I read somewhere that runners talk about everything except running when they're running but when they're not running they talk about running. So I started to pay attention to that and it really is true. Think about the conversations you've had on a run they're usually about everything else in your life.
I agree about small talk and getting to know people. An example of this is my daughter who said that people want to be your friend on social media, but if they see you on the street or at the store, they don't acknowledge you!!
I miss my old running partners from long ago. Im pretty slow now, so I'd have to locate another slowpoke to run with !
That seems to be true in my experience too! Depending on where you live, your local running store would likely host regular group runs, I'd bet -- that's always a great place to start 👍
I miss being in a running group. Years ago, I got in with a group that ran at 5:30 am every morning. Okay, I'm not an early morning runner. I'm at my best AFTER the sun comes up, but I set my alarm and went anyways. Like you said, it made running easier and I looked forward to it. But, like every good thing, it ended. It started with 10 people and after 6 months we were down to 3... then it was just me...
Has anyone done a race, when you come upon a group and ask to join them? I've never been turned down and somehow, it makes it easier... you're all in it together and you seem to push and carry each other... I'm so glad the in person races have started again...
I have not been brave enough to ask about joining a running group while running a race. Maybe I will try that at my next race! Not doing Disney, but I’m jealous if you are. 👍🏼
So true, Steve! If you like, send me where you live and I can do a little research into running groups you can find there -- it can be hard for them to stay together over time, but even if they stay together for a season or a year, that's still great. I would love to do Disney!!!
Very neat to hear your experience with your running group. It almost sounds like a TV show. I love how "Raven" celebrates peoples differences. I think that is so important. It is easy to be the same but being different is what makes us human. Unfortunately for my wife love small talk with strangers. I feel like I can learn more about a person through a meaningless unscripted 60 second conversation than a 30 minute interview. It also is extremely rewarding to me to genuinely connect with a stranger.
My brother and I chat on the phone for about an hour every evening. I didn't know him well for about 50 years, but my, things have changed after the dear old phone. Small talk. . .but he and I have learned a lot about each other. This would never have happened with our new-fangled digital technology. :)
Thank you so much, Nilima! I'll definitely check out the newsletter you recommended. That is so, so interesting what you say about your brother -- "I didn't know him well for about 50 years." Do you live in different cities? I'm guessing circumstances/life directions pulled you in different directions -- love that you have come back together ❤️
Well, he was an officer in the Navy and I was a Hippie during the Vietnam War. Explains a lot! We didn't see eye to eye. :)
But, about 13 years ago, there was the matter of my Parent's Trust, a thief of the Public Administrator in Lyon County, Nevada, and a lousy, younger brother who wanted all the money from the Trust for himself. We did win the Federal case in the 9th Circuit and the law stands on the books (Mathis VS Glover 2015). This was all done on the phone. . .it also put aside differences. We still laugh about that.
The phone brought my younger brother (15 years younger) into the law, trust, and the eventual settlement with my greedy brother. After all, what is more convenient than picking up the phone and talking to someone? This would never have been done on Zoom or on Text.
My younger brother uses text, my older brother, who is a whiz on computer hardware and software, will not use modern technology. . .he finally graduated to a smart phone cuz his old one didn't work well. But, he learned and calls everyday. I don't know why he call me, but it is an enjoyable interlude. It does cut into me making dinner, but he's worth it. Wouldn't give up hearing from him for the world!
Yes, we do live in different cities. He's in Vegas, I'm in Redmond, WA, but the phone breaks the geographical barriers.
If you get a chance, read the article. It is worth it. You made some of the same observations in your essay. :)
I loved so much your post today Terrell! After running for years alone from 4 months I am now running with a group of girls. We motivate each other, we talk talk talk and our meeting at 6.30am has become our best moment of the day. We also have supporters, when they see these women running and chatting and laughing they encourage us. As you say running and talking ... just wonderful after all this darkness .
Thanks for writing this, Terrell. I recently joined a run club to push myself out of my comfort zone, both running-wise and socially. I often prefer to run solo but I have enjoyed the conversation in the run club, like you mentioned. I’m still on the fence about group runs but you’ve inspired me to give it a chance.
I'm so glad to hear that, Michele! Really glad you're giving it a chance. It can be uncomfortable at first, but anything worth doing usually is, right? I hear your hesitation about group runs; sometimes it's hard to find people who run at the same pace as you. It's helpful when there's a large enough group that different pace groups can settle out and run together. Maybe that will happen to where you're running :)
I just took my first vacation in 16 months. Vegas - Palm Springs - San Diego. I found myself making an effort to talk to people on every elevator, shuttle, beachside, hotel lobby. And everyone, without exception, was friendly, nice, engaging. People are worth the effort. If you only believe what you read in the news or on-line about people you may start viewing everyone as an enemy. But when you get out in the world, its not like that. Its actually quite wonderful. Thanks for the post Terrell, I have always been a solo runner, but maybe not anymore...
I'm so glad you had that experience, Jeff, and that's been mine too. I remember years ago, I used to write freelance for a number of different local publications here in Atlanta, which brought me in contact with lots of different people throughout the city -- in business (big and small), in nonprofits, working in the community, etc. What dawned on me after meeting them all and writing about them is that, despite what we see on the news most nights, there are so many people out there, right now, working every day to make the world a better place that we never, ever hear about. But they're the glue that makes our whole society stick together.
And I wholeheartedly recommend joining a running group! It really can change your life! 👍
I read somewhere that runners talk about everything except running when they're running but when they're not running they talk about running. So I started to pay attention to that and it really is true. Think about the conversations you've had on a run they're usually about everything else in your life.
They always are, aren't they?
Hi, Terrell,
I agree about small talk and getting to know people. An example of this is my daughter who said that people want to be your friend on social media, but if they see you on the street or at the store, they don't acknowledge you!!
I miss my old running partners from long ago. Im pretty slow now, so I'd have to locate another slowpoke to run with !
That seems to be true in my experience too! Depending on where you live, your local running store would likely host regular group runs, I'd bet -- that's always a great place to start 👍
I miss being in a running group. Years ago, I got in with a group that ran at 5:30 am every morning. Okay, I'm not an early morning runner. I'm at my best AFTER the sun comes up, but I set my alarm and went anyways. Like you said, it made running easier and I looked forward to it. But, like every good thing, it ended. It started with 10 people and after 6 months we were down to 3... then it was just me...
Has anyone done a race, when you come upon a group and ask to join them? I've never been turned down and somehow, it makes it easier... you're all in it together and you seem to push and carry each other... I'm so glad the in person races have started again...
Anyone doing Disney this year???
I have not been brave enough to ask about joining a running group while running a race. Maybe I will try that at my next race! Not doing Disney, but I’m jealous if you are. 👍🏼
So true, Steve! If you like, send me where you live and I can do a little research into running groups you can find there -- it can be hard for them to stay together over time, but even if they stay together for a season or a year, that's still great. I would love to do Disney!!!
Leesburg Florida... about 45 min north of Orlando...
Very neat to hear your experience with your running group. It almost sounds like a TV show. I love how "Raven" celebrates peoples differences. I think that is so important. It is easy to be the same but being different is what makes us human. Unfortunately for my wife love small talk with strangers. I feel like I can learn more about a person through a meaningless unscripted 60 second conversation than a 30 minute interview. It also is extremely rewarding to me to genuinely connect with a stranger.
Exactly! I love it too. I don't know what it is, but there's something essential about it.
I love to travel alone! I make small talk with everyone and don't have to worry about my companion. :)
Terrell, loved your newsletter, as always!
Speaking of Zoom, Facetime,Video etc. . . I came across this in one of my other favorite newsletters: https://elemental.medium.com/why-phone-calls-combat-loneliness-better-than-zoom-calls-c3d552f0fe5f
My brother and I chat on the phone for about an hour every evening. I didn't know him well for about 50 years, but my, things have changed after the dear old phone. Small talk. . .but he and I have learned a lot about each other. This would never have happened with our new-fangled digital technology. :)
Thank you so much, Nilima! I'll definitely check out the newsletter you recommended. That is so, so interesting what you say about your brother -- "I didn't know him well for about 50 years." Do you live in different cities? I'm guessing circumstances/life directions pulled you in different directions -- love that you have come back together ❤️
Well, he was an officer in the Navy and I was a Hippie during the Vietnam War. Explains a lot! We didn't see eye to eye. :)
But, about 13 years ago, there was the matter of my Parent's Trust, a thief of the Public Administrator in Lyon County, Nevada, and a lousy, younger brother who wanted all the money from the Trust for himself. We did win the Federal case in the 9th Circuit and the law stands on the books (Mathis VS Glover 2015). This was all done on the phone. . .it also put aside differences. We still laugh about that.
The phone brought my younger brother (15 years younger) into the law, trust, and the eventual settlement with my greedy brother. After all, what is more convenient than picking up the phone and talking to someone? This would never have been done on Zoom or on Text.
My younger brother uses text, my older brother, who is a whiz on computer hardware and software, will not use modern technology. . .he finally graduated to a smart phone cuz his old one didn't work well. But, he learned and calls everyday. I don't know why he call me, but it is an enjoyable interlude. It does cut into me making dinner, but he's worth it. Wouldn't give up hearing from him for the world!
Yes, we do live in different cities. He's in Vegas, I'm in Redmond, WA, but the phone breaks the geographical barriers.
If you get a chance, read the article. It is worth it. You made some of the same observations in your essay. :)
I loved so much your post today Terrell! After running for years alone from 4 months I am now running with a group of girls. We motivate each other, we talk talk talk and our meeting at 6.30am has become our best moment of the day. We also have supporters, when they see these women running and chatting and laughing they encourage us. As you say running and talking ... just wonderful after all this darkness .
Beautifully said, Alessandra! I'm so glad you've found your group -- and I love that you have your supporters too!
Thanks a lot for the article. I just enjoyed the topic and realized that value doesn't stay only in big things.
Thanks for writing this, Terrell. I recently joined a run club to push myself out of my comfort zone, both running-wise and socially. I often prefer to run solo but I have enjoyed the conversation in the run club, like you mentioned. I’m still on the fence about group runs but you’ve inspired me to give it a chance.
I'm so glad to hear that, Michele! Really glad you're giving it a chance. It can be uncomfortable at first, but anything worth doing usually is, right? I hear your hesitation about group runs; sometimes it's hard to find people who run at the same pace as you. It's helpful when there's a large enough group that different pace groups can settle out and run together. Maybe that will happen to where you're running :)
I just took my first vacation in 16 months. Vegas - Palm Springs - San Diego. I found myself making an effort to talk to people on every elevator, shuttle, beachside, hotel lobby. And everyone, without exception, was friendly, nice, engaging. People are worth the effort. If you only believe what you read in the news or on-line about people you may start viewing everyone as an enemy. But when you get out in the world, its not like that. Its actually quite wonderful. Thanks for the post Terrell, I have always been a solo runner, but maybe not anymore...
I'm so glad you had that experience, Jeff, and that's been mine too. I remember years ago, I used to write freelance for a number of different local publications here in Atlanta, which brought me in contact with lots of different people throughout the city -- in business (big and small), in nonprofits, working in the community, etc. What dawned on me after meeting them all and writing about them is that, despite what we see on the news most nights, there are so many people out there, right now, working every day to make the world a better place that we never, ever hear about. But they're the glue that makes our whole society stick together.
And I wholeheartedly recommend joining a running group! It really can change your life! 👍