The Power of the Pack: Why the Communities We Keep Matter
Community is in the pack, Lehigh Valley Road Runners
July 9, 2025
I rolled out of bed before dawn this morning at 4:50 AM, to be exact drawn by the promise of connection more than the promise of miles. I drove to Muhlenberg College, not sure what to expect, only to discover the Lehigh Valley Road Runners had already taken off down the street. I watched them go, laced up, and approached the track gate just as security officers were unlocking it.
One of them grinned and said, “They just left, you can catch up!” I laughed, And replied with, “look at me, Nah, I’m not catching up.” The other officer chimed in with a chuckle: “Or just work out here.” So I did what any stubborn runner would do: I decided on a mile or two, then home.
But that simple choice, the decision to show up became everything.
After one mile, my warm‑up lap, I rounded the corner to find the group returning. There she was: Maraleen Shields, arms wide, mid‑stride hug and all. I’d missed the previous Wednesday workouts and mentioned it on FB; she’d genuinely missed me. Right there, between my last lap and her wide embrace, I felt seen. Not for my pace, not as another pair of racing shoes, but as me Bart part of this pack.
Mike, our captain, quickly laid out the workout: 400m repeats with 200m rest. I half‑heartedly offered, “Two and done,” settled into rhythm, stretched, and then, with cheers in my ears, I called it a morning. But it wasn’t about the 400s or my splits. It was about what happened in between the seconds of solitude and the collective laughter: encouragement, shared energy, accountability, celebration.
I looked down at my watch and realized that first mile my “warm‑up mile” was the fastest I’ve run all year: 10:23. Three seconds faster than my May 18th 5K mile. Coincidence? Maybe. But I’d trade a personal best for a pack‑best any day. Because this morning reminded me: the communities we keep shape who we become. They summon the courage to try, whisper the grace to continue, and give us a hug when we feel invisible.
In countless conversations you’ll hear people say, “I just want to be heard,” or “I want to be seen.” Intellectualizing that feeling? Impossible. It’s like a family reunion hug, a reunion of line brothers in a fraternity, the private laugh you share with a partner at a crowded party. That unspoken electricity when another human welcomes you wholeheartedly.
So, here’s what I’m taking away today:
Show up. Even when you think you can’t keep pace, just pull on those shoes and step out the door.
Lean in. Community isn’t a spectator sport. Step onto the track, share the lane, share a smile.
Celebrate. Whether it’s a 10:23 mile or a two‑lap cool‑down, every step matters when you’re moving together.
To Maraleen Shields, thank you for that welcome hug. To the Lehigh Valley Road Runners, thank you for running beside me, ahead of me, behind me and most of all, for holding space for me.
Here’s to the packs that push us, the communities that keep us, and the simple, sacred joy of knowing we’re never truly running alone.
Bart
