Back in the day, I used to ride my fixed-gear bike and cruise around the city with like-minded friends.
Thinking back on it now, I guess I've always enjoyed doing things with others since back then.
Just as cycling has group rides, running has what’s known as a group run.
This is literally just running as a group, and the general idea is to run at a pace where you can have a conversation, whether you're an experienced runner or a beginner.
Participation is free-form with no advance sign-ups. You have aimless conversations with strangers who share the same hobby.
It’s quite similar to the "saddle talk" you have during a group bike ride.
Both cycling and running are things you can essentially do on your own. Of course, time spent training alone is important, too. But I also think it's a fact that sharing experiences and building a community makes life richer.
The group runs I participate in are all things that started spontaneously when people who wanted to run together simply gathered.
One of the group runs I participate in regularly is the Hisaya Minami Running Circle.
We meet at Starbucks Hisaya-Minami at 7:00 AM on Friday mornings. We run about 5km each week. When I return to the meeting spot and watch everyone head off to work one by one while having a coffee, it eventually becomes time for me to head to work, too. Perhaps I keep participating every week because I love that Friday morning time.
On a personal note, on Sunday nights I also do trail running on the Higashiyama 10,000-Step Course around the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens, so please feel free to join if you're interested. Don't worry about the pace. Let’s run together.
When I participate in group runs, I always have Altra on my feet.
This is the model I wear when running on paved roads.
And this is the model I wear on unpaved roads.
As many of you probably already know, this brand was born with the goal of reducing the strain on the knees caused by heel-striking the ground while running. These shoes feature a wide-toe box design, which allows your toes to spread naturally, helping you run more stably while also having the effect of softening the impact when landing. I think these shoes are easy to fit for Japanese people, many of whom have wider feet.
Sizing is important for running shoes, just as it is for bicycles. Please ask me about Altra sizing. And let’s go for a run together!