I went to my running group meetup this morning, and once again, I was alone within the first minute of running. But then I noticed a couple well ahead of me on the path we usually run on. They were laughing and gesturing, and I assumed they were a random couple, out running together, not part of the running group.
I caught up to them after about a mile and was going to pass when the guy said, “Good morning! Are you part of the meetup runners?” I said I was, and asked if they were, too. They said they were, and I said, “I assumed you weren’t because I never find anyone in the group who runs my pace.”
They both laughed, and the woman said, “We have the same problem!”
We introduced ourselves and they immediately welcomed me: “Glad to meet you!” And, “I’m so glad you came out today.”
The guy promptly offered to connect with me for runs almost any day of the week. He whipped out his phone without losing a step, and asked for my mobile number.
I paused. I can’t recall ever giving my mobile number to someone I just met. But I also thought about the main reason I joined the group, and the work I’m doing on myself, and told him my number.
As we ran on together, I learned that they are both former collegiate athletes, and the guy had been a professional runner for Nike. I suddenly felt that I didn’t belong with them, either.
We finished the lake loop and said goodbye, and I ran a couple of miles home, thinking, Have I found my people?
Who knows? But I met two people kind enough to welcome a stranger. Plus, he texted me to set up future runs already! Either way, I showed up and something good happened.
This is why being more conscious and open matters.
Even though I have been showing up to the running group physically for several weeks, I haven’t been truly open to connection because I had been “othering” myself. “Oh, I’m not going to find anyone my pace.” “Oh, I’m much older than these people.” “Oh, they couldn’t possibly be with the group I’m in.” “Oh, I’m not good enough to hang with these people.”
Today, I pushed through my hesitation and allowed myself to be vulnerable, winding up with a new connection. Even if this doesn’t wind up being “my people,” it shows me that by continuing to do the work and be open, eventually I will find them.
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