Jim came just in time! (Social Facilitation Part II)

This is my ode to runners giving each other a lift. The situation: dehydrated, running in the heat of the day, and I missed my mile marker, so now I'm running 9 instead of 7. About mile 6 a random retiree Jim catches up to me and offers to run along with me. All of a sudden, I am talking AND running faster. Jim carries me through the rest of my run telling me marathon war stories. He wears himself out to stay with me as I pick it up in the home stretch, so he ends his run early but we finish as teammates. Did I mention he is retirement age? What an athlete and a tribute to sport and sportsmanship. Wherever you are out there Jim, thanks man, you saved my run today. Maybe I'll see you on the canal again some time.