Many people perceive running as a solitary sport. If you have workout clothes and shoes, all you need to do is select your route and get started. That can be one of the great things about running; you don’t need to wait for someone else's schedule to free up to get a workout in. When you're free you can just go and run.

However, I find it more fulfilling to run with someone else. I started running in a team environment and I find that when I run with a friend or in a group, I have more motivation to start. I push myself harder throughout the run and feel a greater sense of satisfaction when I finish.

That’s why, when I decided to start training for the marathon, I knew I wanted to train with a team.

I was surprised by just how many training groups are available for runners in the Los Angeles area. The Los Angeles Marathon has an official training group, Road Runners, but there is also the LA Leggers and USA Marathon, to name a few. After a little bit of reserach, I found out my own university even has a marathon training club.

When selecting which group to train with, my first priority was finding one that fit my schedule the best. I knew finding a practice time and place that was convenient and easy for me to get to would ensure that I would go to the workouts consistently.

The training club at my school seemed to be the easiest option. I e-mailed them first and found out they met on campus for short runs at 7 a.m. and then at 8 a.m. on Sunday for longer runs. Since it wasn’t too late to join—some training groups have sign-up deadlines to ensure that runners have enough time to build a running base before the marathon)—I decided to try it out. 

So far, it’s worked well and has been a nice change in my routine. After going to a few practices, I knew I could fit the group into my schedule, so I payed the $45 training fee and signed up.

Normally, I wake up with little time to spare before my first class. Now, after practice I come back to my apartment and find I have time to reward myself with a warm shower and oatmeal before leaving for class. 

While the early wake-up calls have made me a little groggier at night, I haven’t had trouble making the runs so far. Planning ahead has been key to ensuring that I don't miss practice. I lay my running clothes on my chair and set two alarms every night, and make sure I have a cup of apple sauce on the kitchen counter to eat on my way out the door.

Surprisingly, the hardest thing about running with the group has been maintaining a conservative pace on the runs. It’s been at least a month since I've run consistently and I know my body is not ready to run at the pace at which I used to train. To avoid injuries, I need to build my base back slowly. However, I feel myself wanting to run with the front pack of runners and train harder and longer than I should be this stage. 

It’s been frustrating to finish the runs, feeling like I could have given a better effort during them. However, I know I’m making a smart decision by giving my body time to get back into running shape.

Since I’ve felt that extra energy after the runs, I’ve added a little bit of cross training to complement my workouts. After we finish the run, I'm already in my exercise clothes so I've been mixing it up and throwing in a half hour of core work, cycling, or swimming after we finish. This has helped me feel like I’m getting a fuller workout without putting too much stress on my legs too soon. 

What are your favorite cross training sports?

Happy Feet is a weekly health and fitness column following Jackie as she trains for her first marathon. Reach Jackie here.