• A certain marathon was a factor •
[1½ MIN READ]
Probably because it’s the thanksgiving season I’m reflecting on encouraging experiences with an attitude of thankfulness.
I start with the observation that the presence and influence of a running crew — a collection of runners in a common, compassionate, continuing space; a community — is the foundation for this piece. [All hyperlinks go to this website unless otherwise specified.]
Two particular angles of perspective are formative for a crew: emotional and social. In my lexicon, “emotional” relates to feelings. “Social” relates to interactions and practices on a broad scale. If this just sounds like something friends do, you’re right. People beginning to know each other must develop increasing degrees of emotional and social connectedness to become friends. A club like the Growlers makes it easy to become friendly because of the common bond that is running.
We took it to a different level by establishing monthly afterruns: Wickedly Wet Wednesdays. When that wasn’t enough, we went to weekly. The emotional and social connections kept deepening. Some of us began running with each other outside of the weekly JRC run. Others of us began planning races together. The informal team of A.A.Ron, Ironette, Thaddeus, and me came into existence for Philadelphia Marathon 2025.
Over the last months, I’ve depended on the lot (with additional crew members from SRC) to help me prepare for the Philadelphia Marathon (ShawmontRunningClub.com). We all needed the emotional and social connections that crewness — community — brings. Then we ran it: 23’U (Sunday). T’Adam provided pacing support. Grace provided spectator support.
Read more: How the race went, in Being a Philadelphia Marathon Race Pathologist
Our results were a mixed bag, but there can be no doubt that we had become more than just crew members: We had become each others’ supporters, emotionally and socially connected on a unique level.
So, I am thankful. I have absolutely no doubt that the others are too.
-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 (2025’11’26’W Run Message), (2) GGR email list, (3) Cerebruns by CtCloser. ¶This website posting: Cerebrun with added caption and enumeration.
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