Running alone or in a group?

Which do you prefer:  running alone, or running with a group?

I first started running by myself, as a way to create a quiet space, free of telephones and demands on my time. I never run with music, prefering to listen for the birds in the trees, the wind blowing through my hair, or even the thread of a song I heard on the radio earlier in the day that endlessly repeats in my mind.

Five years ago I started running with a group of women, and the dynamics of running were turned upside down. We rarely run in silence, instead talking over the latest news headlines or updating each other on our family's busy lives. We fall into a comfortable pace and instead of noticing the clouds racing across the sky in front of the wind we share thoughts on the best new restaurants in town.

Tonight I enjoyed both types of running, starting out on my own as daylight turned into darkness. As I headed up steep Center Hill Road, I paced my breath with my stride, focusing on the top of the hill, concentrating on maintaining a steady, even pace. Running down the sidewalks in front of the stores just closing for the evening, I thought about the way Manchester has changed over the past year. It seems like every month another store or restaurant closes, and the state of the economy is on everyone's mind.  My pace quickened as I turned the last corner onto Richville Road, watching my headlamp light the sidewalk and enjoying the quiet darkness.

20 minutes later I headed out on the same route, this time with 9 women from my running group. Wendy, Patty, Laurie and talked about triathlons and the lack of an indoor pool in Manchester. We ran up Center Hill together, my thoughts not on my breath or pace but on the group conversation. I looked back down the hill, seeing the string of headlamps and high-vis yellow running gear stretching out behind us. At one point our route circles back, and the faster runners kept going toward the finish. I kept pace with Audrey, right behind Michelle and Morgan with Linda and Liz close behind us. We talked about the best meals for a slow cooker, the pricing of the newest restaurants, and the amount of snow in the mountains. As we turned the last corner onto Richville Road, instead of running by myself in the quiet darkness I was surrounded by women talking about the 7 mile run we have planned for this weekend.

I love the independence of running by myself and the opportunity to let my thoughts wander. I love running with other women, learning about their lives and finding common ground. Our ages tonight span 40 years, from 14 to 54. We live in 7 different towns within a 25 mile radius. We have young children, teenagers, college-age kids and grown-up children out on their own. This is the first year with the group for 4 of the women, and 2 started with the very first group 5 years ago. The running group brings us together, allowing us to match our pace and our breath as we run in the dark, conversation carrying us along.

I don't prefer one type of running over the other. Instead, I'm thankful I have the opportunity for both the silence and the talk, solitude and company.