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Bittersweet.

June 10, 2015 By: Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC36 Comments

After this week, my mornings will look a lot different. One of my good friends – and my primary running buddy – is moving four hours south of DC. I am thrilled for her – this move represents a dream job for her husband and she will be closer to her family. But I am devastated for myself. And I’m not exaggerating.

True friends don't say good-bye, they

When Julie first emailed me in December of 2013, she shared that she had found me through my membership on the Oiselle team and then began reading my blog. She read enough of my blog to figure out that we were training for the same race and ran at about the same pace. She took a chance and sent me an email seeing if I wanted to meet up for a run. I was game and that began the start of a wonderful friendship.

Since that first run in January of 2014, Julie and I have probably run over 1000 miles side by side. We regularly ran together 2-3 times a week and have raced together more times than I can count over the past year and a half. It’s funny how over the course of miles, you start to share your lives. When Julie and I first started running together, I was planning my wedding. This weekend, I’ll be celebrating our first anniversary. We’ve chatted our way through various ups and downs that happen through life and we’ve supported each other through both on the run and in our personal lives.

It is a beautiful thing to find a running buddy where everything falls into place. Julie and I live only a mile and a half from each other, so we always met at a park between our houses before running. We have a morning routine that while others might find odd, works for us: we text in the morning while we are getting ready (we’re usually in our bathrooms pulling ourselves together). Using this system, there has only been one morning (out of hundreds) where one of us didn’t answer that first morning text. Just one.

I’m a military brat who went to three high schools in two states. I’m used to moving and used to people moving away. I’m not quite sure why I’m taking Julie’s move so hard. I’m lucky in that I have other amazing friends (hi, Mar!) who love to run and who will gladly help me deal with the loss of my buddy. I know that on Thursday morning when we have our last “regularly scheduled run” together, I’m going to be a mess. But…I’m also lucky in that I know that just because Julie is moving a few states away, we will still be running buddies – it will just look a little bit differently. 

A version of this post originally appeared on Women’s Running online but I wanted to share it here too because, well, friendship. 

Run


Comments

  1. Karen @karenlovestorun says

    June 10, 2015 at 7:04 am

    Oh that is so sad! This will make the times you do see eachother even more special!! 🙂 HUGS
    Karen @karenlovestorun
    Karen @karenlovestorun recently posted…Currently Training For…My Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      June 10, 2015 at 8:54 am

      Thanks Karen!!

      Reply
  2. Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner says

    June 10, 2015 at 8:09 am

    Ah that is sweet! Lots of memories for you two. Haven’t any of us recruited you to run with MRTT groups yet?
    Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…Bikers & Runners & Drivers Can’t We All Play Nice?My Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      June 10, 2015 at 8:55 am

      Haha, I have before but it’s just not super convenient since I’m in the city. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Maureen says

    June 10, 2015 at 8:23 am

    This made me tear up. Saying goodbye to a friend is not easy!
    Maureen recently posted…Weekend SnapshotsMy Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      June 10, 2015 at 8:55 am

      No, it’s never easy but much easier knowing we’ll still keep in touch!

      Reply
  4. Salt says

    June 10, 2015 at 8:30 am

    Oh no! I’m sorry, friend. You guys sound like you’ve had so much fun adventures together. <3 Hugs and then hugs for REAL next weekend!
    Salt recently posted…Feeling like a Super MomMy Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      June 10, 2015 at 8:52 am

      Thanks lady – can’t wait for for real hugs!

      Reply
  5. Lesley says

    June 10, 2015 at 9:12 am

    It is sad but I like what you say at the end. You’ll still be running buddies.
    Lesley recently posted…Rombauer and BaldacciMy Profile

    Reply
  6. Wendy@takingthelongwayhome says

    June 10, 2015 at 9:34 am

    awww… At least you’re only 4 hours apart; hopefully you can still meet up to run or race together! That will be really special!
    Wendy@takingthelongwayhome recently posted…A running adventureMy Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      June 10, 2015 at 10:33 am

      Luckily she’ll be coming back to cheer me on in marine corps in October!!

      Reply
  7. Christy says

    June 10, 2015 at 12:21 pm

    That is sad! Finding THE perfect running buddy doesn’t happen everyday either, but I’m with Wendy ^^^. You could meet two hours in and do long runs together.
    Christy recently posted…Running Cadence – Day #9My Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      June 10, 2015 at 4:27 pm

      Lol. Great idea 🙂

      Reply
  8. debbie @ Deb Runs says

    June 10, 2015 at 12:46 pm

    This actually brought tears to my eyes. I know you will miss Julie terribly, but I hope you two will be able to visit, or meet for a race half way between you once in a while. Sounds like there will need to be some girls weekends for you two!
    debbie @ Deb Runs recently posted…Motivation To SucceedMy Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      June 10, 2015 at 4:28 pm

      We definitely will do some race trips and will be virtual run buddies too!

      Reply
  9. Fiona @ Get Fit Fiona says

    June 10, 2015 at 1:20 pm

    I have a close friends who moved 4 hours north 2 summers ago. Luckily she’s back in town every few months and we get to hang out. I’m actually going up to visit her tomorrow.
    Fiona @ Get Fit Fiona recently posted…What I Ate WednesdayMy Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      June 10, 2015 at 4:28 pm

      Oh how awesome !

      Reply
  10. Hollie says

    June 10, 2015 at 2:37 pm

    I’m sorry to hear that. I’m glad to hear it’s an awesome move for her but I do know the hardships of moving!
    Hollie recently posted…Woodbury 5k (19:40)My Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      June 10, 2015 at 4:30 pm

      Yes, super happy for her but selfishly sad for me!

      Reply
  11. Jennifer says

    June 10, 2015 at 2:41 pm

    We’ll miss you Julie!! We’ll miss daily (okay…2-3x/week) Julie + Courtney pics. Now Courtney, stay in DC forever, okay? 🙂
    Jennifer recently posted…2015 Annapolis Running Classic A-Team + Discount!My Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      June 10, 2015 at 4:30 pm

      I’m not going anywhere anytime soon!

      Reply
  12. Leana says

    June 10, 2015 at 5:55 pm

    Finding the perfect running buddy is so difficult! I’m so sorry yours is moving away as she sounds like a great friend!
    Leana recently posted…Race Report: Strathmore Women’s TriathlonMy Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      June 10, 2015 at 8:03 pm

      She is pretty dang great. She will be very missed!

      Reply
  13. Mar @ Mar on the Run says

    June 10, 2015 at 7:08 pm

    Sniff, sniff but HI!! 🙂
    Mar @ Mar on the Run recently posted…Workout Recap & a Berry Good Weekend!My Profile

    Reply
  14. Michelle @ Running with Attitude says

    June 10, 2015 at 8:56 pm

    Oh so hard to lose a running buddy! I think it’s time for you all to start planning a girls race weekend!
    Michelle @ Running with Attitude recently posted…3-Day Refresh ReviewMy Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      June 10, 2015 at 11:02 pm

      Yes! In the works!!

      Reply
  15. Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes says

    June 10, 2015 at 10:07 pm

    Awww, so sad. I feel for you friend. I kind of felt a similar way when my BRF got pregnant and we couldn’t run together anymore. She’s still working her way back slowly, but it was tough to handle!! Hugs!

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      June 10, 2015 at 11:03 pm

      Thanks, lady! It’s a bummer but I’m excited for her!

      Reply
  16. Daisy @ Fit Wanderlust Runner says

    June 11, 2015 at 4:18 am

    Since my recent move, I lost my running partner. We packed quite a bit of miles but we became just the best of friends. Hopefully you get to run together aging even in sporadically. I went back a month ago and squeezed in 6 miles withe my friend! 🙂
    Daisy @ Fit Wanderlust Runner recently posted…Places to Run in San Diego: Lake MurrayMy Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      June 11, 2015 at 6:31 am

      That’s great! We will definitely run together in the future!

      Reply
  17. Tara @ Running 'N' Reading says

    June 11, 2015 at 10:13 am

    Courtney, I wish I could come run with you! I can only imagine what a loss this is for you; I hope you had a great run with Julie this morning and that the two of you will be able to stay in touch. I know that things will not be the same; thanks for sharing this with us.
    Tara @ Running ‘N’ Reading recently posted…Reading RoundupMy Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      June 11, 2015 at 10:51 pm

      Aw Tara you almost made me cry! I am going to miss her greatly but knowing we will stay in touch and run together soon makes it a bit easier!

      Reply
  18. Abby @ BackAtSquareZero says

    June 11, 2015 at 9:56 pm

    That stinks. I am so sorry.
    Abby @ BackAtSquareZero recently posted…On Being a Kitten Foster MomMy Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      June 11, 2015 at 10:50 pm

      Thanks, lady. It’s definitely sad but knowing we will stay in close touch makes it a bit easier!

      Reply
  19. kaprian says

    June 12, 2015 at 6:27 am

    (((hugs))))

    Reply
  20. Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home says

    June 11, 2016 at 7:09 am

    Aww, Courtney, what a wonderful tribute to your friend! Hopefully you will be able to schedule some running trips together and that will make your running all that much sweeter (less bitter!).

    Reply

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