"Team spirit and camaraderie is the backbone of the Corporate Challenge."

- Grete Waitz,
9-time winner of the New York City Marathon

Being part of a team is fun, rewarding
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Like many of you, I love that running is something I can do alone, at any pace I like. And yet, I have also enjoyed very much training with a friend or in a group. At your company, you can take advantage of this dual nature of running as you prepare for your next JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge. In fact, you'll see that being part of a team on more than just race night will make the Corporate Challenge even more fun for everyone at your company.

As much as I like to often run alone, the fact is that I grew up as a runner in a support system. As a young girl, I trained with my track and field club and appreciated the companionship and also the encouragement to go a certain distance or just get through a hard workout. What kept me going was a commitment to meet someone for a workout.

Later as I excelled in my running, I found the support of a running partner very useful when I was doing speed work. My buddy was my brother and he was perfect for me. He didn't have a competitive attitude that could "ruin" the workout, but he would set a good pace for me. And for my early morning runs I had an ideal running partner in my husband Jack.

Sometimes it can be hard to head out the door by yourself in the dark and early mornings. That's true for every level of runner you may want to join your company team. But beginners, in particular, need special attention.

With an event like the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge I find that the social aspect of running is an important aspect of the workout. Being on a team, giving support and getting support are important. The team spirit and camaraderie is the backbone of the Corporate Challenge.

And when you have a good social running group where everybody fits in it is easier to get new co-workers to join. The workplace is a great place to recruit new runners, but it is important to make sure that the bar is so low that nobody feels intimidated. Create a pre- or post-work, or "lunch time" running group and make the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge your goal.

Encourage beginners to start a walking group and make sure to have one person in charge so they feel safe and know what to do. And if they are totally unmotivated tell them to come out and do the stretching part with the group. Before you know it, they will also be a part of the company team. Many Corporate Challenge participants start out as walkers and end up as runners. And there are also those who start with taking care of the post race catering and see that this event embraces everybody, not only the really fit people, and decide that next year they will take part.

To get more people involved make small motivational posters or other signs, and stress that this is more a social get together than a hard physical challenge.

Give the beginners some incentives, like when they have walked or jogged 50 miles they get a little award or a hundred mile club T-shirt when they reach that point. That makes it fun and motivating.

Come race day at the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge, every person on your team will feel like a real member - no matter how fast they run. And, they'll have gotten at least a bit more fit because of their team efforts. That is what this is all about.