Group Run

Group runs used to be quite the thing. Most Saturdays would see a decent-sized bunch heading out from the Medina Square on some sort of long-run or segments thereof. Not so much anymore; Covid-19 has taken care of that. Some still get together, but not like before. For me, it's been only very small groups and only on rare occasions. Today, though, things appear nearly normal.

At 5:00 AM, I arrive at the Square to meet up with Michelle, Andy, Maureen (Mo), and Mallory. It's been a while since I've even run with this many, and it's also been a long time since I've seen Mo and Mallory. We run the "Poop Loop," so named after the series of toilets in some front yard along the way.

At around 6:00 AM, Andy and I find ourselves sans women. We even backtrack a little to try to retrieve them, but they simply aren't to be found. No matter, we head back to the Square regardless. We have to meet the 6:30 bunch.

6:30 rolls around, and we do locate the ladies back at the Square; they'd returned a little early. Now Beth, Jenn, and Audrie join up. We start out going North along the Medina Half Marathon route. After a while, some of the others turn back, and now it's only Jenn, Beth, Audrie, and me.

About 45 minutes into this portion of the run, we arrive at Lake Medina. I learn that our usual entry point is shut down for construction. We bypass it and run on the lower trail instead. As we emerge onto Route 18, I remember, not in a good way, that there's a big hill here. Now that we're off the usual MHM course, we discuss options. Most want to do about ten miles, we continue to do a modified version of the course.

A little after 8:00 AM, we are back at the Square with ten miles under our belts. In combination with the previous eight, I now have enough to call this a long run. But Jenn wants to do two more, and what the heck, I join her. She leads me through the cemetery. It's nice and peaceful. And it's good to catch up with her recent running exploits. Turns out that we're both doing next week's Brick Run, and probably the Northern Ohio Marathon and Half.

We finally complete our journey. It's getting warm. The Farmers Market is going on at the Square. Group Runs are a good thing.