Sophia Gibby: Even though I’ve been running since I was a little kid, I think running is hard and painful. Having another person there really changes the experience. You feel that energy reverberate off someone.

Emily and I were hallmates in first year in Watson-Webb, and definitely were best friends from the first day. The common joke is that this is the farthest we’ve actually ever lived from each other. It takes me like two minutes to get to her door.

Emily Carder: We are both ultramarathon trail runners.

Gibby: 50k, 50 miles, or 100k, 100 miles.

Carder: You’re so consciously aware of every second that has passed when you are moving your feet.

Gibby: Going into college, I was really nervous about making friends. I think most people are. We became so close so quickly. I’ve been given something truly remarkable at UVA. I have a lot of questions of, like, what can I do to make the most impact, to do the most good? Running with Emily has made me feel stronger and able to wrestle with that question.

Carder: Taking the time to run together is just a different way of being able to connect. It makes you reflect on your life outside of running. There are still so many things that I’m curious about, fascinated by people that I meet. And I think, “How did I not know you three years ago?”

Gibby: I was just not expecting the level of community that I would create here and feel part of. There was definitely a time before Emily, but it sometimes really feels like there wasn’t.

Carder: You have a mom and a dad and a brother. I have Gibby, too. I think we’ll just run together and see where that takes us.

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