Are you sure there's no "I" in team?

I was never a "team sport" kind of person in the traditional sense of the term.  In my early days of elementary school all the way up through high school, P.E. units that involved anything resembling kickball, dodgeball--or any sport organized around a large ball for that matter--terrified me.

I knew I was going to be that girl.  The girl that let the soccer ball roll right between her legs.  The girl that whiffed it in the kickball game.  The girl that struck out every time.  The girl that got pelted in the face with that god forsaken dodgeball.  Out first every time.  I just knew I would be that girl.

Don't even get me started on the multitudes of reasons why flag football or (gasp) ultimate frisbee would have me quaking in my large-sized sneakers.

Ultimately, I've realized that all of this fear probably had a lot more to do with my extreme shyness than any real lack of physical skill.  I was an athletic child.  But I stuck to those sports that, yes included a team, but the team played a much smaller role.  "Teamwork" wasn't a big player in all the sports I chose.  Swimming, gymnastics, diving, horseback riding, and even a short but fun stint of left-handed tennis at an early age.  If I failed at these sports, it wasn't immediately evident to every single person in the near vicinity.

So when I finally discovered the joys of running in my post-collegiate years, it fit right in to my idea of a sport that could have a team but didn't necessarily need one.  I didn't have to have a team with me to go out and run a mile through the neighborhood.  I just needed myself and my running shoes.

And for a few years, that was enough.  Me, my Lucy dog, and my running shoes were all I needed for a happy, healthy running life.  But as time passed and I slowly honed my skills and confidence in social interaction, I found myself noticing other runners.  Other runners who ran with other runners.  Thoughts of having "others" to run with began to creep in.

Then I ran my first half marathon.  All by myself.  And as I ran that first race, I noticed a team of purple shirted runners who seemed so happy running together, cheering for each other.  As I crossed that first finish line, blown away by the fact that I just ran a half marathon, I was thinking wouldn't it be great to have running friends?

So the next year I joined up with those purple shirts whom we've come to know as Team in Training.  And while Team in Training's ultimate purpose is to raise money to cure blood cancers, I'm going to set that motivational factor to the side right now.  Because what I'd like to focus on is the Team.  And why running with a team...why being on a team...is just plain awesome:

They are expecting you.  When there is a team practice and you don't show up, they notice.  And they ask why.  There are two benefits to this.  First, it feels good to have your absence noted.  It makes you feel important and wanted.  Second, it gets you out there even when you might not want to.  Long day at work?  Not feeling motivated for that run?  You should find a better excuse than that, because the next time you see those teammates, they're going to be looking for a better excuse than that.

Running in a group is uplifting.  While I am an advocate for periodic solo running to work out internal angst and anxiety, running with a group is uplifting in an entirely different way.  As you get out there running, you see your teammates out there too.  You cheer them on.  They cheer you on.  You exchange smiles.  You forget whatever internal angst and anxiety was weighing you down.  Running with all those people nearby (whether you're running with them, past them, or they are passing you) makes you feel lighter, body and soul.

Team practices force social interaction.  If you are at all like me and really enjoy your "me" time, this is a good pull to get you out of the house, talking to people, interacting with others.  Talk isn't cheap.  Talk is self-affirming, joyful, interesting, and eye-opening.  I used to be afraid to meet new people.  Now I can't wait for new seasons to start, because I know I will get to meet new, amazing people.

All those people are really motivating.  I selfishly draw motivation for my running by watching others push themselves and grow in their running.  I watch others struggle and then succeed.  I watch others accomplish things I never thought imaginable.  Then I absorb all of it and run with it.  It becomes a part of me, helping me believe in myself.

They accept you without the makeup and nice clothes.  Many of the people I run with rarely see me in normal clothes with my makeup on.  The first time I met most of them, it was just me.  No makeup, hair in a pony tail or hat, wearing unappealing running clothes.  They see me in a state that I would feel extremely uncomfortable in were circumstances any different.  They see me with no external frills.  And they still seem to want to talk to me, be my friend, even hang out with me in real life situations.

I get to motivate other people.  They see me run and struggle and succeed and grow.  And just as I absorb motivation from them, they can absorb it from me too.  I like helping people (which is a main reason why I chose my current profession).  If I can help people just by being there and running, doing what I love most, then it is an added bonus for me.

The bond between teammates is unique.  What we experience together as teammates is different from anything else.  It bonds us together and creates a connection between humans simply because we exist in this space, at this time, doing this thing, together.  It is a bond that doesn't seem to be easily broken.

I realize that all of these reasons, this list of why being on a team is awesome, are very selfish.  Often when I think about why I am on a team, it is the "I" that I am thinking of.  So I think that age-old saying "There is no I in TEAM" is a little off.  I joined a team because I value myself, care about myself, and want to improve my life.  In that same act, I also want to help improve the lives of others.  It is because I care about myself that I also, in turn, can deeply and truly care about others.

So yes, there is an "I" in team.  I am an I.  He is an I.  She is an I.  We are all I's.  Then, once or twice a week we come together, mesh all our lonely I's together, and create a cohesive, caring, supportive team.  A team I can't quite imagine life without.