For the past 12 years I have had the good fortune of serving as race director of the Carson Park 5 & 10 (Carson), 5K and 10-mile run/walk in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

A big reason that I consider it good fortune is that I have long had a deep appreciation for the history of the event.

Founded in 1969, Carson is the first organized run/walk event in western Wisconsin, as well as the first put on by the ITC running club that I have long been a member of.

In my view this long history is a cause for celebration both because of the numerous health benefits that running and walking provide and the friendships they help to build.

Not only has my participation over the years in Carson and numerous other run/walk events done much to help keep me both physically and mentally fit, it  has helped me to make many great friends.

Running can definitely be a solitary pursuit, which is one of the many things that I love about it. Spending some time alone on the run is one of the best ways that I know of to clear my head and focus my thoughts.

Just as running together is one of the best ways that I know of to spark great conversation and develop a friendship with someone. I’ve been fortunate to have made many great friends over the years while logging miles with them, not just during training runs but during races as well.

Back when I was a competitive runner, some of my biggest rivals became some of my best friends. There is something about pushing each other to our limits that makes us grow and appreciate one another.

Now that I am more of a running event organizer than a competitive runner, I have found many of the same things to be true. In organizing the Carson Park 5 & 10 for the past 12 years, I have grown friendships with many wonderful people. In fact, probably even a broader spectrum of people than when I was strictly a runner.

In organizing this year’s 53^rd annual Carson, for example, I had the pleasure of working with and getting to know Rachel Lange of the Wisconsin Logging Museum and Rachel Meyer of the Chippewa Valley Museum.

I also was fortunate to have the help of a number of my co-workers, most of whom are not runners themselves. Shown with me (center) in the posted photo are co-workers Joe Mabie (aka Joe Bunyan) who did the PA announcing for the event and Logan Enerson (aka “The Dude”), who helped with course setup and giving out awards.

Joe is an occasional runner while Logan to my knowledge has little to no interest in running.

But they both are good friends who I have grown to appreciate even more thanks to running.