When you're down and troubled and you need a helping hand
and nothing, nothing is going right.
Close your eyes and think of us and soon we will be there
to brighten up even your darkest nights.
*******
You just call out our name, and you know where ever we are,
We'll come running to be with you again.
Winter, spring, summer, or fall, all you have to do is call and we'll be there, rain or shine, you've got a friend.
*******
Hello everyone and welcome to the Catch Up Corner... slip off your shoes, come on inside.
Plenty of snacks this morning... I found an old favourite recipe book hidden in the cupboard and am trying out some new, healthy snacks and some very tasty ones too.
Okay... now we are here...time to chat.
I had my post for today all ready, but after reading some posts and replies this week and last night, I changed my mind... and it was a phrase I read, used by our wonderful Admin' Annieapple (I hope she does not mind me quoting her)?
She said, in passing, to we team members, whilst we were discussing all the ways we can support all our running friends,
“...It’s so good to see some of our couch posters interacting and encouraging each other as we used to… “
... and she is so, so right. It is really heartening, when we see runners here, looking at other posts, reading them and replying to them !
That got me thinking, (always dangerous), and I fished out an old post, ( some bits included here), ... still as valid now, as it was then, and so pertinent to me, as Mr OF and I, are currently going through one of the scariest and trickiest times we have had in our lives.
Because of this, I have been thinking a great deal about friends and friendship.
My friends here on the forums, have helped , quite literally, to keep me going these last few weeks, and I don't just mean, running!
“I have, over the ten 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.
There is, also, 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 here there and everywhere? Taking up any spare space in suitcase, rucksack, or car with our running gear !
It cannot be easy for them, unless 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...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, not comparison, 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 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.
So.... how is this relevant to YOU, here and NOW on the C25K journey?
If you are just starting on your running journey, you have, perhaps, not had chance to make friendships here yet, if not, it is time for you to have a good look around, read each other's posts.
Find folk who are on the same week as you, team up, on your posts maybe...Run together, yet not together.
We have had, in the past whole groups of folk here on C25K, all reaching the Graduation Podium together, after supporting each other through the nine weeks
If you take the time to do that, you will realise, how much you have in common, the fears, the worries, the successes and the setbacks...and you will experience friendship that will carry you forward in your running and beyond
Okay... time for you now... pop in and let us know, please, what is happening with your running right now, have you linked up with others here. Have you started to follow other runners so you can keep track of each other and support each other. I love reading my friends' posts, when their name pings on my in box!
Reading a post can often give me the motivation to get out there.. MissUnderstanding 's posts are great for that, giving me a friendly shove, ,, thank you Miss U.
So !
Looking forward to see who pops in and I am going to tag a few new runners here, and hope they pop in !
Oldfloss x
Tagging...
FastaRastaPasta KingKongGroover Florida04 Dizzy123456 Tenby17 Broc-o-lover Reorte Nutandraisin Roseth wolfrunner
