When Running Is A Team Sport

I can't believe that I have been absent from my blog for over two weeks now. Those bad weather days were great for blogging and catching up on reading but I am paying for them now. There is so much to be done at work and there is no extending those deadlines. That and the fact that there just hasn't been a great deal going on lately. It has been rinse, lather, repeat around here as far as running goes...although with a big of a twist....we went from 18 degrees to 85 degrees in a span of 10 days. I never thought that my summer acclimation process would take place in February. I am hoping that March cools off a bit before the hot summer bears down upon us. If you know anything about me, you know that I am a big baby when it comes to running in the heat. I get it done, but it just isn't pretty.

So it has been pretty uneventful around here....until now...a running feast or famine, one might say. This is a big weekend around here, The Cowtown Marathon and Half Marathon are upon us. The Cowtown is a wonderful race and I am looking forward to running my 3rd consecutive half marathon, but the Town of the Cow and I have had some issues over the years. Remember 2009 and 2010? I don't know what it is about this race, but I have yet to have a positive, stress-free experience with it. I'm starting to think that Fort Worth might have something against this Dallas lovin' gal. This is going to be a good year, I just know it.

The Houston Half Marathon really got me thinking about running as a team effort. Erik and I really relied on each other that day as we slogged through 13.1 miles of 90% humidity, 68 degrees, and rain. I know that I would not have finished in 2:00 if Erik had not been pulling me along (and he said the same thing about me). Team Kennemer was in full effect in Houston and will be again on Sunday. Erik will be completing his 3rd marathon and I am excited about pacing him through until the marathon splits from the half marathon (somewhere around mile 10, if I remember correctly). If you follow my running reports, you will know that I attack each race with the full intent of getting a new personal record. That will not be the goal on Sunday as Erik's marathon pace will have to be slower than my PR half marathon pace. Team Kennemer's goal for Sunday will be for Erik to complete 26.2 miles feeling strong, happy, and pleased with his efforts. I am thrilled to be a part of that and can't wait to support him. The Cowtown is offering runner tracker for those of you who want to follow us on our journey. Go to this link and follow the directions.

The first weekend in March will also hold an opportunity for running as a team effort. I will be part of a team of 11 running ladies (named the Mad-Dames) as we tackle 200 miles in the Texas Independence Relay. I am scheduled to run legs 1, 7, 25, 33 for those of you following along at home. This will bring my total miles for the weekend to just under 20 and will include night time runs in the Texas Hill Country. I am so excited to run with runners that I am friends with already, runners that I have met through blogging or Twitter, and runners that I will meet next Friday. It is guaranteed to be a good time and I can't wait to report on it here in a couple of weeks.

One more story of running as a team sport. I recently met a runner named Corina via Twitter and Facebook and I will meet her in person next week at the Relay. The Cowtown will be her 11th marathon and she is using a team approach to help her reach a very big time goal. Read her very inspirational story here. I know that Corina is going to rock this race and I can't wait to hear her story! Make sure to read her friend Suann's thoughts on running as a team sport. I am so proud to be part of a community that supports each other so graciously!

Now it is your turn! Tell me about your favorite running buddy or your best teamwork story. I can't wait to hear them!