Okay, maybe you don't run all the time. Maybe knitting is more your thing. Or shopping. But whatever it is, I hope you have best buddies who enjoy you and enjoy spending time doing these things with you. Just replace "running" with whatever it is you like best.
10. There is no competition among crazy running friends. When you have real friends, awesome mature friends, they only want what's best for you. That means they don't hold you back, and they aren't constantly trying to one-up you.
9. They wake you up at 5:30 in the morning and it's normal. Not like in a college-drinking-binge-stumbling-in-walk-of-shame kind of way. But in a "Let's get out there and greet the beautiful world!" kind of way. The second way is totally awesomer.
8. You can talk about everything. E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G. I always say, you can't run carrying your baggage. You have to let it go before you can have a good run. This might mean you're crying 5 miles into a run (it's happened) and it might mean you have to tell your friend that she has to drop her issues out on the side of the road and leave them there (such a good visualization technique) and it might mean you know WAAAAAAYY too much about your friends' sex lives and the town gossip.
7. Your running friends love you no matter if you have accomplished 2 miles or 20. We ALL know the pain of those first 5 minutes. We respect everything it takes just to pry yourself off of the couch. We are not running snobs-- we are proud of each other. Supportive. Always.
6. Your running friends would rather run a slow, bad run with you than leave you behind. There have been more and more off days since I have been having issues with my IT band. And I always always always struggle up hills. No one has ever really left me behind. I mean, there are times when I had to cut Becky loose because I was just walking. But the fact is, she would never have just said, "Look, I gotta run faster than this. You're sucking today." In my young and immature days, I admit, I dropped some friends because they weren't keeping up with my obnoxious shop-party-boy-crazy-obnoxiousness. Downright embarrassing to look back on that. I hope running has taught me, and I hope I can pass on to my daughter, we just don't treat people that way.
5. You become friends with people you probably never would have met otherwise. We have met some AMAZING, INSPIRING, AWESOME people in this crazy running adventure. I would never have pushed myself to go talk to some of you if we didn't have this shared torture/pain/pleasure of running in common.
4. Breakfast with friends. Breakfast with friends is one of my most favorite things in my whole entire life. Ever. My priorities in life are: God, Family, Coffee, Breakfast with friends. No wait. Books. Then Breakfast with friends. I don't know how or why to describe this. But it's just the yummiest food, and the best way to start your day, right? One time, Lisa made us brunch with homemade waffles and lil smokies. And that was one of the best days in my life. Another time, after I ran the Fargo Marathon Relay with Patty and Anna, we went to Denny's and had breakfast (Because they serve it ALL DAY) and I remember THAT more than I actually remember the run! And finally, my friend Catherine makes THE BEST breakfast burritos and gathering at her house for breakfast is.... hmmm.... it's 9:15, I wonder if she's busy..... so you know what my point is? It's not just the food. It's just that great feeling, the good memories, the gorgeous sunshiny start to your day with the amazing people in your life. And pancakes.
3. Your running friends are committed to you. Because no one wants to be that girl who can't be relied on to show up.
2. Shared endorphin rush. I think this is a huge contributing factor to why we love each other so much. You never walk away from each other mad or angry or impatient. You're always on a runners high when you say goodbye. You're plastered in sweat and complaining about blisters but you're still high-fiving each other with a huge smile on your face.
1. Courage. Strength. Respect. Running friends bring out the best in you. Somehow, running got me physically back into shape, but it also molded my life back into shape. I have more patience. I know that nothing is impossible if I work towards it, and I work better with the support and encouragement of my running wife. My best running friend pushed me to things I never thought possible and it's been my relationship with her that really changed me for the better. I found, in myself, characteristics I thought I had lost for a while. Discipline-- I used to always think I was the flaky one who never stuck with anything-- jobs, hobbies. But my consistency in running showed me that I have just been a late bloomer. Courage-- I never imagined doing what we do now. Patience- There is no way to hurry up a 20 miler without hurting yourself. You just settle in for the long haul. And fortunately, this frame of mind has transposed into my parenting, my work. Sometimes you just have to settle in and work towards the finish without yelling at people to hurry up! And finally, and this goes back to #10-- I just don't want to compete with you, I want to see that HUGE smile on your face, and read your facebook posts, when you've accomplished your best. When you set PRs, I don't care if I am ahead or behind you. When you're out there having a bad day but you ran anyway, I know you're doing the best thing for you and I am just happy to share in some of that!
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| Fargo 2013. Having run together for 3+ years now, we have probably logged THOUSANDS of miles together. Still doesn't get old. She still waits for me and I still listen to her. |
I hope that you have friends that help you along the way. Friends who make you push yourself, who laugh and cry and talk for hours. Friends that want the best for you. Friends who make the best memories with you!
Happy Running, Crazy Running Friends!
~Jen
