In my last post, I shared how to build a training plan that fits around your life. Today, I’ll share more on how I started running in 2012. I’ve shared part of that story before, but I never told the part about the running club.
When I first laced up, running was a one and done kind of thing for me. I didn’t have a big plan. I just figured if I was going to run, I could join the local running club, the Ohio River Road Runners Club, or ORRRC as we call it here. I honestly can’t tell you why I made that choice. Maybe it was the low-cost races. I don’t remember.
What I do remember is the summer picnic.
That was about a week or two before my first race, the German Fest 5K here in Dayton. I walked in not knowing anybody. These were runners, and they welcomed me in with open arms. They made me part of the group. I still remember the sense of awe and joy I felt that day, being accepted by people I had barely met.
Looking back, I’m still amazed at the people in my life. It all came from two small choices. I chose to start running, and I chose to join a local group.
In 2019, I started giving back. I became a volunteer race director for the Tadmore 10K. Then in 2020, that race became the first one ORRRC could pull off after the quarantine. We kept the integrity of the race and still met the safety requirements. We turned it into a time trial. None of that would have happened if I hadn’t decided to join that community.
Why Community Matters to Me
As a coach who deals with mental health struggles, I know how isolation works.
Mental health carries a big stigma. People ask how we’re doing, and we say, “I’m fine.” But most of us aren’t fine. We’re struggling. We don’t want to tell people we’re dealing with anxiety or depression. We just want to say it’s okay and move on.
Depression can make you feel like the only person in a room full of a thousand people. The more you pull away, the more isolated you feel, and the more you want to stay isolated. Before long you just want to crawl under the blankets and stay there. That isn’t healthy, and it doesn’t help you work through anything.
I understand not everyone is a safe person to share your struggles with. It’s okay to keep some people at a distance. Introverts especially don’t want to share with everyone, and I get that.
But I do believe you need a community.
Finding Your People
That community can take a lot of forms.
- A local running club like ORRRC
- My Thursday group runs at 5:30 PM in Germantown
- Team RunRev, the group membership for runners who want community year-round
- A neighbor you agree to walk with, or a church or community group
It doesn’t have to be big or structured. It just needs to be a place where you feel like you belong.
I also know not every run club is a good fit. Some are built for the fast and the elite, and they leave everyone else behind. That’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about groups that will walk beside you. Maybe they run faster, but they slow down for you. Maybe they push you a little, not to an 8-minute mile when you’re at 12, but down to 11:30. Just enough to find a little more strength.
That’s why my group runs are time-based and not distance-based. It doesn’t matter what pace you run. You can pass people on the out-and-back course, give high fives, and everybody finishes together. Then you get to hang out afterward.
If You Run Alone
Some people just don’t want a group, and that’s fine. You can still run by yourself and be part of a running community. You can have people who encourage you from a distance.
But I strongly encourage you to find someone. Find one or two people who will ask, “Did you run today?” Not to shame you, but because they care about you and want to see you grow. That kind of accountability doesn’t happen without other people.
If you’re local, come join a group run. They’re now weekly on Thursdays at 5:30 PM. Every run is time-based, so you can go at whatever pace you have that day. Bring a friend if you have one and come alone if you don’t. You’ll find people there.
If the Thursday runs aren’t a fit, reach out. I might be able to help you find something else. You can also check rrca.org to find a club near you.
If you try this and it works, I’d love to hear about it. If it doesn’t, let me know that too.
Keep Going
I covered all of this in Episode 5 of Stronger Than the Struggle. If you’d rather hear it than read it, that’s the place to go. You can listen to Episode 5 on Spotify or browse all the episodes on the podcast page.
Next up, I share the story of how I learned to call myself an athlete and not just a runner.
If you’re ready to stop guessing and want a plan built around your life, a custom training plan or a one-time strategy call might be exactly what you need. If you’re not sure, the free discovery call is a good place to start.
I coach runners in Dayton, Cincinnati, and online.
You’re not lazy. You’re not broken. You’re just carrying more than most plans were built for.