Relating to community and the process of creating it (communitizing)
• A couple of thoughts from experience • [1½ MIN READ] I’ve learned a few things about negotiating grief. Two came to mind recently when I was with friends going through the process. Having gone through a few deaths of people I love, including someone very recently, I was able to sit in sympathy with … More Handling Grief
• Getting past just appearances • [2 MIN READ] When my new colleague arrived at the summer conference (SuCo) for my new organization, Coalition for Christian Outreach (CCO), Jon was wearing an Orlando Half-marathon 2024 running shirt. That got us talking immediately, but only briefly as we worked on getting into our respective rooms. The … More Discovered
• Being with and being • [2 MIN READ] Throughout life, I’d managed to stay close to a few important people. People whom I knew and trusted and ones that knew and trusted me. But only a few. Then I started running. I joined a running group at the local running store. It was a … More The World Is Full of Nice People
• An Anchorage version • [2½ MIN READ] A community-service trip, like a mission project, might not conventionally feature a fixture like a foodfest, at least not one I was to design. One like that would prioritize conversation. This is a truth that people who spend time with me might soon discover; however, my annual … More Consumption and Conversation
• More inattentive than I dared imagine • [2 MIN READ] A recent organizational conference I attended was inordinately full of moments of ditziness that amounted to mostly just annoyance: managing to get into the wrong dorm room for host-college housing, continuing a run down the street and entirely forgetting to turn over to the … More Putting on the Ditz*
• To arms • [3 MIN READ] Last week we had to say goodbye to a Growler who made a big impression on the club in a little period of time. Jackie was a club newbie a mere 14 months ago and she got us right away. Not only did she arrive with comfortable running … More Farewell and Hello (#311: 2025’06’04’W)
• Comparing running journeys • [1½ MIN READ] As a high-school lad, I had a classmate who did the bizarre by running cross-country. Bizarre to me because that was neither my character nor habit in any way, shape, or form. FYI, those were the President Jimmy Carter days with a running standard for high schoolers … More The Footsteps of Another (#306: 2025’04’30’W)
• Through running and GGR • [2 MIN READ] I don’t imagine I’m the only Growler who can testify to the catalytic role of running or the GGR club and crew in my life. Regarding the former, running entered my mid-life when it was time to develop myself physically a little: Midlife Crisis*. I could … More Personal Development (#300: 2025’03’19’W)
• Unless someone else is doing it to you • [2 MIN READ] As the anchor of Growlers Group Run at Jenkintown Running Company, there are certain things I do to connect with people and make them feel welcome. After we do the name thing all around, I ask lots of questions and listen a … More It’s Not Really Creeping (#298: 2025’03’05’W)
• Sentiments for a different holiday • [1 MIN READ] A podcast that I mentioned in 10’30’W Cerebrun about the phrase “run crew” has had me thinking since the time I heard it. The term “crew” describes running groups that have moved beyond just helping runners get better competitively to helping runners get warmer communally. … More Giving Thanks for the Crewness of the Club (#289: 2025’01’01’W)
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