You can’t miss this group of women as they walk up to the Trailhead sign by the Trinity River in Fort Worth, Texas. They range in age, from mid-twenties to early forties, and two of them are pushing double strollers with their toddlers.
But each one looks fit, happy, and ready to do one thing: run, and run hard. They’d just prefer to do it together.
Cowtown Elite is a track club made up of 16 women, most of whom are aiming to compete in the Cross Country Championships in February and qualify for the 2020 Olympic Team Trials for the marathon.
It all started almost two years ago, when a small group of friends noticed they were all running at the same pace—a very fast pace. Before they knew it, it was growing: So-and-so met their friend so-and-so, and the group decided to run together and become USATF-certified. They did, and now they are gaining recognition at races and within the Fort Worth community. There’s a competitive spirit about them, but more than anything, there is camaraderie.
“We’re a great source of accountability. We take care of each other,” said Elizabeth Northern, 31, who founded the group. “When you train with people who are faster than you, you rise to that occasion.”
Each woman has a full-time job—one’s a registered nurse, one a water treatment engineer, one a speech pathologist, and a few stay-at-home moms. Because of this, the group realized early on that the best time to train together was before the sun was up, usually before 5:15 a.m. While the plans are often made the night before when someone suggests a time and place in their GroupMe, it’s clear they keep training a priority, and it shows on race day.
“I think when you’re surrounded by people doing so many big things, you really feel like, in a good way, that you have to earn your spot,” said Rachel Harp, a 35-year-old nursing student and public school tutor.
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And big things truly are happening for the group. No one has made the qualifying time yet for the marathon trials (for women’s B standard, a sub-2:45), but two have come close. Last weekend, 29-year-old member Brooke Slayman ran a 2:47 at the Columbus Marathon. In May of this year, 26-year-old Caitlin Keen finished the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon in 2:46.
Everyone is gearing up for an upcoming race to try to meet the standard. One is doing the New York Marathon next week, many are training for the California International Marathon in December, and one has her eye on Boston in April.
While most have a track or cross country background, Neringa Gafford, a 35-year-old from Lithuania, has only been running for about three years. When she moved to Texas, she started racing for fun and quickly started placing in her age group. From then on, she was hooked, and Cowtown Elite has only made her better.
“Today I did a massive PR in 5K, an 18:27,” Gafford said. “I’m in love with running now, and this is a great team of girls here.”
The group seemed unanimous about Cowtown Elite providing support and friendship more than anything else. Yes, there is competition and drive and time goals, but there are also long conversations in the early mornings and cheers on race day, even if they’re towing the line together. And for the moms in the group, it’s given them new drive to stay in the game.
“When I was 25 and running, I thought, ‘What will I be doing in my 40s? Well, probably not running as fast,’” said Jessica Smith, a 41-year-old mom in the group. “But it’s all in the mind. For me right now, that’s a lot of what this group has done for me—inspired me to keep going and searching for those PRs at our age. It doesn’t have to be over until you say it is.”
Ten of the 16 women that currently make up Cowtown Elite Runner’s World in 2017, McGee has somehow convinced the team to let her keep writing for them as a freelancer. Her work for both Runner’s World and Bicycling consists mostly of news and human interest pieces. Her favorite stories to tell are ones of “ordinary” people doing extraordinary things through running and cycling, whether accomplishing personal goals, overcoming severe trials, or transforming their communities. Her writing has also appeared on ACTIVE and Paste Magazine. When she’s not running or eating, you can probably find her still eating.
