Don't Run This Race Alone
Last weekend, a few of us ran in the Dorset 10k, probably the hardest 10k I can ever imagine running in my life. Beautiful and challenging. As I experienced the whole event and as I ran, I reflected on joining in the movement of people and organizations working to stop slavery:
- This is a lot harder than I was expecting. Sometimes it was all I could do just to keep moving forward. Once or twice I had to sit down and catch my breath.
- In the middle of the race, out in the middle of nowhere, there’s not a lot of fanfare. A group of four cheering, a man with his dog, someone running nearby.
- Because of a staggered start, there were people that had already been running for hours when we started and who would continue to run for hours after we finished. Half-marathoners already well into their race hi-fived 10k-ers, 10k-ers cheered on marathoners… and ultra-marathoners. It didn’t matter whether you were just about to start running or whether you had been running for a long time already, people encouraged and cheered each other on. Friends and strangers celebrated each other’s progress.
- “Three people are better than no people.” – F.L. Hamer. I like running alone with my music and my thoughts. But on this occasion, I was so glad two friends agreed to come with me. I don’t think any of us really knew what we were getting ourselves into. I’m glad had people to train with, gear up and get there with, people I knew who understood exactly what I was experiencing, and to debrief and celebrate with.
Don’t run this race alone.