“Wherever Two or More Are Running … ”

My sister Sonja and I ham it up before a 5.2-miler.

A few months back, the great Razz over at Running off at the Mind wrote about the joy of running with others. After ticking off a litany of the benefits of running buddies — which range from accountability to plain old fun — he ended with this classic conclusion: “So I guess running can be social. Maybe all of the blog posts and the countless Runner's World retreads on the subject may be right. Who knew? Next thing you know, vegetables will be good for me.”

That line has stuck with me ever since.

In these last few years that I have been running, I’ve resisted going anything but solo. I fear not being able to keep up with my speedier peers, and I like the flexibility of being able to run whenever my schedule permits. So, even though I’ve known that, like Razz’s proverbial veggies, a running buddy would be a blessing, I’ve chosen to go it alone.

But that all changed last weekend, when my sister, a runner from New York, was in town. Sonja joined me for two afternoon jaunts, and it was awesome. I can’t remember the last time we were able to talk, uninterrupted, for the better part of an hour. (We live on opposite coasts, and we each have four children!) And it was great to get to share this hobby we both love, but which the rest of the family just. doesn’t. get. at. all.

The joy of those two runs got me thinking all over again about Razz’s insight — gee, just maybe all those experienced runners know what they’re talking about!

But that shouldn’t come as a surprise. One of the great insights of the Church is that we are social creatures — indeed, that Christians collectively make up the mystical Body of Christ. For this reason, the Church has always eschewed a “me & Jesus” approach to spirituality, requiring that we attend Mass once a week and seek forgiveness for serious sins through the Sacrament of Reconciliation with a priest. While there are times for solitude and silence, the Church ensures that we neither forget our interdependence nor lose the sense of accountability that comes through sharing the Faith.

And that applies to running, too. Running alone is fine, but my treks with my sis have convinced me that I should stop being such a loner. It’s time to broaden my horizons. Heck, one of these days, I might even try eating vegetables!