Training Together

Fall’s arrival in Chicago is accompanied by many traditions. It’s a time to buy fresh apples from Michigan and watch the Chicago Cubs struggle to make the playoffs. One of my favorite fall traditions is cheering on the thousands of runners at the Chicago Marathon.  

This October marks the 46^th running of the Chicago Marathon, first started in 1977 as the ‘Mayor Daley Marathon’ after the sudden passing of Chicago’s long-serving mayor. The race has grown over the years, topping out at 45,000 runners from around the world.

While running is often viewed as a solitary sport, for many it’s an opportunity to make new friends and build camaraderie. Earlier this year, Sara wrote about the many benefits of working out with others. While the pandemic made group fitness activities difficult, research continues to show that exercising with others can boost motivation and increase connectedness with workout buddies.

When the pandemic shuttered gyms everywhere, exercising outdoors became increasingly popular. It also prompted many people to start running. According to a study released in spring of 2021 by Nielsen Sports, “13 percent of all surveyed runners began during the pandemic.”  And there’s evidence that the interest in running continues, as well as growth in communities formed to group train. The New York Times article quoted above also stated, “Running clubs – in which people meet to run and often do something social after – have exploded in New York City.”

These clubs in NYC create community among people who otherwise might never connect. They start with a run and then socialize afterwards. The NY Times story continued to report that on a hot early September evening, “over 25 people, ranging in age from teens to late 60s, showed up to run a four-mile loop around Central Park.”

Reading about this community of runners reminded me of the training groups I have participated in over the years while preparing for endurance events. In the months leading up to the first – and only – time I ran the Chicago Marathon, I participated in weekly speed workouts on a nearby high school track with a handful of colleagues and runners from around the city. This undoubtedly helped me increase my speed, and I enjoyed getting to know the diverse group of runners.

A few years later, I decided to train for a multi-day bike ride, and once again sought out a community of weekend warriors to train with. Our long rides on weekends, including two days spent cycling the hills of Southwest Wisconsin, did the trick preparing us for the 400-mile ride for AIDS research from Montreal to Portland, Maine. Once again, my community of fellow cyclists, a loose mix of colleagues and acquaintances, provided the accountability group I needed to meet my goal.

If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.

African Proverb

My participation in endurance sports was not a surprise to those who knew my history as a cross-country runner in high school and half-marathoner in college. After finishing graduate school, I worked for a company with the mission to ‘fuel the healthy consumer’ with Gatorade in its portfolio. I was surrounded by athletes, and was often game for a group run, bike ride or volleyball game after work.

But not everyone can envision themselves as a potential endurance athlete. A friend I’ve known since high school, Libby Hurley, recognized that many people, particularly women, lack confidence in their ability to go the miles.

In high school, Libby was a record-setting swimmer, but athletics receded into the background when she started her career as a physician’s assistant. While living in San Francisco in her late 20s, Libby watched athletes from all walks of life compete in the ‘Escape From Alcatraz’ triathlon. She was captivated. So, she bought a bike, took up running, and the following year, completed the race. Libby recognized the value of a supportive community while training, and Together We Tri, a training program for “athletes regardless of age or previous achievement,” was born.

In the days following this personal victory, I wanted everyone around me to feel the joy I’d experienced.

Libby Hurley, in her book Tri the Journey

Together We Tri has trained and motivated thousands of athletes since its founding. Meanwhile, I am not currently training for an endurance event, yet I am looking forward to being inspired by both elite and beginner marathon runners next weekend at the Chicago Marathon.

But you don’t need to go any further than your local high school or town park to find a cross country meet or charity 5k for a source of inspiration. We encourage you to grab those cowbells and get ready to make some noise from the sidelines. And maybe next time you’ll be the one being cheered on towards the finish line!