I investigate my feelings, work out problems, plan articles, or just concentrate on my breathing, on my being. I recently moved to a new neighborhood and joined a running group, the Reston Runners. I found that running with others provides a type of intimacy not achievable in other social activities. When I run with the group, I connect with people on a level not otherwise possible. I do not connect with or come to know as intimately, people I meet under other circumstances, people that I have more in common with than my running friends.
Runners are a diverse group.
There are some stay-at home moms, like me. Still many are professionals from such diverse disciplines as teachers, lawyers, engineers, small businessmen, therapists, writers, executives. The group even boasts an ambassador. When we run, we talk about current events, about sex, and of course about food. Naturally, many of my co-runners run for the same reason I do, to support an eating habit.