and some are there mostly for the post-run beers. But, we do it together as a community. We belong. And through that belonging, we become better. I think that’s at the heart of what Mark hoped to build with East Nasty. I think we are all proof that it has succeeded.
I’ll be there Wednesday night – you may or may not see me on the run, but i’ll definitely be at 3 Crow afterwards. Come raise a glass with me to the best damn running club anywhere. ENFL!!