Run With A Stranger (Andrew)

This run needs to be read through the perspective of writing as a man in his late forties, not fazed by much, when you, dear reader, could be anyone. While I’d be happy to run with you, you may not be as happy to run with me, until you get to know me and find out that while I might have poor chat, I won’t run off and leave you in the middle of a neighbourhood that estate agents would only show you the homes during daytime and with two agents and a back-up sniper in place.

For this run there are two easy ways to run with strangers: first, join a Parkrun event, of which there are hundreds across the United Kingdom. Or, join an organised group or club run.

For Parkrun, if you don’t know then it is a series of free, weekly 5k events held Saturday mornings in parks and open spaces not just in the UK, but worldwide. It is open to all ages and abilities. Except me.

I have run nearly every week since I was 18 yet I have never participated in a Parkrun events. It’s very popular, hundreds of thousands of people join Parkruns near me every week and, yet, I have never joined. I don’t know why. I keep meaning to do it but, even for the purposes of research for this book, I still didn’t do it. I think I just balk at the idea of running in a park at a set time when I could run in the same park at any time. My anti-authoritarian streak comes out, and I refuse to run when told. I’ll run when I want.

You might love it though, many do. Running with strangers for free will remind you that anyone can run and size, speed, body shape or unnecessary hydration vest will not be judged. Well, perhaps the vest, are you running Parkrun in the Sahara desert?!? Parkrun is for everyone. Except me, a man in his late forties, mansplaining Parkruns, something I don’t do. I’m parkrunsplaining. 

A second option for running with strangers is to join a group or club run.

Through Autumn to Spring I run a monthly trail event organised by a club. They pick a trail of around 6 – 8 miles and everyone runs it at the same time, but no one is allowed to run ahead. When the group splits the furthest ahead stops and the rest catch up. While this sounds charitable in principle, it is hellish in practice. The faster runners always get a rest while they wait for the slowest. As soon as the slowest arrive, everyone starts running again. The slowest runner never gets a break. Instead of this system they should require the fastest runner to run back to the slowest, who waits for them to join. If you want to run faster than average then you get to run further than average

Running with a club is an excellent way to find new routes and to meet people of similar abilities and interests. Most clubs ensure any runs are suitable for all. Try running with a club and you may find that you too will be running back to the start as you get stronger.