• What it took to get one run going •
[2 MIN READ]
Since Jason’s place, The Silvermane Estate (my designation), is relatively on the way from 2 of our homes to JRC, a few of us have taken to meeting there and going to the store together for the weekly Growlers Group Run. Last week, independent of the daylong rain event, Adelavid (AKA Adelaide and Train Dave) gave their regrets. Jason tentatively messaged me to test the waters, as it were. I quote: “Are you running in this? Are you running TO this? (He asks sheepishly).” Despite my previous day’s Weekly Message stating I would be, I have been known to bow out. He knows this and was clearly hoping for it.
Normally, I would run the ½ mile from my house to his. I drove, instead. Jason jumped into my car, appreciatively, and we discussed the potential that no one else would show up so that we could just skip the run and go to Human Robot for an uncharacteristic Wickedly Wet Wednesday. A couple of minutes after we walked into the store, Thaddeus arrived. The 3 of us discussed the potential that no one else would show up… A couple of minutes after Thaddeus walked into the store, Sylvia arrived. The 4 of us…
Oxford Languages (via Google search) defines “critical mass” one way: the minimum size or amount of something required to start or maintain a venture. I particularly like the usage example it provides: “a communication system is of no value unless there is a critical mass of users.” Our running effort would have had no value unless there was a critical mass of runners. Critical mass, here, was also a little more than the right number, it was also the right incentive. Sylvia: “Let’s run. If I thought we weren’t going to, I would have just stayed home.” So, run we did.
I suppose Jason had me to thank. And I suppose I had Thaddeus to thank. And I suppose we 3 had Sylvia to thank. Then, finally, I suppose, Jim had us all to thank, because he himself would have just gone home if the store staff hadn’t been able to tell him that we had gone running. So, Sylvia, grudging “Thanks.” Critical mass achieved, despite the rain. For a few other rain-besot and whiney Cerebruns: Meteorological.
-CtCloser (Calvinthe), “Negative split or positive splat” #dothedue
FINE PRINT ¶Likeness used with permission. ¶Text and photos (unless otherwise stated): Calvin Wang (Wäng), CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. ¶Cross-posted: (1) Facebook JRC Growlers Group Run (2024’12’18’W Run Message), (2) GGR email list, (3) Cerebruns by CtCloser. ¶This website posting: Cerebrun only with added caption.
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