Small-Group Training Can Be Transformative 

Ready for a small-group training feel-good story?     

Over the years at IDEA, I’ve had the privilege to see, hear and report examples of incredible inspiration. These accounts and the people behind them have given me goose bumps, made me giddy with joy and humbled me to tears. So, when I tell you I had my mind blown by something I saw recently, perhaps it provides better context. I have a high bar for “amazing” and, for me, this exceeded the mark.  

Last Saturday, I watched in awe as IDEA’s managing editor Judy Minich pushed our Inspire the World to Fitness® mission to a new level. As she crossed the finish line of her 100th half marathon since 2008, the race emcee announced what we’d just witnessed—and the place went bananas. In and of itself, 100 half-marathons (and all the training invested) is stunning to think about. However, it’s the story behind Judy’s story—and the humans she’s led and lifted over those 14 years—that puts her into heroine status for me.  

After running two half-marathons in 2008 and 2009, in 2010 Judy joined a running group to train for her first full marathon. Early on, she and the other newbies got the clear impression that they were not “included” with the cool kids. By her account, “I remember starting out one day and the coach said, ‘Who has to take the slow people?’”—meaning, which of the leaders was stuck with the stragglers? This stung her, but if you know Judy at all, you understand that this flared her just enough to make a change that cascaded into more than a decade of transformations for herself and other runners who were not blazing course records. 

Sole to Soul Running, the grassroots group Judy created after that negative experience, is a model for acceptance and inclusion. She designed it for folks like her who may doubt their abilities, but whose confidence and progress are transformed by the right mindset and encouragement. “Our motto, ‘At Peace with My Pace,’ has become so important to each of us,” she shared. “Accepting and celebrating what we can do is so important. You learn so much about yourself when you give yourself permission to succeed at your own level. That’s why we named ourselves Sole to Soul. It may start with your feet, but you’re really changing your very being. The best feeling in the world is watching one of my runners cross a finish line and achieve a goal that they never thought was possible.” 

Congrats, Judy, on this major milestone and the beautiful takeaway that goes with it. Never one to rest on her laurels, this weekend she’s running #101!  

Small-Group Training Magic

Judy’s story also reminded me of the absolute power of small-group training. Coaches can help elevate performance, but there’s nothing like the spark teammates ignite in each other. There is leadership art to creating this type of atmosphere. If coaches and trainers can set the right tone for the group, the group often will organically create the magic of community, which keeps everyone coming back for more.  

Resumed focus on small-group models is also a reflection of the challenging economic times we are living in. Small-group training exploded by necessity back in 2008 as we all had to rethink our business models amid recession. It’s more efficient and lucrative for you to train small groups, and it’s more affordable (and inspirational) for your clients to band together for purchasing power. We’re all feeling the bite of inflation, and many are still recovering from pandemic losses. Take a page from Judy’s book and rethink what’s not working for you and how an updated small-group model could help your business in multiple ways. 

And if you want to start a small-group model for people who aren’t running superstars (most of us!), check out Sole to Soul or get in touch with Judy to ask her about her experience leading this special group. Meantime, here are some other articles from the IDEA content bank that may light up your creativity for an added income stream or a community- or retention-builder.  

• Neighborhood Walking and Social Connection 
• Top 6 Lessons for Training Runners 
• Resistance Training Ideas for Runners 
• Offering Race Training for Clients 
• Trail Running Basics 
• Marathon Training 101 
• Tips for Creating Wellness Challenges 

Have fun! Be creative! And keep inspiring.