Running Family

Tweet

This past Sunday I was so not into getting up and running 26km. I'm not sure what happened to my motivation from the awesome solo run I had the previous Sunday but it just wasn't there. Something to do with packing and less than a week to go before our big move I suppose. I knew that with the lack of motivation there was no way I was getting it done by myself so I made my way to run club to tackle it with the rest of the group.

The group was small as it was a long weekend here and so a lot of people must have been away on vacation. As we headed out there was some chatting which was a nice distraction. We talked about how I was moving and this would be my last long run as a Langley resident which is where my run club is located. I mentioned how it was going to be difficult to make it out to run club from where we are moving but I was still hoping to try for my Sunday runs. Someone mentioned how my "running family" was going to miss me.

My running family?! For over a year I've been coming to this run club once or twice a week seeing the same people over and over again to basically accomplish the same thing, run. 

There are a lot of people I see every week and I don't even know their name but I still look forward to talking to them and running alongside them. I've forged many friendships there but I honestly did wonder if my presence would be missed when we made the big move. To hear a person who I know by appearance but not by name (until this past Sunday when we made an official introduction somewhere along the 26k route) refer to themselves as my running family made me feel pretty special.

I actually had to hold tears back thinking about it. I don't know that I would have gotten this far over the past year if it weren't for these people. When I first walked into the store for a run I was unsure and nervous, unaware of the goals I would attempt and accomplish over the next year.

These people embraced me, welcomed me, encouraged me, laughed with me (and probably at me haha), and suffered up hills with me. I've completed 22 races since I first walked in that door and credit is owed to each and every individual I've run with.

So as I pack up my medals (with two days until our move) each one a treasure to remember all 22 of those races by I'm thinking more about my running family. More than any medal, bib, or finish time, the most valuable and memorable part of those races have been these people who've become my friends and my family.

I thank you for everything.