• With more variety •
[1½ MIN READ]
A.A.ron was commenting about the friends he’s made within the GGR group: “It’s not that easy to make friends these days.” The built-in interest of running removes one of the barriers to making friends. Otherwise, it can take a lot of time and effort to get past small talk to figure out what you have in common with someone new. Even with other runners, it can be challenging sometimes to strike up a conversation. I’ll give you a hint if you find yourself challenged: We runners love to talk about our running. The obvious key is to compare running stories, e.g., how each in the conversation got started, where competitive running fits in, what friends each has made through running.
Your own experience might confirm how difficult it is to make new friends and how little variety there is in your friend group. Being among a diversity of people at the university where I’ve been working builds from the industry of higher education as a common interest. The workspace has enabled me to diversify my social base increasingly through the years. Running has provided me another community of like-motivated people with social and professional diversity. I make my contribution with my own brand of ethnic representation.
In Philadelphia, we’re fortunate to have chapters of 2 entire groups that we can get to know: Black Men Run and Black Girls Run. GGR’s first traveling groups ran with the former in 2020’07 and 09. This year there was another joint run with them in 01 and 05’29’W is the next. Not wanting to be sexist, the traveling group does have its sights on BGR, too. Execution just needs to be more mindful when a guy is reaching out to a gal group. Outreach has begun; so, stay tuned for that.
I know I am better for friendships, including with A.A.Ron, built through all kinds of running in community. Read more: Asian Me and Black Men Run.
-CtCloser (Calvinthe), “Negative split or positive splat” #dothedue
FINE PRINT ¶Text and photos (unless otherwise stated): Calvin Wang (Wäng), CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. ¶Cross-posted: (1) Facebook JRC Growlers Group Run (2024’05’29’W Run Message), (2) GGR email list, (3) Cerebruns by CtCloser. ¶This website posting: Cerebrun with added caption.
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