brooks i.d.

I must confess.

I didn't think I was going to get asked back to the Brooks I.D. program this year.

I've seen some of their runners out there at the races.  My I.D. friend Doug runs a 41 min 10k at 54 years of age. I cheered Jacob Puzey at the Helvetia Half Marathon as he raced neck and neck at mile 10, only to win the race in 1:12:22 - and then to come in 5th at the Seattle Rock n' Roll Marathon two weeks later.  I met Amber Morrison at our meetup before the Portland Marathon, right before she rocked a 2:59:32.  I cheered on @frayedlaces as she ripped up Kona in 11:05 - and let's not even mention the most hardcore Brooks athlete of all - Chrissie Wellington.  Brooks I.D.ers train for national championships and Olympic qualifiers.  What business did I have being in that group? Surely they would realize that I was a poser, a faker, a candlestick maker - and boot me right out of there.

In anticipation of the rejection notice, I had been practicing my reasons for being relieved that I wasn't chosen for the program.  I'll be able to wear what I want, I told my running buddy Ed. You could try out those Kinvaras, I reminded myself. Deep down, though, I was sad that my running just wouldn't be cool enough for them.

But the envelope was sitting in my mailbox today.

Is it possible to fall in love with a company?

I told my husband, "This changes everything."

"Why?" he asked.

Because they asked me back.  By now they know that I am not the fastest runner in their stable.  Not even close.  My fastest pace is the recovery pace of most of their athletes.  But my running has value to them.  I've been afraid to wear the singlet because I'm not that fast.  I didn't want to embarrass them by not finishing at the front of the pack.  Maybe, though, that's the point.  What has impressed me most about the company is that they seem to champion runners of all shapes and sizes, not just the chosen few who look and run like Kara Goucher.  Choosing me to come back this year may be the best proof that Brooks loves all kinds of runners.

I've got to decide now whether I should go back for another year of running for them.  If I say yes, I know that I'll have to wear the singlet in every race I run - even if I'm 15 pounds overweight and running slow.  If I say yes, I'll be saying yes for every runner who wonders if they are worthy of calling themselves runners.  I'll be saying yes for every runner who has piled on extra layers to hide a physique that doesn't match what they see on the cover of Runner's World.  I'll be saying yes for every runner who hates it when a journalist writes an article denigrating plodders.  I'll be saying yes for every runner who sometimes wonders if they should be running at all.

Because if Brooks thinks I am worthy of representing their gear, they really think you are a worthy runner too.