For the longest time, I was a solo runner. I never wanted the pressure of speeding up or slowing down to match someone else’s pace. To me, it was a loner sport. A much needed escape into the sound of my own breathing set against a soundtrack designed to make me move. Even when I didn’t want to.

But then, as I branched out from running into strength training and high impact/high intensity workouts, I discovered a much more powerful motivator than escape: OTHER PEOPLE. Normal people like myself just trying to get through a workout to get stronger and faster. Whether it’s a smile, a nod or even a look of misery and panic when your group leader throws in an extra minute of wall sits, the commiserating really helps me push through. (There’s a reason they say misery loves company, amiright?) There’s also a lot of power in the high fives that are waiting for you when you finish hill sprints or stairs. Even when I come in dead last, these folks line up to pat me on the back and say, “great job” because, hey, at least I finished.

So, this post is dedicated to my people: the workout buddies and friends I’ve made throughout my fitness journey – and the ones I already had who really helped get me started in the first place.

My gym peeps: led by Trainer, we get up early on Saturday mornings, work out in extreme heat and cold throughout the week, and still manage to have a ton of fun with grueling workouts. I don’t know how he does it, but he is one hell of a motivator. He’ll even make a turban and scarf out of towels so you don’t freeze to death when he talks you into doing a chilly outdoor bootcamp and you’ve only brought leggings and a t-shirt to the gym.

My New York Crew: my sister and I have been visiting family friends in Brooklyn for nearly 20 years now. And these friends are elite NY Road Runners so when we visit, we run too. Over the years, we’ve covered a lot of ground in Brooklyn and most of Manhattan. We’ve also worked out with November Project NYC – a super fun, free fitness group that shows up three days a week at 6:28am for an hour-long workout. It’s become something I look forward to every time we visit. Crazy, I know. Why on earth would I get up so early on vacation to workout? Because this group embodies what it means to find your people. There is a tribe mentality here that feels amazing to be a part of. Rain or shine. Heat or snow. They show up in full force and all are welcome. So, if fitness is your thing, find them the next time you’re in NYC. (Actually, November Project has chapters all over the US – just not where I live – so google search to see if there’s one near you.)

As cheesy as it sounds, finding your fitness people is like finding family. You curse each other one minute (“who the f asked for more arms?!”) then find yourself hugging and cheering each other on the next. It’s confusing. It’s even disorienting at times. But it’s always there for support if you want it.