If you want inspiration, camaraderie, training partners, and accountability, join a local racing team.

About 10 years ago, when I was really into marathon racing and trying to break 3 hours for the first time, I was super focused on myself—my training, my workouts, my race times—and hoping to improve as much as possible. And that worked for a while. I was driven, excited, eager to learn and constantly trying to prove to myself what I was capable of running. But eventually, diminishing returns kicked in, and I started to lose some of the joy in what I was doing.

It was always a race against the clock, and if I didn’t beat my previous time, I felt disappointed. After a few attempts without progress, it became harder to get excited to train and try again. When you’ve taken three or four shots at a goal and it hasn’t happened, it’s easy to feel like the next race might just bring the same result. And is that worth it? That question became harder and harder to answer. 

In 2019, I reached out to a friend who was on the local Whirlaway Racing Team and asked her to tell me more about it. She described it as a group of competitive runners of all ages who were also incredibly supportive and fun to be around. The team vibe was very chill and the team members were just really good people. I told her I was seeking that camaraderie after doing so much training on my own, and she encouraged me to check it out.

I contacted the owner, Dave, and met with him down at his store where he sells sports equipment and running gear. (Yes, that’s a very challenging scenario, given how much I like new running gear!) He talked about the importance of being part of a team: training together, supporting your teammates, showing up to races, wearing the uniform, and representing something bigger than yourself. But the thing he emphasized most—and the reason I ultimately joined—was simple: he wanted his team members to have fun. Sign me up!

A Fresh Start

I happened to join the team right before Covid so I didn’t get a ton of time with them before the world shut down. But when things finally opened up again and I began to train for races I felt an almost physical shift in my motivation to race. 

I still had the drive, but my time was no longer my first priority. Yes, I wanted to run hard, but what I really craved was to meet up with friends, to race with teammates, and to finish as a group. As you’d imagine, over the last couple years, my desire to constantly beat my previous times has dropped significantly. I still train hard and go after the best performance I can on any given day, but I’ve taken a specific goal time out of the equation. Now I show up to see what I have in me that day and, more importantly, for my team.

As a member of the Whirlaway Racing Team, my performance contributes to the overall team score. As a member of the senior group of runners (women ages 50+), I’m able to help score points for my age bracket, and together with the rest of the team we can win overall events. There’s something incredibly rewarding about standing on the starting line knowing that I am not running for myself but for a group of people I am proud to be connected with. There’s also a huge weight off my mind knowing I don’t have to be perfect—I just have to contribute.

Instead of feeling the pressure to always run better, faster, harder, I get to be part of a five-person team working toward a shared result. And beyond the racing, I genuinely love my teammates and enjoy training with them when I can. Now I look forward to races not just for the competition, but for the chance to catch up with my friends before the start, to run alongside them during the race itself, and then spend time together afterward—usually with a cup of coffee and good conversation.

Being part of this team has completely changed my relationship with running and racing. It’s brought back my love for the sport and renewed my motivation to train and compete as a masters athlete. It has also enhanced my love for coffee. Because I needed that.

10 Reasons to Join a Local Racing Team

1. Instant Friends: For me this was a major bonus as making new friends in your 40s can be tricky.
   
2. Race Buddies: People to work with during the race, either to help pace or to be paced by them, or even to run side by side and chat along the way.
   
3. A Support Group: Socially, emotionally, all of it. Can’t have enough.
   
4. A Cheer Squad: Nothing like hearing your name called during races either by those racing with you or teammates on the sidelines.
   
5. Party Time: Everything just feels more fun. And who doesn’t want that?
   
6. Tent for Meetups: Race starts can be total chaos. Having a tent to find your people, leave your stuff and meet up with your family afterwards is game-changing.
   
7. People You Can Lean on for Anything: When you forget your own gear, fuel, etc, it’s pretty awkward to reach out to a stranger for help. With the team, you’re never high and dry. Need some socks? Someone has an extra pair in their bag. Forgot a gel? Someone always has more than they need. I even borrowed a pair of headphones from our team photographer once for a marathon. I owe her my first born child or at least several coffees.
   
8. Motivation: This one is kind of a no brainer.
   
9. Accountability: How many times do you want to skip out on an event when you’ve lost motivation or the weather is bad? When the team is involved you’re on the hook. And that’s a good thing.
   
10. Powersuit: I always say, “Look good, run good.” When I’m sporting my team singlet I feel really powerful. Dave, the team manager, jokes that there are jet packs in the uniform. On race day, I feel that.

About the Author

Boston-area editor-at-large Rebecca Trachsel is a mom, a competitive age-group marathoner, a high school cross country and track coach, and music lover with a coffee problem. She’s still chasing big goals and having a blast along the way.

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