A month would pass before I looked at the group again. I gave a few likes. Then another month went by - I ordered a shirt. I started recognizing some of the faces from the group around town, on the trail, and on the rare occasion that I made it to the gym. I finally unmuted the group and started interacting a bit more. But it wouldn’t be until right before the 5k in March that I would gather the courage to attend one of the meet-ups. For an introvert like myself that gets social anxiety easily - saying that I was nervous is an understatement.
Before I left my driveway for the first meet-up I honestly sat in my car for several minutes thinking I shouldn’t even go. "You won’t have anything in common with anyone. You’re too much of an introvert people will think you’re weird. You’re too big to be in a running group. People will laugh at you. You’re not a real runner." These are just a few of the thoughts that popped into my head as I sat there. I finally took a few deep breaths and put the car in drive.
Twenty other runners showed up that morning. And some did look like me! Some people were way faster, and some walked. Some people never spoke a word to me, and some greeted me with a smile as they shook my hand. Some ran 6 miles while others only did 1. Some understood my struggle of juggling so much and finding time to run, and one responded with “No excuses.” Some experienced the same anxiety I did, and some couldn’t relate. But there were some. And that’s one of the main reasons why I still show up. For the next member who needs to see that there's someone just like them.
If you’ve been on here long enough then you know I’m pretty introverted. Social situations can feel draining to me. Smiling and contributing to small talk are two things I am NOT good at. But being a part of this group pushes me outside of my comfort zone. I do my best to attend the Saturday meet-ups and the monthly socials. I tend to gravitate toward the older members, but I’m open to everyone. And the people in this group have pushed me to set running goals - even if they look different from their own. They’re encouraging and cheerful for every single accomplishment, and even the setbacks.
So here we are - ten months into being a member of a run club. Eight months of me consistently running. And two months of me setting distance goals. I’ve logged 70 runs and they’ve equaled out to about 132 miles. Some runs have been fast and some have been slow. I have gone on nonstop runs, and then some have consisted of more walking than running. I’ve made some new acquaintances, and hopefully, I’ll get some friendships out of it. But if I don’t, well, that’s okay too. I still have a group of people who motivate, inspire, and understand the love/hate relationship that comes with running. A run club with members who want to make their community better - their club more supportive/inclusive. And it’s filled with people who just get it. So, I’m pretty dang proud to be a part of it! And I can’t wait to see what we accomplish in the next year. Together.
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