A new experience - running with someone else

[CBDB]

Okay, this morning I had a new running experience.

I have been running for three years, and apart from run-walking with my husband (I run, he walks), I have never run with anyone else.

Well this morning, halfway through my 30 minute Jeffing run, a friendly, looking elderly (but fit looking) dog walker started chatting to me whilst I was on my walking minute. He has seen me running, and we started chatting about all sorts of running. He was a lifelong runner. He knew what Jeffing was, thought it was a good way to run. And at his age of 70, he does quite a bit of jeffing himself.

With one ear plug in my ear, the other in my hand, I started running again when my signal came, joggling beside the dog walker , and we continued chatting whilst I was running and he was jogging along.

For some, this might be an ordinary experience.

But I have not yet run in public races, I have never run with anyone else other than my husband, so being there, in conversation with someone else running beside me, this was a really nice and new experience.

So who knows, I might bump into him again and have a casual running buddy at times, one who is actually ok with my slow speed! That, maybe was the crucial experience, to understand that others are ok with my speed.

There is hope for my public running yet! 😄👍🏽

[Gthants 60minGraduate]

Oh, that's just lovely! And a new word for me to look up. I'll ask Jeff what he's up to ...

[Cmoi Graduate10 in reply to Gthants]

You've probably made Jeff's acquaintance by now Gthants but just in case you haven't: runnersworld.com/uk/health/...

[Gthants 60minGraduate in reply to Cmoi]

Thank you! I was busy yesterday and hadn't got round to looking it up, but I'm a fast walker anyway so this looks like something that would work for me. Gaining endurance has been a big change for me and with long Covid it's still something that still hits hard. I'm definitely going to investigate more.

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Gthants]

yes, jeffing is a thing! 😀 I followed a whole jeffing plan when returning from injury: healthunlocked.com/bridgeto...

But I still feel weird when I say “I’ve had a jeffing run!” 😂😂

[Gthants 60minGraduate in reply to CBDB]

I think I'll Jeffin' well try it!

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Gthants]

teehee 🤭👍🏽

[Folkylass Graduate10]

Oh CBDB that’s brilliant! Could this be the start of a running friendship…I hope so. Good for you girl👍👍🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🥰🥰x

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Folkylass]

We’ll see! 😀 All in all I had a great happy day! (Except that I had to cancel my leave day and work on a report! But we also had dinner from the produce of our container garden 🍅🥬😃 so …. happy, again)

[Folkylass Graduate10 in reply to CBDB]

That’s sounds lovely apart from the having to work part. I love home grown produce, there’s nothing better👍😂😂🥰x

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10]

That's great!

When I did my 10k run I was prepared to be at the back with my music and Coach Bennett for company but a woman fell into step beside me and we did the whole thing together. She even let me cross the line before her.

These random runs in company are lovely aren't they?

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Yesletsgo]

They certainly are! First time for me! It makes me want to try a parkrun, but it’s quite a while away.

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to CBDB]

Parkrun is nice because you can go as slow as you want to (though I'm afraid it brings out my much-suppressed competitive streak if I'm not careful). Go for it!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

Very well done... it is hard... I know I found it so... but it can be change and very enjoyable. Just accepting yourself and the way you run is enough.. there is always someone who will run with you at the same pace.. or slower than you who will appreciate your support

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

👍🏽🙏… but I’ve really never met anyone slower … teehee…🐢🐌🦥

[Jools2020 Graduate10]

How lovely to run with a person you’ve just met on a run! I’ve had the occasional dog run with me for a while, but not a person!

I’m just finding out how lovely it is to run with others as a planned thing!

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

it was lovely! Yes, planning it, though is a big step! 😳🙄 (I’ll get there)

[Doris8 Graduate10]

Hope you meet your new friend again on your Jeffing. It’s nice to have company.

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Doris8]

I thought it was nice to run alone (and with virtual running / walking buddies on here!), so I am surprised at myself how much I enjoyed that little run!

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10]

This is such a lovely post. Thanks for sharing ❤️❤️❤️

So nice to have a real life buddy for your run as well as all of us on here virtually with you

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Yes, I’m surprised how much I enjoyed that, which makes me want to ensure I have a few more of these “joggling with others” experiences!