Transcending Borders & Boundaries

Recent Italian transplants, Carlo and Sofia, had a few of our RunMuskegon members over for a pasta dinner this weekend.  I first met Sofia and Carlo a year ago on a November run group night.  They quickly became regulars, and went on to take part in several West Michigan races.  Usually we’d talk and share race stories over a pint after a group run.  So when the invite came, I jumped at the chance to get to know my Italian friends better.  

Sofia and I at the 2014 Katty Shack 5K in Grand Haven.

The food was fabulous...authentic Italian in every way from a mouth-watering puff pastry filled with zucchini and ricotta, scrumptious orecchiette with broccoli, a spinach salad, right down to the post-dessert espresso with chocolate.  Every bite was as warm and inviting as Sofia and Carlo welcoming us into their home.  Conversations flowed with the red wine, laughter and stories filled the room.  Surrounded by my runner friends, I felt truly fortunate and thankful for these individuals in my life, and in awe of how we came together.

Sometime between the salad and dessert, Sofia brought out a photobook of her 100K trail race (Magraid Trail Race) she completed in Italy before moving to Michigan.  She was part of a two woman team that ran side by side over the course of three days.  Flipping through the photos, she described the experience, I discovered this petite Italian woman was definitely a force to be reckoned with.  

Sofia & Carlo (in the blue) at the Old Boys Oktoberfest Race series.

As I listened to Sofia describe her 100K experience, I marveled at how running transcends borders and boundaries. Much like music and mathematics, which are considered to be universal because you don’t need to understand the English, French, Spanish, or (in this case) Italian it is spoken with...you only need to open yourself up and the passion easily communicates the meaning.  Our need to run extends across the world.  

Runners just ‘get’ other runners.  Especially runners that have trained and raced long distances.  The determination, intention, the sheer pure grit to reach a goal of that scale...it is identifiable in others who have it too.

Perhaps that is one of the underlying chords that ties running groups together.  Despite being a hodge-podge collection of people from widely differing backgrounds and lives, we understand each others’ journey...because we are on that path too.  We speak the language of runners...through the rhythm of our pounding feet, the beep of GPS watches, smiles and grimaces, high-fives, and pats on the back.  

Whatever it is that allows us to overcome language barriers, I happy it exists...especially now that I have my sights set on an international marathon in a few years!  Viviamo. Amiamo. Corriamo.