Conversation over a 16 mile run

Our 16 mile run today on the Shires marathon course was like a slinky - one that talks.

We started off in small groups, larger groups, pairs, and a couple of women who prefer to run on their own. "Watch out for the ice!", "car behind us", and "wow - look at that view" were shouted out to the line of 12 women stretching down the road.

Over the 16 mile course some of us caught up to those in front, and we all ran at the same pace for a few minutes to talk and laugh. Then we'd separate again as someone took a walk break, we headed up a hill at various speeds, or someone else felt like running a bit faster. At one point I stopped to take off my shoe to remove a large stone, debated the merits of catching up to the group in front of me, and opted to wait for the group I heard behind me - their laughter brightened my day as much as the sunshine.

After the run, Mandy and Patty said the 6 of us in front of them looked like a flock of geese as we ran down the middle of Old Depot Road. I have many favorite parts of the Shires course, but the 8 miles on dirt roads from the railroad tracks on Airport Road to the end of Old Depot Road are at the top of the list. There's little to no traffic, the roads curve and wind through farmland and forests, and the view of the Green Mountains is gorgeous. Plus we can run down the middle of the road if we please.

Troy caught up to us and ran a few feet in front for a few minutes, looking over her shoulder to join the conversation. She sped up a hill, then jogged in circles waiting for us to join her - the conversation was too interesting to miss.

We talked about religion, the Komen Foundation and Planned Parenthood, a daughter whose phone was stolen on the NY subway, the amount of snow in Colorado compared to our lack of snow here, compression clothing, our favorite flavor of Gu, when we first started our menstrual cycle and what it's like to go through menopause. As someone from the group in front of us slowed down, she was drawn seamlessly into the conversation.

Once we reached the Stewart's in Arlington, our endpoint for the day, we continued talking while we stretched, changed into dry clothes, drank chocolate milk and ate our favorite recovery foods. We kept to our talking slinky ways as women joined the group, went outside to their cars, came back inside, cheered as the next person finished her 16 miles, figured out carpooling, and made plans for the next run.

20 women running 16 miles on beautiful Vermont roads on a sunny winter morning. I'm still smiling.