... and they'll be there, rain or shine, you've got a friend.
Well. Here we are again... another week of running, or resting, or even recovering.
The corner is cosy, and the cushions are waiting!
How is it all going with everyone? I have been reading all sorts this last week... New Graduates, Returning runners and a fair few sitting on the injury couch too! I have comfy cushions here for all of us .
I have managed to get some runs in, some in sunshine and some in thick fog! All different and all enjoyable in their own way. I have been thinking a lot too.
Not always a good thing, but this week, it was, because I have been thinking a great deal about friends and friendship
I have, over the seven years, ( nearly), since I joined the C25K family, made a heck of a lot of friends. Many are my faceless forum friends who I talk to, but have never seen face to face. Some I know better, because I have seen photographs of them, and a few, whom I have seen in person and got to know even better.
So. that got me thinking even more about running, runners and friends. Friends, including family
There is, probably, with many of us runners, somewhere, a friend, or family member, who is there, with us and for us, understanding, patient , (?), and very, very aware of all the times we take a run.
Our early runs, gained by creeping quietly, ( ?), through a sleeping household, our late night runs, when all the rest of the family want to do is to watch TV or go to sleep. Our trekking here there and everywhere, to events, also, here there and everywhere? Taking up any spare space in suitcase, rucksack, or car with our running gear, before anything else is packed !
It cannot be easy for them...unless of course, they are runners too I wonder how many of us have tried, to no avail. to get them running too..?
Goodness... these our true friends indeed!
They are our heroes and heroines, our rocks and our strongest supporters.
But, but, but...what about our RUNNING friendships. NOW, we're talking... and TALKING is what we LOVE to do.... about every aspect of our runs: our routes, our stats, distance, pace, speed, running gear, running events, weather, and even injury … we love talking about running.
To our non-running friends... this may sound like gobbledygook! But if you are a runner, it is music to the ears
Our running friends are trustworthy, and reliable...there for us no matter what. They understand!
Our running friends, support us and encourage us; the chatting about running, gives us ideas, strategies, motivation and maybe even a little bit of healthy, fun based rivalry ?
We love to talk, but, we also know when to be silent; when, during a run, it is perfect to run along, shoulder to shoulder. Simply enjoying the run and the companionship of the friend at your side. No need for words.
With our running friends, we don't need to dress up, or look smart... we just look at the run, the route and the weather, and dress accordingly, and no one would dream of telling us we were inappropriately dressed !
A running friend does not care what you look like... you are a runner and you are a friend
I am in some ways quite gregarious, but in others, not. I do not make friends easily... I think I am tad too loopy; I am mainly a lone runner. I had been running for quite a while before I even thought of running with anyone else. I was quite happy with this, running and then rambling about my runs... but maybe as time passed, there was a subconscious thought that I maybe, I wasn't good enough.
I was not aware if it and have never thought it since. I run for me
But, when I have run with others, over the years since, I have loved every moment of it.. every runner I have run with, has been warm hearted and encouraging, supportive and often inspirational.
I have made some of my dearest friends here, through running. Friendships made here, that will endure, whether I have been able to meet these friends face to face or not.
Now... whilst we are all here, sitting , relaxing and basking in the warmth of the fire, I would love to know how many of you have made friends through your running.
Friendships made here on the forums, in running groups, at Park Run or other events.
If you are just starting on your running journey, maybe you have not had chance to make friendships here yet, so look around, read each other's posts. Find folk who are on the same week as you, team up, on your posts maybe... We have had whole groups of folk here on C25K, all reaching the Graduation Podium together, after supporting each other through the nine weeks Much online celebrating has gone on
I do know that if you do that, you will realise, how much you have in common, and you will experience friendship that will carry you forward in your running and beyond
So,,, pop in and let us know what is happening with your running right now and see how many of us, without realising it, already have loads of friends..., right here
Oldfloss x
P.S
I am putting a link here too, to the JUST GIVING PAGE for one of my own dear
friends, and a well- loved friend to so, so many of us, whom we sadly lost on November 2nd. TIM'S RUN will take place on Sunday 27th November....
Here is the post.
healthunlocked.com/couchto5...
We have already hit the £1000 mark !
Every little helps
Floss x