An Inspired Run with Six Women Who Weren’t There

Me, after this morning’s run, and the six ladies I had the pleasure of “running” with: Meg, Sam, Suz, Mary, Heather, and Mona
I just returned home from a chilly, hilly 10-mile run on the winding country roads that blanket the New Hampshire seacoast. It was a planned run, capping Week 2 of an extended marathon training plan and testing my readiness for a 10-mile road race I’m running in two weeks.
The first mile of a long run is about waking up the body, shaking off the cobwebs, and getting a feel for the road. It wasn’t until somewhere in the second mile that my mind started to wander, and I remembered that today was the #megsmiles event I had read about online.
When I set out this morning, I had no intention of logging my miles as part of the event. I didn’t print a bib or share the details on Facebook. I didn’t seek out new running buddies or organize a group run. I’m a bit introverted and not a natural joiner, so jumping on the bandwagon in the wake of a tragedy seemed inauthentic. The idea floated away. I kept running, but my thoughts kept returning to Meg. (more…)