Comments on: we are family http://www.runningland.com/2006/07/22/we-are-family/ wisdom and tripe from a lifetime runner Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:27:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Joan http://www.runningland.com/2006/07/22/we-are-family/#comment-4785 Joan Tue, 25 Jul 2006 13:57:59 +0000 http://www.runningland.com/2006/07/22/we-are-family/#comment-4785 Oooh, I love the idea of contributing by cleaning the ice before playing! How beautifully communal. Oooh, I love the idea of contributing by cleaning the ice before playing! How beautifully communal.

]]> By: George (Canada) http://www.runningland.com/2006/07/22/we-are-family/#comment-4781 George (Canada) Tue, 25 Jul 2006 11:07:36 +0000 http://www.runningland.com/2006/07/22/we-are-family/#comment-4781 Joan, as usual, right on the pulse. I also think that runners have a certain individuality that directs them towards this activity. I avoided "standard" team sports in my youth and early adulthood. Growing up in Montreal, you were almost obligated by law to play ice hockey. I preferred shinny, which is played in outdoor rinks, sides were picked from whoever was there, people left, others came. The beauty was that no one told you how to play, when to stop, no one yelled at you, and any expectations were only your own. You did contribute to the "team" by helping to clean the ice before playing. As an adult, I tried to play team basketball, which in my case consisted of riding the bench unless we led by 40 points and the coach would insert me the last 2 minutes. I did not want to particpate in a sport where I did not participate, and the play factor was lost in the pursuit of "winning" Thats why I love to run, I can go when I want, where I want, as slow or as fast as I want. This is my play time. I also saw this individuality insofar as I was mostly immune to peer pressure, I did not need to fit in. Joan, as usual, right on the pulse. I also think that runners have a certain individuality that directs them towards this activity. I avoided “standard” team sports in my youth and early adulthood. Growing up in Montreal, you were almost obligated by law to play ice hockey. I preferred shinny, which is played in outdoor rinks, sides were picked from whoever was there, people left, others came. The beauty was that no one told you how to play, when to stop, no one yelled at you, and any expectations were only your own. You did contribute to the “team” by helping to clean the ice before playing. As an adult, I tried to play team basketball, which in my case consisted of riding the bench unless we led by 40 points and the coach would insert me the last 2 minutes. I did not want to particpate in a sport where I did not participate, and the play factor was lost in the pursuit of “winning” Thats why I love to run, I can go when I want, where I want, as slow or as fast as I want. This is my play time. I also saw this individuality insofar as I was mostly immune to peer pressure, I did not need to fit in.

]]> By: Eric http://www.runningland.com/2006/07/22/we-are-family/#comment-4735 Eric Sun, 23 Jul 2006 06:20:44 +0000 http://www.runningland.com/2006/07/22/we-are-family/#comment-4735 Corollary to this, and in agreement: running friends are one of the best kinds of friends. Especially in adulthood, where making close new friends seems harder than in high school and college. With running friends one can share an intense, physical experience, difficult goals, and good stories and memories, but all within well prescribed boundaries so the other parts of life (work, family, making dinner) are not obliterated. It's a swell mental health additive, and a good balm for loneliness. ( . . . Note: we're having a heat wave here too, so I'm websurfacing tonight until it cools down -- hence two comments in one day; I promise not to clog things up daily). -Yrs, E Corollary to this, and in agreement: running friends are one of the best kinds of friends. Especially in adulthood, where making close new friends seems harder than in high school and college. With running friends one can share an intense, physical experience, difficult goals, and good stories and memories, but all within well prescribed boundaries so the other parts of life (work, family, making dinner) are not obliterated. It’s a swell mental health additive, and a good balm for loneliness.

( . . . Note: we’re having a heat wave here too, so I’m websurfacing tonight until it cools down — hence two comments in one day; I promise not to clog things up daily). -Yrs, E

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