Larry Barnum

I’ve been a counselor at a women’s health clinic, a personal coach, run Masters Track, and am now a psychotherapist by daylight. My wife, Carmel Papworth-Barnum, does most of the work around here. Writing together at National Masters News, our different goals and different gifts helped us get the paper out.

She was the boss then and still is. Here I do some writing, editing, offer suggestions, bounce ideas around with her, and at night do most of the cooking. She makes the juice in the morning and I make the lattes.

In life, in a marriage, or as a runner, most of us benefit from others. Sometimes in our training it’s lonely out there; it’s hard to find partners and resources.

WomenRunningTogether is a place, soon to be a forum, a resource where women can feel they’re part of a team, a network, a village. Here someone knows the course and the best way to get there.

You can ask questions, get info, provide answers or offer suggestions. Check in often, maybe get re-inspired, nudged through another workout, or leave an encouraging note, read someone’s story or offer your own profile.

We’re receptive to contributors, photographers, and writers, both women and men, whose focus is women’s running whether they’re taking to the streets, along the trails, or running around in circles.

Although, I’ve run cross country in high school and college, and over the years infrequent 5 or 10k’s, distance doesn’t do it. For some of us, speed thrills. Not everyone wants to run long; if short is sweet then maybe get on track. Try different events and distances.

Be forewarned; track runners get no respect. I’ve run Masters Track for about 10 years, won some National Indoor and Outdoor titles, three World Championships, and been on a few world record relay teams. It doesn’t matter. When you say you run, you’re only asked how many marathons you’ve done.

So at WomenRunningTogether it’s not the distance that matters but the journey, even if that destination just takes you a little ways down the track or all the way around the world.

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