I’ve been running for a long time. I started in my sophomore year at good ole Oswego State. Freshman year, I thoroughly enjoyed the unlimited meals at the dining hall. Each night, after we ate, one by one the guys would head to the ice cream cooler and load up. If we sat a while longer, we’d go for seconds… or thirds. By the end of the year, I was having to iron my jeans to stretch them out so they would fit.
When sophomore year started, I decided enough was enough. One night, my friend Jim was in the TV lounge, stretching out on the floor. I asked him what he was doing and he said he was headed out for a run. I asked if I could join him. He said yes and so it began. Years and years of running. All this time, I’ve absolutely loved running. You could run with others or go off on your own. You just needed a good pair of sneakers, some shorts, and you were set.
When I traveled for work conferences, fellow conference attendees would meet for dinner at the end of the day. I would ask where they might meet out later as I planned to head out for a run and explore the city. Checking out cities at my own pace is wonderful. While running, I could find things to see and do. It felt good too.
Somedays I’d say I was just going to run a quick six miles but once I got out, my mind would wander and I’d end up having run twelve to fourteen miles and not even remember it. (That was when I was younger, I definitely feel it now.)
When we lived in Charlotte, NC, I ran with five guys every Saturday morning for over eight years. It was tough to leave them behind when we headed north to be closer to family. In fact, I’m still on the group text every Friday night to see whose running in the morning. You get close to people when you run and these five will always be my good friends.
In college, I trained and ran a ten-mile race up and down three water reservoirs in my hometown of Syracuse. At the time, it was one of my longest and most difficult races. I did it and it gave me quite a confidence boost. Last winter, I set a goal of trying to run it again, some forty plus years (gulp!) later. As the past two years, my injuries kept me from running more than three miles, it was a lofty goal. On the weekend of the race, I was coming down with some kind of cold. Although I struggled and ran much slower than I wanted, I finished. My new friend, Rosemarie, the race director, was one of the first to congratulate me afterwards. Camaraderie.
My first marathon was in the wonderful little town of Keene, NH. It’s home to the Clarence DeMar marathon. You might know his name as he won seven Boston Marathons back in the 1920’s and 30’s. It’s a small race with about three hundred runners. In recent years, it’s expanded and become an amazing town event with the addition of youth races. The race director is my friend, Alan. We played softball together on the company team and we started running at lunch time, in mid-winter, to try to stay in shape for springtime. Now I think he’s run more marathons than I have. I like to think I had a little to do with that but it’s really all about the camaraderie. It’s what helps keep us going.
Each year, I run some part of the Vermont City Marathon. It’s the biggest race of the year. I run some part of it (six miles, thirteen miles or the whole 26.2) every year. I also volunteer at the information booth at the Runners Expo Friday and Saturday before the race. We have the same five or ten people every year answering runners questions, advising them on the course and wishing them well. It’s a blast and I hope to never miss that part of the race weekend.
My friend John and I run most Saturday mornings on the bike path with views of those gorgeous Adirondacks to the west. We get to catch up on our lives during the run. Honestly, if I didn’t text him and ask him if he was running, I would have skipped several of those runs when the winds were howling and the temps dropped below thirty degrees. I guess I can thank him for that.
All this leads me to our run last Sunday. Here in Burlington, there is a group that has been running each Sunday morning for well over ten years. It’s lead by my friend, Jan. Everybody in town know the “Run with Jan” Sunday runs. This weekend was a special run where all the different running groups around town were gathering. As we met for a giant group photo, some short words were spoken about how wonderful it is for us to get together and after many Covid years, be social once more. Once the photos were taken, everyone started running through the woods of Oakledge Park to Red Rocks along the waterfront on Lake Champlain.
As runners passed each other on different pathways that intersected, we would run, pause, and chat. We’d ask how each other was doing. What races do have coming up? What side of town do you live on? How are the trails there? It was wonderful. Everyone encouraged each other, no matter what pace we happened to be running. It almost made me forget how cold it was outside.
We ran the trails, up and down leaf covered hills, into the peace and quiet of nature.
I had only planned on a cursory run with the group but my short run turned into a conversation filled six or seven miles. Once done, we headed to a local establishment for coffee and friendship with smiles everywhere.
Running is great. Being together with others who share your interests is even better.
Camaraderie, my friend.
First, I didn't know you ran in Oswego... not that I'd have joined you in doing it. lol I actually tried running in my late 20s, but it only lasted 3 days. On the third day I developed shin splints that lasted about a month, and decided running wasn't for me. I'll have to be proud that every day for close to 10 years I've made sure to walk at least 5 miles a day, letting Fitbit track it for me; it proved I could dedicate my body to something that would help me stay healthy. :-)
Thanks for the shout-out to the Mountain Goat! Registration for May 5, 2024 event opens next week, so your timing is sweet! Consider returning...I'll send you a courtesy registration code if you can make it!