Why you should join a run group…
…no matter how fast or slow, old or young, extroverted or introverted you are.
I have always been an extrovert, a team player, even a joiner I am a little embarrassed to admit. (For example, I loved summer camp so much, my family and friends thought I’d be the vulnerable type to fall prey to cults… fortunately that did not happen, though I am fascinated by cults and welcome all cult podcast recommendations…) I always loved being in a group and I draw my energy from the people around me. However, the one thing I never ever wanted to do with a group was run. I played sports as a kid, but running was (is) hard for me, and I was never a fast runner. The very idea of running with a group stressed me out to no end. I wouldn’t be able to keep up. I would slow everyone down. And what if I was stuck with one person and had to figure out how to make conversation with them while I couldn’t even catch my breath.
Fast forward a few decades. I had a 15-month old daughter and I was leading Stroller Strides workouts as a side gig. Our franchise owner asked if I wanted to lead a beginner run group. I never liked running with a group, but now I was about to lead one. But as we started running together that , I realized that running with a group didn’t have to be about how fast you ran, or about being self conscious about whether you could keep up or what other people thought of you. It became an opportunity to get out of our house and take a break from real life, connect with other women, vent and bond over similar predicaments, or share advice and anecdotes on whatever stage of parenting we were in (from nursing and potty training back in the day to adolescent angst to the empty nest woes that I know are on the horizon.)
I’ve read that if you want to have a heart to heart with someone, riding in a car is a good place. The changing scenery, and sitting side by side without making eye contact is supposed to minimize the pressure and make it easier to connect and share. It’s similar with running. (though way better for your body, mind, and the planet, than driving, of course.) In our everyday lives, we wear an emotional armor that keeps us from sharing much of ourselves. But there’s no time or energy for that armor on a run. Running brings us into the present moment, removing all the usual distractions. Running side by side, with lots of time to kill, makes it easy to connect in a low-pressure way. And when you face challenges with others, like a tough race or workout, or running in torrential rain, you build shared memories and a unique bond.
We’ve long known that running with friends can make you a better runner – accountability, motivation, friendly competition. But I’ve learned over the years that running with friends also makes you a better friend. Writer, sociologist, and MoveRunPlay Run Club’s very own Laura Limonic writes about how running almost became secondary - rather, Run Club was/is the vehicle for forming profound friendships. I’m grateful to call Laura a Run Club member and a friend more than 13 years after our first run club season. Give her article a read!
Join us for a run or walk/run in Prospect Park. Saturday morning easy paced runs, Wednesday night speed workout, or Sunday morning gentle walk/runs.
