Part of a [running] community
I ran with a few people from the running club this morning, and during our run, we ran in to even more people we know.
This happens to me quite frequently out here! I run in to friends on the trails, in stores, passing by in our cars…
It’s cheesy, but it really makes me feel like part of a community. Okay, a running community.
When I moved out here*, I didn’t know anyone who lived in Chicagoland except for Steven. My family is around 250 miles away and I didn’t have any close (in proximity) friends. I figured I would meet friends by sitting on my couch with the doors closed through my neighbors. We had one success, and those neighbors moved away (and believe me, the rest of our neighbors are DUDS**). I met awesome friends through blogging, but it wasn’t a group close by that gave me that feeling of belonging to a community.
So I joined the running club in December 2010. I didn’t expect for it to make me feel more like this is “my town,” but it does. It does make me feel like I belong. Besides the awesomeness of randomly running in to people you know, I have learned about our community through my running club friends. They’ve pointed out things to me I didn’t know existed. They’ve shared their favorite trails. They’ve given me recommendations that I’ve used.
It’s so funny for me to think back to when I first moved out here in 2007, and lived in a commute/work/commute/sleep bubble.*** I had no idea what was going on in the community. Even when I started to add running in to my little bubble, I still didn’t know about the plethora of trails out here, or all the events going on.****
So… it’s a good feeling.
Do you feel like you are a part of a community where you live?
*Steven moved out here in 2003 and I showed up in 2007. It shall be noted that Data moved in in 2005, therefore, he has lived in this house longer than me…
**Dud is the nicest word I can use to describe them.
***And don’t forget eating.
****Running and non-running.
Themocracy
It’s the best. I so could have written this post!
Happy you are part of my running community 🙂
DITTO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It IS awesome. And I agree. I didn’t know where the library was until we started meeting there for the Just Book It planning meetings. And I had no idea where this ‘Central Park’ was. And schools? No way. But thankfully I learned a lot – through running – and made a tons of friends along the way!
I didn’t know about the library either! And the parks. And the businesses! I need those pizza recommendations from you again 😉
I’m super jealous. I do NOT feel like I’m a part of this community, running or otherwise. It’s a small town, incredibly cliquey, and there is no running community here. :\
That makes me feel sad! 🙁 Maybe you should start the community. With ALL your free time (since you have none, lol).
I know the feeling. I joined a running club in South Africa because I wanted something outside of my regular circles. Even though I was running with high school girls and 50+ men, I still found something in common and good conversation. I love that running can bring together odds and ends in a social setting. I am dying to run into some Chicago runners I know on the Lake front.
I feel the same way, never felt part of the community here until I found the runners! 🙂
Sadly, I don’t really feel like I belong to a local community in Chicago – but I do feel like I’m part of other communities through some of my other involvements! And I am building a community through my runner friends, including you. Yay for blogging!
Can’t wait to catch up at the Chicago Half Marathon next weekend!
Do you think it is harder in Chicago since it’s so big? But you do have all the little neighborhoods. I wonder if there are neighborhood associations (that aren’t just all bickering!).
I am looking forward to seeing you!!!
I’ve lived in this town for 23 years now and I definitely feel like a part of the community – I bump into people I know all the time. But it definitely took a while. Having the kids start school helped a lot.
I was thinking that – that having kids and meeting their teachers and friend’s parents, coaches, etc., would be a great way to become part of a community!
Ok, this does make me kind of want to join my local running club. It’s a HUGE club though. We’ll see.
I do get out for events in the area both running and non-running related though. I have a few good friends who live nearby and we all do random events together. Just this weekend we went to a butterfly thing where they were releasing Monarch butterflies. We took our cameras so we could take pics. Other than the oppressive humidity that made me melt into a puddle of grossness, it was fun. 🙂
You should post some pics on your blog! 🙂
I tell people the same thing about running/blogging. If you want to meet people, it’s a great way to do it! Plus, it’s way harder to make friends as an adult without kids.
Running groups are a great way to find a community! I agree, you don’t necessarily have to have everything in common but it’s just so nice to learn from one another and see people you know when you’re out and about. I get so excited when I see people I know either in Oak Park or Chicago!
My community was pretty much work… I don’t really see many people now that I’m not working and really wish I had a community. Unfortunately the only running clubs are a little far away and seem to be full of people much faster than I am. That’s wonderful that you were able to find one that works for you!
I feel like I’ve been in this weird in-between place for awhile. I run with groups … but oddly, not the group that is based in the town I live in. And I feel like I won’t live in this town forever (gotta move out of my parents house sometime), so I hesitate to put down many roots. But I don’t know where we’ll live next – in the city? a suburb to the north? to the west? I hate feeling in limbo.
That would make me feel uneasy too! Although the idea of being a part of several communities is exciting 🙂