Pack Running

I wonder how many of us can think back to our high school days and recall those first excursions into the world of long distance running. It may be that for some, the sun never shone brighter than in those fleet-footed years. Or perhaps your most vivid memories are those you would soon rather forget…. the militant coach with a cruel stopwatch in hand….courses that seemed to be more suitable for safari expeditions than for man treading on foot….the inhumane torture of lactic acid buildup that comes after running the twelfth quarter of an interval workout under 62 seconds or sprinting the last 100 meters of a 5K race to the point of collapse. Remind you of anything? If not, then I assure you there is one thing that I’m sure you’ll be quite familiar with and it’s the one aspect of the cross country experience worth reminiscing about. It’s pack running.

The pack running mentality was especially emphasized at the high school I attended not too long ago. Over the past several months, I have had the distinct privilege of training with one of the most dominating cross country teams in Dade County for the past 30 years. The Belen Jesuit Wolverines, led by coach Frankie Ruiz, are formidable opponents wherever they travel and they continue to be successful because they understand that you’re only as strong as your weakest link. That is what I fear many of us in the running community have long since forgotten- the team concept. I think our sport needs to return to this idea of banding together if we are to capture the true essence of running and rescue it from the fringes of individualism. The difference between hitting the pavement on a solo run and sharing the road with a group of runners striving for the same goal is almost unbelievable. Some have tried to describe it in terms of utility such as being pushed to a faster time or feeling more motivated to complete intimidating workouts. While this is certainly true, I dare say it’s more than just that. I’m speaking of a real and yet invisible dynamic that comes with being in sync with the person right next to you; stride for stride, breath by breath. The beauty of it all is not just strength in numbers but a division of labor, if you will, a pooling of resources that enables runners to draw from a bank of energy and simultaneously diffuse any sensations of discomfort. It is no wonder then that scientists are beginning to study the evolution of bipedal locomotion in our human ancestors and concluding that running in large packs across open fields was advantageous for the survival of the species. So, in fact, when we run as they once did we are bringing out what is most basic and human in all of us.

Then, of course, there’s the more practical side to all of this- shouting encouragement during the run, breaking the wind, and taking turns with the lead. There’s no denying that spirit of camaraderie that is developed between runners who have been through so much together, having braved similar elements and conquered the same routes. From this collaboration, a chemistry is born from within and a team emerges from without. One that is capable of ascending greater heights than a single man on a solo journey.

Now, of course, I doubt that any of us are planning to enroll in high school any time soon or try to fit into those old uniforms. But what we can do is learn a few lessons from this younger generation which become more visible to us every fall during the cross country season as they train and race their hearts out for school pride. Clubs, like Bikila, exist to give an opportunity for runners of all ages and abilities to come together and form their own little “ packs.” So I encourage all of you to become more involved in local training runs and who knows, you might find a group that suits your desired pace and beats to the same drum. Not only will you improve and get faster, you will be connecting with those instincts that reside at the level of our most basic of human drives.