Teams have been on my mind recently. As part of the push for the St. Patrick's Day Human Race, we've started the TSL Team Challenge. We encourage people to form teams, or bring existing teams to the event. But I've also been thinking about the teams I've been on.
I've been fortunate to be on some good teams. I warmed the bench for a baseball team that played in the Babe Ruth league state tournament. Later, I ran on a high school team that went to the state meet. In college, our teams at Macalester were always small, but sharing the workouts with teammates like Paul Mausling made it special anyway.
After college I ran for several strong running clubs. For a while now, I haven't been part of formal team. I've had an ad hoc team of people that work with me at our events, and as a board member I get vicarious pleasure from the success of Team USA Minnesota, but being on a team hasn't been an everyday part of my life. I miss that. Working at Great Harvest last December reminded of what amazing things a team can do.
The nice thing about being an adult is that you can choose your own associations. Recently, I've been been building a different type of team. First, I had to lose the lone wolf mentality. To have a team you have to want to be on a team. Without even knowing it, I started to develop a team of advisers. They may not even know they're on my team, but they are.
That has lead to forming a partnership with Perry Bach and Run N Fun in St. Paul, and Adam Lindahl at their former store in Eden Prairie, which is now TC Running Company. Perry and Kari Bach have been a community assets for over fifteen years, and Adam has carried the same enthusiasm forward in his store. As a former running store owner, I know how hard they work, and it is great to see them pouring their hearts and souls into serving their customers. And making it a successful business too!
I'm also adding to the TSL team. Recently, I've contracted Katie Bild as an event specialist. She brings great energy and ideas, as well as some real world experience. She'll be taking a lead role in our TSL Team Challenge recruitment, so right away she'll be thinking about teams.
Teams give you people to share the work, celebrate the victories and laugh or cry through defeats. It doesn't have to be about competition either. Teammates can get you out the door when you might have slept in on your own.
Even this year's Human Race Heroes have a team theme. Jason Lehmkuhle and Kristen Nicolini Lehmkuhle are both part of Team USA Minnesota. That's where they met in 2001. They were married in 2007. The team has been a key part in them reaching higher and higher for their goals as runners. Both have become parts of other teams (Edina High School, MDRA) as ways to give back to their communities.
Are you part of a team? If so, I invite you to join the TSL Team Challenge and bring your team to the St Patrick's Day Human Race. Tell us your stories and we'll share them. Contact Katie by E-mail, and she'll collect and them and we'll post them online.
If you're not already part of a team, now is your chance to form one. Talk to family members or friends, people at work or even strangers at your favorite running spot. Teaming up feels great!
I can't guarantee that being on a team will make you a faster runner. But you will have people sharing your journey. Now all you need to do is pick out your new uniforms. Remember, as adults, you can choose the fun ones, not the one that make you look dorky!
