I don’t know what it is, but people who run share a special bond. I felt this hard-to-explain bond with a fellow runner (who is a stranger) yesterday while running the Providence Half Marathon.
I started the race a pace faster than I’ve run a half before. I needed something to keep me at this quick pace and noticed a woman ahead of me in a grey shirt who had a really cute cheering section (her husband I assume & her two young boys who would pop up along the course to cheer for her). I saw how strong her pace was and made sure to keep this woman in my sights no matter how tired I got.
She was always in sight but it wasn’t until mile 7 that I finally caught up with her. For a couple of miles we kept passing each other or falling back behind but always pretty close. For the last few miles I didn’t see her but I had a feeling she was really close by. I was thinking how once I crossed the finish line I’d thank her for pacing me (even though she had no idea she was doing it). As soon as the finish line approached I noticed her creep up beside me and we sprinted side by side across the finish line.
As soon as we crossed she turned to me and said “I followed you for the last 5 miles, thank you for pacing me!” and of course I told her she had done the same thing for me for the first 7 miles. We laughed at this and then went our separate ways. I don’t even know her name, but in part I have her to thank for my PR at the race.
Don’t you just love when things like that happen? Maybe it’s only something a runner can understand.
