It's the people you meet

I'm often asked what I enjoy the most about running in the mountains and the answer is always the same.  What makes it so special, other than the scenery, is the people you meet.  Complete strangers smile and say hello.  If you are in trouble they help and if you've stopped they will have a "natter" with you.  They will offer tips about the route or even some food.  Nothing surprises me these days and I always come away uplifted.
Yesterday was a good example.  Due to time constraints and being on my own, I decided to go locally to Tinto hill as I had done the weekend before.  This time I was going to do 3 repeats and see how my knee stood up to the downhill running.  I set off at 6.20am from the car park and half way up met two guys who I'd managed to catch up with.  One of them told me that I "was him 12 months ago" and that he used to be able to get up and down in 50 mins.  That's quicker than me but he'd obviously had some health issues, but was on his way back.  I wished him luck and passed him on the way down.  When I met him on my next ascent he offered me words of encouragement and looked like he was enjoying being back on the hill.  I also met a father and son, aged 6, and a mountain biker descending fast - I wouldn't fancy pushing a mountain buke up that hill for a speedy descent.
As I left the summit for the second time I met a running pal Laura MacDonald.  She was actually running up the steep section at the top as she is preparing for the Ben Nevis race in September!  It was lovely to catch up and we first met in a 50km trail race where we were doing the same pace for 40km and got chatting.  I blew up in the last 10 km but she went on to finish 2nd woman.
When you are doing reps people notice and start to ask you why.  One such persons friend had completed the UTMB and had also come second in the West Highland Way race that I am preparing for.  Another lady was being dragged down the hill by two very big dogs but she still smiled and complimented my descending.
After I finished it was off to the Tinto Tea Room for a cooked breakfast, cake and coffee.  An 82 year old gentleman started chatting and it turns out he was a Munro bagger until his quadruple heart by-pass.  As the conversation went on, at the next table there was a father and son who were serious cyclists.  Turns out they came from the same area as the older gentleman and the four of us had a wonderful chat.  They had so many mutual connections but had never met before.  He finished off by saying to me what a pleasure it was to have shared stories with us.  Much better than sitting next to someone on their iPhone he said.  We all left the hill or the tea room uplifted by our conversations.
I'm sure our friends that have been running in the London Marathon today will have tails to tell of the people they met - well done guys.  It helps we are all like minded in our passion but it's just nice to strike up a conversation with another human being you've never met before.  It's uplifting and reinforces my faith in people.  Next time you're on the hill or a trail run, strike up a conversation and see where it leads.  There's nothing to lose as you can always move on if the chemistry isn't working.  Oh and I almost forgot, my knee survived the downhill reps so progress on that front.