Run with a stranger

A mile into my run an older man takes a side street onto the street I am running. He appeared to be running very slowly. After chasing him for a nearly a quarter of a mile I came to the realization that I wasn't running very quickly either. (In my defense running uphill with a jogger is no simple task.)
When I reached the gentle down hill segment of my run I took the opportunity to surge ahead of my fellow running. A conversation started between us as we waited for an intersection to clear. We causally talked as we continued on. He told me  about running a marathon with his daughter. I share a few memories of running with my dad. Before I knew it I was back to my old familiar turn to home. I waved goodbye and thanked him for the enjoyable run.
This isn't the first time I've run with a stranger. I ran 15 of my 21 miler with a random women running the same distant, direction, and time as me along the local running trail (what are the odds?.) During the marathon I ran the first 6 and the last 3 miles with a someone I met at the starting line. Running has a magical ability of taking two people and creating a connection. Despite all the difference that might exist in the universe you are bound by at least one commonality.
Running.
Running at that location.
Running at that time.
Running at that pace.
Yes, we come from diverse backgrounds, and go on to accomplish a variety of things, but for that one moment we are all the same. Runners. And that is what transforms strangers into friends . . . at least for a few miles.