As a member of the Watertown Area Running Club, WARC, we have had the pleasure of being able to run with many people. Some come and go, and others are what we in the club call “lifers”! We are there, week after week, year after year. We have made many friends. We have had many conversations. We have run many races. The memories are what are the best. One of our “lifers” is moving to SF. Paula left at the end of this week after being here for years. Now, granted, she is not far away, but, she will not be running with us every week anymore. We had a going away party for her earlier this week. That is why run club is not just about running. It is about lifelong friendships.
We have had too numerous to count runs together with Paula. I can only hit the tip of the iceberg in this post, as there are too numerous to count runs and races we have done. Jill, Paula, Sarah, Amanda, and I ran a few years ago in Colorado for a Half Marathon. They had T-shirts printed: South Dakota Girls, and Dan! We had a great time. We have had multiple marathons together, other Half marathons, as well as 5k’s. The training runs literally are the best. You spend mile after mile—talking! You figure out what each of us is like. What we do, what we like, what we don’t like. Running brought us together. Being friends kept us together. I remember one Sunday when I was taking a picture of a bunch of the girls who were running because it was either Mother’s Day, or national women’s day, or something to that effect. I was trying to get them lined up and to run towards me, and they were all acting goofy, and laughing, and of course, were not listening. So, of course, I had to yell at them and tell them not to act like “a bunch of idiots”! Then they really started laughing. Paula especially. I told her it was like telling my little sister what to do, and she would not listen!
Sarah and I had Thursday afternoon free, so we came earlier and helped Kevin and Paula get the U-haul loaded up. We got it done before the rest of the group even had a chance to get there. It was work, but we did a lot of laughing too. Everybody else in Run Club was trying to figure out how we slash the tires so they would not be able to leave to SF on Friday. This is the picture we posed for, but the next one was how it really was!
It was like finishing another marathon! It was bitter sweet. They are on to their next adventure in life. They just can’t stay strangers. We have to figure out when to meet for a run, or go out to eat, whether they are back here in Watertown, or we are in SF.
This picture was taken before I could get there. Work still had to come first. These are some of the people who have run a lot of miles with Paula, and with each other, over the years. We are WARC Strong! This is what you can be a part of if you ever want to come join us some Sunday morning, 7AM. We do still meet on Wednesday at 5:30 PM, but COVID has hindered the ability for Sarah and I to get there. Someday things will start to normalize. I am going to have to find somebody else to give some “crap” to now on our runs. Paula really was like a younger sister to me!
Whenever Paula wanted to just be Paula, there I was with the camera!!! Just like family! We have had a lot of fun times, and adventures, talks, and runs. It will make the times we meet up next even better.
Good luck Paula and Kevin on your next adventure. You will be missed, particularly by your WARC family. Until we run together again, take care, and stay safe. Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day of New Streak: # 945
