Iron Sharpens Iron

"Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17 (CSB)

When I first started running in 2013, I thoroughly enjoyed running solo. I put in my ear buds and headed out, embracing the alone time. On weekends, I looked forward to getting in more miles along country roads, taking in the morning sky. I could wake up whenever I wanted to, head out in whatever direction I wanted to at whatever pace I wanted to. 

"J" and I originally met when my son started preschool. She would come in to drop off her oldest, with a baby carrier hanging from each arm (twins) and a toddler following behind. I was usually in awe of how she handled them all, tired from just the thought. We didn't really talk and we didn't become friends. Fast forward a few years, and our sons ended up on the same soccer team. She was the mom cheering on her son in a voice that he was sure to hear. We started talking. I found out she was a runner and actually was a relatively new "streaker" (for anyone unfamiliar with the term, it means she ran at least a mile every day). I was new in my running journey, still hesitant to call myself a runner.. She invited me to join her. I told her I wasn't fast, and she assured me that she didn't care, she just liked the company. I was nervous to give it a try, and it was a while before I took her up on the offer. When I did, I was surprised that I actually enjoyed it. I still enjoyed my solo runs, and still do, but I began to look forward to our runs together. We share our funny stories, our prayer requests, our lives.

Years later, "J" told me about her cousin, "K", who was also a streaker. She was looking for company on some of her runs. I was once again nervous to join them because of my pace. "K" is an even faster runner than "J." After some convincing, I decided to join the two of them. "K" is always sure to slow down to a pace I am comfortable with. "J" signed up to do a 5K with me in 2022 but afterwards was asked to run the Girls on the Run 5K with her niece on the same day. That was an opportunity she couldn't pass up but also felt bad leaving me on my own. She asked "K" if she wanted to fill in for her and "K" said yes. The two of us had never run alone without "J". My body did things on that run it had never done before and I feel like "K" and I became bonded for life. (Haha!)

The point of all of this rambling is to say that good friends in life are truly treasures to hold on to. Growing up, I never had a big circle of friends and my circle is still not big, but the friends I have mean the world to me. I thank God for sending me a select group of women that will encourage me, cry and laugh with me and hold me up in prayer. If you are reading this - you know who you are - I am blessed to do this life with you. "J" and "K", especially, have seen me at my most vulnerable. They see me when I am weak and encourage me to keep going. After my meniscus surgery, they let me ride bike alongside them, so I was still able to join in. They were there for my first post-surgery run. They have been patient in my recovery. They listen to me complain and scoff at my self-depreciating humor. They challenge me and, through that, have helped me grow as a runner and as a human. They sharpen me!