"ME" in TEAM?

"I used to run with doubt, but now she can't keep up!" ~posted in BGR!Nashville


I think that people who have played sports have an ability to relate to people because when you're playing you have to work on teams and with opposing players. ~Michael Michele

At the end of a race I can give you a blow by blow of each mile--what I was thinking, how I was feeling, my time/pace, etc. I use that blow by blow to progress. Was my fueling on point? If not, where do I need to adjust? Did I run out of steam during the race, if so where and how can I do better the next time out? You take notice of these things because each time you stand at the starting line your goal is to be better than the last time. Why do it if you never make any forward progression? Why gear up if you aren't going to compete against that person in your head? I may never win my age-gender group. I may never be first to cross the finish line. But I work to win against that person in my head continually.

Over the past two months I've been training for the St. Jude Country Music Half Marathon while also playing on a softball team and a flag football team. For me, playing on an athletic team is uncharted territory because I've always been the smart, fat kid. To date, my group competition involved Quiz Bowl, Academic Decathlon, Mock Trial, debate, and oration. But even then, I was competitive-my Mock Trial team can attest to that. I used to stay up until two o'clock in the morning going over the case, the stipulations, and the objections. When I delivered my closing arguments I would look intently at the jury, while all the while my ears were burning, and when I had one person wrapped up in my story I would move to the next. The point?

The difference in those experiences and running and these two teams is that I have to learn that I am not solely responsible for the final outcome. All I can do is play my position to the best of my ability and support my teammates. There is a measure of control that you give up when you play team sports and it can be very hard. I am a coach by nature (and as part of my business) but not everyone takes very well to that, so I'm learning that when I'm on the field I am a player, not the coach. My role is my role and the team functions best when I operate at my very best in my role.

While my teams are not doing as well as I had anticipated (right now--we still have time!), I am thankful for the experience. I am so glad that I chose to join athletic teams instead of signing up for a fitness class because I've found a treasure within and have had the opportunity to connect with more people. I'm also having to use my body in very different ways than required by running. When you're at bat or throwing a softball (or football) you have to engage your core. When you're on kick-off return you have to employ  your quads and calves to hoof it down the field. Making it to home plate is not as easy as it looks!

In seven days I will line up at the start line to complete 13.1 miles--my fifth time taking on a half marathon--with my goal firmly set in my mind and written on my heart. Whatever happens along that course will be solely on my shoulders. Just a few hours after finishing, I will don my flag football uniform and play with my team as we take on our opponents. Victory or defeat, we walk on and off the field together. The juxtaposition of the two events will make for an interesting day. Bring it...