The Perks of Positive Peer Pressure

My beautiful neighbor who lives in the beautiful house across the street had been working in her beautiful front yard for three days before I finally realized – yesterday – that I really should get out and take the Christmas lights off the front bushes and clean up the dregs from last season’s iris.  Grumbling all the while, I finally got out there, and lo and behold, it really did look a lot nicer once I’d done the work.  And I felt great.

This morning, as I ran with members of the Wasatch Training Group and approached the second aid station – which happened to be at the park where my car was parked – I really wanted to be done.  After all, I reasoned, 10 miles is a pretty good run.  But the rest of the group was continuing south for a total of 16 miles.  I fell in, and completed the 16 miles, which is the furthest I’ve ever run in my life.  And I felt great.  Really, really, really, tired – but great.

Peer pressure often gets a bad rap.  Thankfully, I’m old enough that no one will ever again convince me that wearing a skirt that barely covers my butt cheeks is cool.  No one will ever again convince me that wearing a seat belt is uncool.  I can pick and choose which peer pressure to succumb to.

I’m certainly not the only one who has figured this out.  Groups such as Weight Watchers use positive peer pressure to hold participants accountable for their weight loss.  I am grateful to my friends, neighbors, and fellow runners for providing me the kick start that I need from time to time.  Here’s hoping I can do the same for you someday.