“Years ago, women sat in kitchens drinking coffee and discussing life. Today, they cover the same topics while they run.” Joan Benoit Samuelson

Some of the most meaningful conversations I’ve had, have occurred during a run. I’m not referring to exchanges with my musical muses or the voices in my head, but with real women whom I’m fortunate enough to share an hour or two or more running. I’ve run with friends, siblings, acquaintances, strangers (at races) and people that I appear to have nothing in common with besides the obvious. Maybe its the endorphins coursing through our veins (or the distant thought in the furtherest most corner of our minds that we could drop dead from sheer exhaustion at any second) or perhaps its the act of sharing such an important yet basic experience with another human being, that makes us want to connect.

Today’s 13-miler was surprisingly painless, I think primarily because of the company I kept for the bulk of the mileage. I was accompanied by two pals for the first 6 miles, one for the next 4 miles and completed the last 3 miles alone- each leg of the journey took a different pace and conversational tone. I kept expecting to become winded, sore or bored as I usually do when I cover so much distance solo, but never did. While I know that marathons are essentially a solitary venture, miles logged in camaraderie are an excellent reminder that we never move through life alone.