Runners are, in my experience, the friendliest, most willing to share group of people I have ever come across in more than five decades on this planet.

Sure, there is competitiveness involved for a subset of that group, but there is rarely the “crush the opponent at almost any cost mentality” that exists in some other sports.

Instead, it is common to find runners who have fought neck and neck throughout a race genuinely congratulating each other in the finish chute, regardless of who finished ahead of the other.

Even after 500 races, I am still impressed by the “class” of some runners. In a race two weekends ago, I was going back-and-forth over the last two miles with John Kennedy, a top 55-59 age group runner, when, with a quarter mile to go, he turned and gave me words of encouragement, which made a world of difference to me. That was a highlight of that race, and of the year. I was so impressed and my already high respect for John skyrocketed.

Runners are generally very willing to share their training plans, racing strategies, what they eat, and anything else of interest to fellow runners, such as injury recovery.

Almost forty years of running and I still learn from fellow runners.

My very good friend, and “virtual” training partner, Andy Harris, and I e-mail daily about our workouts and training ideas. Earlier in the year, Andy mentioned several times going to “Lino” to deal with some injury issues. At the time, I was dealing with a hip injury that left me with next to no power off one leg going uphill.

Several e-mails later, and after some research, I came to the conclusion that it would be worth my while to make the trip to Sacramento to see Lino Cedros, a Somatic Practitioner at Kinections on J Street.

I knew it would cost me half a day each visit, and it would take at least a handful, but, having battled various injuries over the last five years, it was worth seeing if he could help.

Combining the fun of meeting Andy for a run before each appointment, I dove in. The first visit, I walked across the room to shake hands with Lino and he said he knew what my problem was. I hadn’t said one word and, just walking across the room, he knew, telling me my right hip was locked up and I was essentially running on one leg.

By the end of a painful first visit (and one thing distance runners know, it’s the value of short term pain for long term gain!), Lino had ripped out a lift I had under one heel that had been put in to correct a supposed leg length difference and hip pain from TWELVE years before. That was a major change and I was concerned.

Andy wisely kept reminding me that change would be painful, so to give Lino some time and do what he said. I did, and within a month and five visits, I started noticing some very positive results.

In that same three-month time frame, I was seeing my podiatrist, Steve Latter, at the Foothill Podiatry Clinic, and getting new orthotics to incorporate some suggested changes. As a result, after some adjustment discomfort, my feet feel the best they have in years.

Am I 100 percent ever day? No. I still have some tweaks and aches and pains.

Do I feel better than I have in the last five years? Absolutely! And, if on a given run, I might stress something or overdo a bit, I am better able to recover.

Runners who have been injured and unable to run, or have run with nagging injuries will easily be able to identify when I say that, for the first time in the last five years, on a more often than not basis, it is a joy to be able to run free from fear that it might be my last run.

To run fast. To run hard. To run with abandon at times. To fly. What a great feeling!

And yes, I owe all these wonderful feelings to the connectedness, communication, camaraderie, willingness to share and bond between most runners.

I strongly urge you to reach out to other runners. Talk to them, find out what works for them and what might work for you. There is a wealth of knowledge right in our own “backyard.”

Andy, I wouldn’t be where I am today, being able to love one of my passions in life more than I have in too long a time, without your sharing and steering me to Lino. So, my heartfelt thank you!

Lino, without your expertise, wonderfully positive attitude, and willingness to inflict a little pain to break the body’s bad habits, I would be hobbling along, a shadow of my true self. I can never thank you enough!

Steve, my thanks for working with me to tweak and get the orthotics just so. I may not be the easiest of patients, yet we both were working towards the same goal, to have me running with minimal discomfort. Now you’ll have to run even faster to catch me! Thank you for being an important part of the team that has me running free of pain again.

So, if you see me out on the streets, trails, or track running around with a huge smile on my face, you’ll know it’s because of the joy these three important people have allowed me to experience again.

That, and that I am head over heels in love with the most wonderful, amazing, incredible (add every positive adjective you can think of) woman…and she loves me, too! So, (My Girl) Holle, my never-ending thanks for putting wings on my feet and heart.

What a wonderful world this can be!

Steve Bond is a competitive runner who lives in Nevada City and regularly writes columns and feature stories about running for The Union. He may be reached via e-mail at stillrunning55@sbcglobal.net.