No one ever told me that running was such a social activity, I always thought it was just a bunch of self driven people trying to meet or beat their latest goals. But all this running I've been doing over the past few months has turned that view around. Sure, runners are self-motivated for the most part, but it turns out that there are a lot of people to meet and things to talk about while you're out on a trial or meeting up at a bar afterwards!
Just last week I had plans to meet up with my friend Dane at the Irish Snug run (Which is a 5k run every Thursday at the Irish Snug bar on Colfax) but when I got there, Dane said he wanted to run by himself, so if he went, pounding the pavement to the beat of his own drummer! So there I am, not knowing anyone else stretching out my legs before I take Dane's lead and run solo, when up walk Kevin and Deanna, a couple I met playing kickball this summer, who happen to be good friends with an ex-boyfriend (small world, I know). Deanna and I ended up running together since Kevin took off with some of his friends at a pace much faster than we could handle, and we had so much to talk about (a whole 5k's worth). We ended up covering all the topics new friends would: how long she and Kevin had been dating, how I was handleing the breakup with Ryan, how we both got into running, etc. There were even a few laughs mixed in with our strained breathing along the way!
As it turns out, I've developed some impressive skills with all this running, since Dane took off before me he got back before me and felt the need to text me to determine my location, and miracle of miracles, I was able to text him back, even with my stupid phone! It's the little things in life that get us to keep putting one foot after the other.
Once we finally got back to the Snug and had a chance to catch our breath I ended up in search of Dane in the very sweaty basement of the snug, yuck! But Dane wanted to stay down there so he would hear his name during the ceremony honoring the committed Snug runners that make it to their 10th run! Once you get to 10 runs you get a fancy t-shirt, and I haven't witnessed it yet, but I hear you get another one when you hit the century milestone.
While we were waiting downstairs we caught up with more of Dane's friends, Matt (he's the one that is super super tall and hilarious) and Ian (who I'd apparently met before, but needed a reintroduction to). The group of them are all hilarious, a group of young teachers/student teachers, they had all just started the first week of school. Each one of them are so witty and they come up quick quips one right off the other, if you didn't know them you'd probably think it was a skit they'd practiced together before the run.
When Dane's name was called we all cheered and sang "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" which apparently impressed some of our fellow runners at a nearby table, since they thanked us for our spirit on the way out the door.
Tonight is run number 5 for me with the Snug, and I can't wait to see who I'll meet and what we'll talk about!
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