Page 60 of In the Long Run
Easy for someone to say who’s never been splashed across the national news.
‘Who you really—’ Gen starts, and I know where this is going.Clearly, so does Celeste, who sends me an apologetic smile and shoves our coffees at us before turning to the next customer in line.‘What can I get for you?’
‘You go ahead,’ I say to Gen, needing a moment to re-centre myself.‘Celeste mentioned that one of the doors out the back is sticking.I’m going to go and see if I can fix it.’
Confusion is still etched across Gen’s face and she tries again, ‘What did Celeste—’
I cut her off, telling myself that if Gen never actually verbalises the question, I can brush it away before my answer becomes a lie.‘I might be a little while, and I don’t want to hold you up.’
‘I don’t mind waiting.Is that okay with you?’Gen’s brows are drawn together.Considering my parents sold lies to so many people, you’d think I’d be better at it.
‘You worried about that guy?Or Brand?’I ask, avoiding her question.
‘No.I’d just like to stay here a bit longer.Hang out some more.Unless you don’t want me to?’
Of course I do, but will she still feel the same way when she knows what I’ve done?
23
GEN
‘One last thing before we start,’ Knox says, not fazed by the drizzle falling all around us.It’s not enough to saturate our clothes or compromise our sneakers, but I’m eager to get moving.‘We’re getting up there in kilometres now.And lots of us have been doing early morning runs for a long time.’
The group nods as one.It still blows my mind that so many people have voluntarily turned up to run thirty-one kilometres in the cold and wet.
‘It’s so dark and cold,’ Anneke says.
Knox has joined me on all my runs this week and what began as small talk about why we run has led to so many different conversations.About what we like and don’t like.What we find funny.I’ve discovered that he’ll eat anything – literally anything – if someone else makes it for him, but he’s happy to cook as well.He reads widely but prefers memoirs over biographies because he likes hearing people tell their own stories.He really listens and he remembers things.He doesn’t tease or make anyone feel bad about themselves, which is handy because I keep saying silly things around him.But maybe that’s a good sign.An indication from the universe that I’m getting closer to being my old self.The woman who was more open and trusting before everything that happened with Tim and then Brand.
‘I’ve been talking to Meredith and Bernie’—my head shoots up.He has?—‘and we’re going to add extra sessions.That way if you’re struggling for motivation or you don’t like running on your own, you have options.And I also wanted to talk about all the stuff that’s been in the news lately about safety for runners, especially women.’
The wind kicks up, the drizzle transforming into stabby drops of rain that prick at my skin.He’s talking about the real threats to female runners, not the people who let their imaginations run away from them.
‘If you feel unsafe running on your own, please come to the other group sessions.They’ll follow a similar out-and-back pattern, and the speed sessions will be held at the oval.Hills will be at the Thousand Steps.Does anyone have any questions before we start?’
Violet raises her hand, and I notice her shoulder is strapped now too.‘Has anyone thought about doing other events in the lead-up?Like a trial run to get your confidence up?’she asks.
Yeti claps his hands, his loud voice booming out across the group.‘Yes.This is a great idea.’
Knox scratches the back of his neck.‘We’ve only got a few long runs left before we start tapering, so they’d have to be soon.What was that run you were talking about at dinner the other night?’he asks Yeti.
‘The Rail Trail Fun Run in Bright,’ I answer, because I was at that dinner too.I’ve been to several of their Wednesday dinners since the first, and Knox has made sure I know it’s a standing invitation.‘There are different distances, but the longest is thirty-five kilometres.’
‘You know the best thing about rail trails?’Yeti’s made his way to the front of the group now and his headtorch bobs as his enthusiasm grows.When no one answers, he throws his arms up towards the sky.‘They’re flat!I say we go for it!’
‘Is it too late to enter?’Violet asks.
‘They’re still selling entries.’Anneke holds up her phone.
Yeti slings his arms around our shoulders.‘Could be fun to get away …’
Knox and I exchange a look.‘What about Eugene?’he asks.
‘Celeste can stay with him.C’mon, Forty.Live a little.’
‘If you go, we’ll go,’ Anneke says, pointing to herself and Violet, who nods.
‘Same,’ calls one of the Army guys.‘We can go for the weekend.Camp or get cabins.It’ll be fun.’
