Letter from Coach Bob: Why Community Matters More Than Miles

Comm-YOU-nity

Ten miles, seven bridges, infinite joy - all because of YOU.

At first glance, Atlanta Track Club might seem like just a running and walking organization. But we're something deeper, something more powerful.

We're a community.

Yes, we use running and walking as tools. But the real magic? It's in the collective. The high fives and fist bumps and celebratory hugs after a rainy race. The cheers that echo louder than race-day nerves. The moments when we lift each other up - sometimes literally, always emotionally. Through the hard miles and even harder life stuff.

I say it all the time: We are better together. That belief isn't just a feel-good sentiment. It's backed by science. A growing body of research shows that people who engage in community-based physical activity - like what we do at In-Training - report lower rates of anxiety and depression, stronger immune systems and longer life spans. Seriously. Sharing a run might just be one of the healthiest things you can do.

And here's the beautiful twist: The benefits don't only come from your runs. They come from cheering someone else on. From being the loudest cheerleader in the tent when a first-time 5K finisher comes in beaming. From seeing someone rise up from a rough patch and absolutely crush a long run. That feeling. The one that makes your spine tingle and your eyes well up when someone else shines.

That's community. That's Comm-YOU-nity.

And that's what health looks like, too.

Let's be clear: In-Training isn't about me. Never has been. Never will be. But I do want to share something that hit me like a hug straight to the soul. Yesterday, I got a message from one of our In-Training athletes. It read:

"Bob, you do not get enough credit for the long hours and the cheer and positive energy you bring to all of us runners. I loved the festive vibe of our In-Training tent... Many of us crushed this new route. Loved that too."

It ended with a comment about a photo where the "T" from "TRAINING" was missing — right as the rain started. A little slice of imperfection that somehow made the whole thing even more beautiful.

That email wasn't about me. It was about us. About how a community can turn a rainy day into a lasting memory. How connection can turn a challenging course into a celebration. It reminded me, again, that I have the best job in the world - not because of what I do, but because of who I get to do it with.

One of my favorite coaching mantras is this: Not about me.

That mantra creates space. Space for others to shine. For joy to bubble up in unexpected places. For every athlete, no matter where they are in their journey, to feel like they belong. I'll share something personal here: I love my intense emotions. Not just my energy - though you know that shows up rain or shine - but my full-throttle joy when I see one of you succeed. That spine-tingling, teary-eyed, uncontrollably grinning kind of joy. It happened again this weekend. Just from a text. Just from seeing someone else have a moment. That's what the community does. It cracks you open. In the best possible way.

From the 2025 PNC Atlanta 10 Miler to the 7 Bridges Marathon in Chattanooga - this week was filled with triumphs. But it wasn't just the finish lines that made it special. It was the way we showed up for each other. And whether you ran ten miles, twenty-six point two, or just shared a smile under a rain-soaked tent, YOU were part of something bigger.

Comm-YOU-nity isn't just a word. It's a feeling. It's the heartbeat of this program. It's what turns a run into a memory, a finish line into a celebration, and a group of runners into a family. Because in the end, training is about more than splits or medals or perfect weather. It's about knowing that on any given day, someone out there is rooting for you - and that you're doing the same right back. Because we are not meant to do this alone. And thanks to you, we never have to.

BOOM! 💥

Coach Bob

*Registration is now open for In-Training for the 2026 Publix Atlanta Marathon & Half Marathon. Learn more here.