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+--- Thread: [G] [P] 741.12.03 | Runner Training! (/showthread.php?tid=4740)
741.12.03 | Runner Training! - Zarel - 03.Dec.20
Mama was always up with klah and breakfast no matter how early Zarel rose. It was like she knew instinctively when Zarel was stirring. Or maybe when you get to be a Mama you just never sleep?
Maybe.
It sure seemed possible.
Today was special, though because Alekse was here and he was going to train her and that was a biiiiig deal. As always she had her supplies like Brina told her and was super ready. She itched to run as always.
"We were supposed to go already. ALEKSE."
RE: 741.12.03 | Runner Training! - Alekse - 04.Dec.20
“Alright, alright…” He laughed, sitting up from where he’d been bent over tying his shoe. “Got your pouch? Waterskin? Jacket?” His smile grew as she touched each of the items in turn. With a nod of approval, Alekse stood, draining the last of his klah and giving a quick but still thorough kiss to Zahrah, promising to have himself and Zarel back before dinner and in one piece.
The morning air was crisp and biting. A light easy pace would do well to keep the chill at bay. But first thing’s first…
“Let’s start with some stretching.” He halted any objections before they might come with a stern but still kind look. “I know you’ve already been doing your stretches, but let’s make sure everything is done right. Wouldn’t want to end up hurting ourselves, now would we?”
He plopped himself on the ground, extending one leg and bringing the other heel as close to his body as he could, watching as she did the same and directing minor adjustments. “Just like a harper cares for their instrument to do its job, we Runners care for our bodies to make sure they can do their job. Make sure your muscles are used to moving before trying for a faster pace. Stretch first.” He instructed wit ha smile.
RE: 741.12.03 | Runner Training! - Zarel - 04.Dec.20
She stretched the same way he did with a look of determination. It was important to stretch, even if she did her stretches thirty minutes ago. It was fine. She could do this again with no problem.
It just meant she was twice-stretched and all the better for it.
"Okay," she said with a nod. "You always should take care of yourself because it's not like you can replace parts." Zarel blinked and thought about it for a while then had to stop.
"That'd be weird."
RE: 741.12.03 | Runner Training! - Alekse - 04.Dec.20
He laughed. “You are absolutely right. We can’t replace our parts.” He stood, trying to imagine how that might look, and gave an expression somewhere between a grimace and a grin. “And yes. That would be weird.”
He led the way through the tunnel road, and within a few minutes the dark tunnel gave way to the clear, starry sky, and they started toward the trace off to the south side of the road where it curved up to run along the top of a small ridge, its bright green moss standing out like a glow against the otherwise dark landscape.
“Now, it’s cold and it’s still dark, even with the stars. We need to keep ourselves moving so we don’t end up with a chill, but we can’t move too fast or we risk getting ourselves hurt. Even if we know the traces, it’s always possible that something happened to trow an obstacle our way.” He cocked an eyebrow at the girl as he asked, “So what sort of pace do you think would fit this situation?”
RE: 741.12.03 | Runner Training! - Zarel - 04.Dec.20
"A jog, slow but not too slow but definitely sure and moving in the right direction. Moss can't help if we go too fast and slip," she said after thinking it through. "When the dawn comes and we have more light we can go faster. A lantern would be too heavy to light the way right now."
RE: 741.12.03 | Runner Training! - Alekse - 06.Dec.20
He nodded, pleased by her response. She was a smart girl, and she had been paying attention. “Excellent.” He gave a small bow and swept his arm to the side in a gesture for her to take the lead, and allowed her to set herself a reasonable pace.
He had checked the trace the day before on his way up, making sure there were no rocks or divots to catch an unsuspecting ankle, but he didn’t say anything to the girl, instead wanting to make sure she kept her own eyes on the trace ahead of her. Zarel kept up a surprisingly decent pace for a child of her age, and after a short while the two of them slowed, and he signaled for a break in pace down to a walk, pulling his waterskin from where he had it strapped to his hip. He swished and spit before taking a measured sip, and smirked at the girl’s quirked eyebrow.
“Better to moisten the mouth first, plus it tastes better. Rumor also has it that it actually helps a Runner run farther and longer, though nobody I exactly sure why.”
RE: 741.12.03 | Runner Training! - Zarel - 06.Dec.20
Zarel copied him gravely. "Probably because no one wants their mouth to taste gross at all." She made a sour face. "I wouldn't. So is it the switch and spit that helps or...just not feeling like you've a mouth of grit?"
She tested her breath and made another face.
"I don't want to feel like I have dirt in my mouth. I guess no one does." After another moment she gave him a longer look.
"...are you funning me, Runner Alekse?" She was supposed to be training and learning so if Alekse was having one over on her, well, it might make learning properly a little more challenging. She'd have to watch out for that.
RE: 741.12.03 | Runner Training! - Alekse - 06.Dec.20
He let out a bark of laughter. “No! Of course not. It really is a thing. Watch the other runners coming into a station or the Weyr. First thing they do is swish and spit, especially if they are continuing on to the next station. And some say it helps with distance runs, but my sister would be the one to ask about that. I’m not the expert, there.”
Sufficiently hydrated, Alekse assessed the girl. “Now that we’ve been moving, how are you feeling? Tell me what you know about breathing.” He nodded thoughtfully as she responded. “Try this: when you breathe in, breathe from your belly. You’ll have a bit more room for air that way. Makes it easier on your chest and back, and that will help with longer runs. Once you get the idea of how that feels, we can work on rhythm.” He gave her a smile and a thumbs-up, before gesturing for them to continue.
RE: 741.12.03 | Runner Training! - Zarel - 06.Dec.20
"That's because you can't talk to anyone if you haven't any decent water indoor mouth to work with or you'd sound like an idiot," Zarel said frankly. She grabbed her throat and said in the worst fake old person voice, "Someone get me a barrel of water...dying...of lack of spit
."
She raised her hand like she was drowning. It was very dramatic.
Okay, okay. Now she was moving again and breathing properly. It would eventually feel normal.
Maybe.
But she didn't say anything because she was concentrating.
RE: 741.12.03 | Runner Training! - Alekse - 08.Dec.20
He slowed them down to a brisk walk, smiling as Zarel focused on her breathing as he’d told her. He had to give the girl credit; she’d been practicing and it showed. She was keeping a speedy but still maintainable pace, breathing easily, and making an effort to keep correct form. He prompted her to stop once or twice more to stretch and check in to make sure nothing was sore. By the time the sun was creeping over the horizon, the thread shelter was visible along the trace.
“Do you know what that is?” He asked, pointing it out. “Why don’t you go take a look?” He did his best to hide the smile as she bounded over to the little stone building, waiting for her to discover the gift he’d tucked inside.
She’d been an absolute gem over the past weeks, taking easily to himself and her mother’s relationship, only pestering him about the Runnercraft, which he didn’t mind in the slightest. If she didn’t Impress, (which he was quite sure she would, as strong willed as she was…she’d use her new training to chase down a hatchling if she had to), she’d have a promising future as a Runner. It’s about time she had the shoes for it…
RE: 741.12.03 | Runner Training! - Zarel - 09.Dec.20
A Thread shelter?
She walked around the building pensively, her fingers brushing the worn stone and thought about how many turns it had to have stood and that it was in decent condition for its age. All the green had been cleared away, too, so someone had been keeping up with Tradition.
That was good.
Inside, it was old, too, but sitting on a table was something new - a pair of Running shoes. Small ones! Of course, she immediately put them on to see if they fit. Shoes didn't grow on trees and he'd sent her to look. So the logical choice was that they'd, well, been for her. She worked them on stoically and then let out a whoop of joy.
They did! They fit!
And she sped right back out, proper training and all, sprinting for Alekse and leapt to hug him fiercely as if she wasn't going to let go any time soon. He was the best.
"Thank you," she said, almost in tears with joy. "They're the best thing I've ever seen, ever, and they fit perfectly."
RE: 741.12.03 | Runner Training! - Alekse - 11.Dec.20
He watched her carefully take in the building and surroundings, noting how she nodded slightly in approval when she took in the lack of greens. She disappeared inside and he resisted the urge to follow her, instead waiting for her to discover the shoes inside at her own pace, without more prompting. A few minutes later she reappeared from the Thread shelter, new shoes on her feet, and launched herself at him in as massive a hug as she could give.
Eyes surprisingly misty, he returned the gesture, giving he an affectionate squeeze. “You are very welcome, Zarel. When we get back home,” He paused, still enjoying the sound of that word, particularly in reference to the rooms he shared with Zahrah and Zarel on a semi-regular basis, now, “I’ll show you how to care for them and how to mold them to fit better. Mind you, these shoes are only for the traces. The rough stone of normal roads and paths will tear right through those soft soles. Now come on, let’s go show your mother.”
RE: 741.12.03 | Runner Training! - Zarel - 14.Dec.20
"Only for traces," she echoed against his shoulder. "We'll run back with them, though, right?"
They made her feet feel light as if there was nothing between herself and the ground. It was much better than the other shoes for running. But! Not for stones and roads. She'd have to stop and put on her other shoes for that.
Right now, the air was crisp and pleasant and all she wanted was to run.
"So," she said a few moments later. "That threadfall shelter looks like it's being maintained..."
RE: 741.12.03 | Runner Training! - Alekse - 14.Dec.20
He thew his head back in a laugh at the girl’s enthusiasm. “Of course!” But only if they’re good and comfortable. New shoes, even Runner shoes, might rub, and if they start to do that, we’ll stop and put your others back on. No sense damaging your feet. That would just keep you out of those shoes for longer. You can always break them in around the weyr. The floor in the rooms is worn smooth enough to not cause harm to the soles.”
He stood and nodded at the building. “Yes, Venan has tasked me with keeping them in decent shape. There are a few of them. One between forty-two and the Weyr trace station, and this one between the Weyr trace station and the Benden. How’s it look?” He waited for her reply with a raised eyebrow before he continued. “There’s another one, too, but it isn’t really used anymore.” He jerked his head in the general direction of the other building, the shape of it barely visible in the growing sunlight. “A landslide a couple of turns back wiped out the trace, and they moved the route down here where the ground was firmer. Made the run shorter, too.” He gave the girl a sideways glance and a small smirk. “But, I’ve been given permission to use it for a…project. I’ll show you sometime. Soon, hopefully. But not until it’s ready.”
He pulled away at an easy jog, sunlight creeping over the horizon and bathing the trace in a golden glow, and waited for the girl to catch up and pass him like he was sure she would.