This one is for my friends as a group.

The ones who don’t quite get WHY I’m running, but will congratulate me nonetheless.

The ones who’ve gotten used to me showing up to places late and still covered in a layer of sweat.

The ones who agree to one day drive me back to my place if I run to theirs.

They’re the ones who understand if I’m cranky after a bad run or exhausted after plenty of miles. They don’t hold it against me when I skip out of an evening early because of 10 miles on the schedule the next day.

They’ll walk slowly with me when I’m sore and drink a beer with me to celebrate.

My friends aren’t runners, but they’re a damn good support system for the fact that I am.