Some experiences are simply better when shared. Think of the difference between watching a sunrise alone and sharing that awe with friends. Or the contrast between watching your favorite running idol on TV and feeling the electric energy of being in a stadium with 50,000 fans as she races to the finish. Humans are naturally drawn to being part of a group. Being involved in strong, healthy communities—and learning how to contribute to them—is key to living a fulfilling life of success and well-being*.
That’s one reason I love Dawn Patrol.
For Dawn Patrol, MVXC athletes meet at the track at 6:15 AM in the dark and run up Fire Trail into Fremont Older Open Space in time for sunrise, and we follow that with a workout; Candy Crush is one of the toughest workouts in my bag of tricks. This whole event is optional; it is a coalition of the willing, gritty, and dedicated!
I love sunrises, but I really love watching the sun rise with people I care about. It’s inspiring to see MVXC runners support each other as we grind up Fire Trail to Fremont Older in the pre-dawn darkness. Then, seeing a group of motivated runners tackle Candy Crush, one of the best workouts for preparing to race at Crystal Springs, is incredible. It’s hard, but being part of a group helps. While humans have instincts to guide us in group settings, we still need to learn how to be good group members and how it feels to be part of a healthy, positive team. And we can share the joy of so many groupish events.
About a third of MVXC joined the 2024 Dawn Patrol. This group will be stronger and faster by the time they race at Crystal, but what I really hope is that in the future, they will be inspired to get friends out of bed early many more times in their lives—to catch the sunrise while banking mileage. To be physically healthy while building and being part of a thriving group. It’s such a great experience. And tamales don’t hurt, either.
* Wilson, E. O. (2012, June 24). Evolution and our inner conflict. The New York Times.