The 'B' List

Mom, I think you are right, I believe that men screw up the laundry deliberately a time or two until their wives tell them not to do the wash any more. It is a conspiracy I am sure of it.

The Runner's Sole storey:

First let me give a you a little background. Runner's Sole is the local running store in Kamloops, they opened a little over three years ago and Debbles and I have been involved with them pretty much since the get go. I have been an avid runner for years (15+), I ran in the very first run clinic they put on at Runner's Sole and following that 8 week clinic they asked me if I would be a leader in the clinic. The clinic runs 8 weeks on and one week off. We break up the groups into skill level and run and every Wednesday night at 6:30, I lead the beginning run level. In two weeks I will be celebrating 3 years as the beginning run leader.

I do this for nothing. I do this because I like the owner of the store and I enjoy helping him out. I do this because I love running I and love passing this passion on to others. I do this because it is the coolest thing to teach people that they can run 10K when they don't think they can run 5K. I love empowering the people who run in my group, I love kicking them out of my group because they have gotten to fast to run at the beginning run level anymore. I do this because thought I was a friend of the store owner. I do this because it is fun.

Occasionally as a run leader I score some free gear. I have gotten 4 or 5 pairs of free shoes over the past three years and some really nice technical running shirts. This is a great bonus, but I never expect anything. On the 8th week the entire group usually goes out to dinner, W has always been generous enough to buy the run leaders their meals on these nights. I have never showed up without my wallet, I have never assumed that W would pay for my meal. One more perk, when I run any local race, my race fees are waived. This works well for everyone, I get the free race and all the people that I encouraged to sign up for the race in my group get to see me out there encouraging them and leading by example. I always tell W not to give me a race packet or a race t-shirt, I don't want it to cost him money for me to race. W says that I get cost on anything in the store, but if you look at what I have bought there, this had never happened.

Friday night when I stopped by the store to pick up Mnt. Goat for a movie, W pulled me aside and told me that there are new shoes coming in for the run leaders, (Nike is sponsoring I think, This means the shoes are costing W nothing). W told me that Debbles and I will not be getting shoes this clinic, due to the fact that we got 2 pairs of shoes last year. All the other run leaders, (who have been doing this for 6 months) will be getting their shoes (I don't think they received any shoes last year) and Debbles and I will be high and dry. I told W I thought this was weird. I asked him straight up, why he would want to leave Debbles and I out of the loop. I never really got an answer that I understand, except it is his business and he will do with the shoes what he wants. I still don't understand why he wouldn't want to share the free shoes, given to him by Nike for his run leaders, with ALL his leaders.

I also think if he asks a company to sponsor his running group and they chose to do so, and he does something else with the gear, that this is slightly dishonest. A company sponsors the clinic because they know what a powerful marketing tool it is to have everyone running in their gear.

W proceeded to tell me that he did not invite me and my family to an event at his home over the holidays because I was not on the 'A' list. This is a direct quote my friends. So why on earth have I spending every Wednesday night for 3 years, helping out this guy so I can be on his 'B' list, or is it the 'C' or 'D' list I am on? I know why...

I have always done this for all the reasons I mentioned above. But to be told right out of the horses mouth that I am not a friend, and to be told that my value is maxed out at the price of 2 pairs of shoes and a shirt, well that just sucks. My feelings are hurt.

Paul thinks Debbles and I should start our own free clinics on Wednesday nights and shut W down. Maybe then he would value us. I am afraid I could not do this. I just couldn't treat a friend this way...but then again I am only the 'B' list aren't I? I don't think I could disrespect W like this, even though he doesn't seem to value my leadership or my friendship. Just tattoo 'fool' on my forehead.

What bothers me the most is W used to do this because he liked doing it, now he appears to be all about the money he can make. From the outside looking in, it seems like W is more concerned about the bottom line than the finish line these days. This disappoints me, I genuinely like W and I am sad that he seems to have lost the big picture. I am an optimist and belief if you do things because you love them, that the rest comes. I am not rolling in the money with this attitude, but I have a successful business, a wonderful family, great friends and I am well respected in my community. This is where the value of life falls in my book.

I would like to continue to lead the beginning run group, simply because I enjoy it. My anger and hurt over being treated this way not withstanding, I never started this to get anything but fun and good a workout out of it. It still sucks to know you are a 'B' lister and not appreciated.