Running solo

I've been running since my high school days, almost always solo, which is my preference. The morning run is one of only two time periods during a day (the other being my violin practice late at night) that I have to myself--and, to "commune with nature." :) That said, there have been occasions, when close friends who are runners come visit, and we go out running together, that have been very enjoyable. About a year ago, I signed up, along with my kids, with my local runners club (MCRRC), mostly for the resources it offers. Over that summer, I trained with the Wed. night speed work group at a local university track; that was quite good. Then, this past winter, leading up to the March 2013 Rock 'n' Roll USA Marathon, I did the club's Winter Marathon Program, which helped me tremendously. On those Sunday long runs, although at times I didn't quite care for the running banter (I mean, it interfered with my communing with nature!), I did find them generally fun to do, with fellow runners in my pace group. On one such run, e.g., someone started singing the Beatles' Help! and, pretty soon, the entire group was singing and smiling and laughing. That was pretty neat, and different.
  
But, basically, I'm still mostly a solo runner.