Run, Karla, Run!

I stared down the track in front of me. I’d already run a 1600, two 800s and four 400s at an all-out pace. Now just one more 800 stood between me and the end of the workout.

“Group 4, you’re up!” my coach yelled.

“Why do we have to run another 800?” someone moaned.

“Because it mentally prepares you to run fast,” he said. “You speed up over the course of the intervals and then you try to hold that pace for one last 800.”

“It’s mental torture,” I said.

He laughed. “All right, this is all-out,” he said. “This should hurt. Group 4, go!”

I had a cramp in my left foot, a stitch in my right side, and I still hadn’t caught my breath from the last interval. To make matters worse, the parks department hadn’t turned on the water fountains and I forgot my water bottle. Everything in me wanted to say, “Meh, I’ve done enough.”

But I took one look at the rest of the runners in my group, and I thought, “I can do this.”

There are so many reasons to train with a friend or a team. Camaraderie, accountability and encouragement are some of them. But my favorite reason to show up to team speed workouts is that I like to run with the fast crowd. It’s inspirational, motivational and encourages me to push myself harder than I ever would on my own.

On Wednesday night, I laced up my Mizunos and headed to the track for a speed workout. It was the first time I’d been to a team workout in months—I’ve been out of town six of the last 12 weeks, and as I chronicled in my post on embracing the treadmill, I hate running outside in bad weather.

I wasn’t the only one who returned for the first time this year—it seemed like there were a lot of “welcome backs” being thrown around. A fine spring evening seemed to bring all of us fair-weather runners out of our hiding holes. And we were all there for the same reasons—to train with like-minded people who want to run and have some fun in the process.

Camaraderie is one of the obvious benefits. Knowing people with whom you can talk the talk and walk the walk is invaluable. I’m sure my non-running friends get sick of hearing me talk about running—and that’s what running friends are for. And where else will you find people who don’t think you’re crazy for being a runner?  Non-runners always seem to be telling me I’m crazy, running is crazy, marathons are crazy—take your pick.

And when you’re meeting a team or a friend for a running date, it’s a lot harder to punk out because it’s cold, or you’re tired, or your favorite episode of “The Golden Girls” is on. Friends keep you honest and keep you running.

But my favorite reason to train with other runners, especially runners faster than me, is that I like the motivation.

I’m a solid middle-of-the-pack runner. My best marathon time is slightly faster than the national average for women, which is 4:52:31 for 2009 according to MarathonGuide.com. The men’s national average is 4:24:17.

And since I’ve only been running for a few years, I nab a personal best nearly every time I race. That is, I’m still getting faster. Indeed, I’m gunning for a sub-4 hour marathon perhaps this year.

So I love to challenge myself and run with people who are even faster than me to help me get there. I’ve got friends who can fire off marathon times like 2:37, 2:41 and 3:09—largely, people who have been running their whole lives. Quite simply, they kick my butt. But they also inspire me.

Hitting the track with them for a speed workout is motivational. Playing greyhound to their rabbit helps me push myself in ways I never would if I was training alone. And it gives me a vision of where I could be someday if I put in the time and effort.

We usually run workouts in four groups according to time. I like to joke that I’m group 4.1, bringing up the rear. There are always some people who are just a hair faster than me, and a few who are back there with me, and we encourage each other along. And we commiserate with each other’s pain when the workout seems especially tough.

That’s one of the other great things about training with a team—there’s always someone there to cheer you on. As I’m rounding a lap of the track, there’s always a coach there holding a stopwatch, telling me that I’m “looking good.” I’m not too vain, but it’s nice to hear when I’m covered in sweat.

I still enjoy the “me” time on my solo runs. I wouldn’t want to trade them all in. The solitude is comforting sometimes. But I’ve come to love time with other runners too, whether we’re jogging and chatting easily, huffing and puffing, or laying it all on the track in a dead sprint.

The running community is one of the friendliest and most welcoming I’ve encountered in my life—making room for runners of all speeds and sizes. My much faster friends never make me feel like I am less of a runner simply because I am not as speedy. On the contrary, they are incredibly supportive and are always ready to correct me when I refer to myself as “slow.” They ask me in earnest how my training is going and wish me luck before big races. Unsurprisingly, they have been instrumental to my continuing success and improvement.

If you’ve haven’t reached out to other runners yet, found a team or a group of running buddies, I highly recommend you do so. You’ll probably be glad you did. I know I am. Goooooo team!

Photo © Ivonne Wierink/PhotoXpress