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By Judy Heller

Judy Heller, founder of
Wonders of Walking LLC,
advocates walking for well being and pleasure. Wonders of Walking promotes Walking Events for Walkers by Walkers. Judy Heller is founder and owner of EroFit & Associates, LLC, celebrating Fitness for a Lifetime. Heller offers personalized fitness training and coaching for individuals and groups.
Contact: Judy Heller
at 503-282-1677:
email judy@erofit.com
jheller@wondersofwalking.com

Also visit: www.erofit.com
www.wondersofwalking.com

I only went out
for a walk and
concluded to stay out until sundown,
For going out,
I found
Was really going in.

— John Muir

Building a Team

This is the second part of a four-part series on long distance walk relays.

How to Form a Team
How to form a team can vary… a lot! The threads that bind can range from sharing a common purpose, having common interests, or simply be members of a family or group. The goal is for everyone working efficiently to make the team function effectively. Terry Orlick in Embracing Your Potential says it well, “A team shares a goal. As each individual works on something to become a little better, wiser, stronger, or more focused, the team improves a little. When all team members work collectively toward those goals, the team improves.”

The Elements for a Team Are
• Common purpose or mission
• Commitment to be an active part
of a team
• Common interest
• Mutual support
• Respect for self and team members
• And, as always, to have FUN!

Whether you have the time, energy, and leadership to form a team or you are asked to join a team, choosing team members is critical to obtaining the results you hope to achieve.

Pulling It Together
Whatever the source of your team’s connection, the thrill of working and succeeding together is a positive experience for all.
1) Sharing a common connection or belief. Teams can be formed based on a common thread — organ transplant patients, walking in memory of a loved one, celebrating cancer survival. Celebrating a theme and working together to further strengthen it can be inspiring.
2) Relationship teams. Teams are formed through your everyday circles — schools, neighborhoods, religious affiliations, or simply a group of friends walking for no other reason but to have fun. Brandi of “Street Walkers” shares how it began with a group of 4, which grew to a team of 12. As a team, they’ve shared in their children’s marriages, becoming grandparents, helping each other through illness, death of parents, and supporting teammates who have survived breast cancer. “Walking together is great to help us keep and get in physical shape but more important, it has helped us get through the tough times! We are close friends.”
3) Family teams. Many use a relay to celebrate special family occasions (birthdays, reunions) or to simply do something together. Rindy and Ken of “Steppin Siblings” say: “We communicate more often through planning, coaching, and encouraging. We help each other through health problems, family problems, and share in the happy times. Family teams offer the opportunity of learning more about each other, heritage, and enjoy the time together.”
4) Corporate teams may be formed to foster better working relations between co-workers and to support healthy lifestyles among employees. The desired outcome of forming a team is to accomplish bigger goals than one can alone.

The Benefits of Team Activity
• Encourages positive and supportive
behavior
• Capitalizes on the strengths of
teammates
• Engenders a spirit of team achievement
• Reenergizes individuals and promotes
self-esteem and confidence
• Encourages mutual cooperation and
mutual trust

How Can I Find a Team?
Many relays have a matching capability to help teams and individuals connect. Usually, teams will “request” individuals by clarifying gender, age, pace, and category. A perspective team member will also “submit” the same. The team matching service provides the introduction. I encourage individuals to walk with teams, meet for coffee or tea — get to know each other before making a decision.

Inspiration and Common Goals
Once team goals are established, select members who share those same goals. Set clear expectations for potential team members. If you are a competitive team be more selective about an individual’s average walking pace. If you are more about having fun than winning, choose team members who are not competitive.
In choosing your team members, you also want to pick those who inspire, motivate, and support others to help keep the team through the long hours and to help other teams along the way.

Commitment
The old cliché “a chain is only strongest as its weakest link” is true in long-distance walk relays. Members of the team should be willing to train and prepare for the event to assure the team’s success and to lessen the chance of accidents or injuries, which can affect the momentum and emotion of a team. For first timers, having a good understanding of how the event works and what you are signing up to do is critical.

A long-distance event is a great experience and a lot of fun. The accomplishment of your team crossing the finish line together is an exciting and rewarding experience. There is a lot of emotion and pride that comes with the feeling that you ALL just did something really cool!