It’s no secret. Running with other people make your long runs easier and more pleasurable. Chatting with a running partner definitely makes the time go faster, so your run won’t be as mentally challenging.

The same goes for your fundraising efforts. You are fundraising as part of a team, so be sure to use them as a resource. Think about who is on your fundraising team…

• Your donors - think of your donors as part of your team. In your thank you letters and training updates (you do send them, don’t you?) be sure to use ‘we’ as in ‘We have raised’ and ‘We finished’ so they know you think of them as part of the team. Don’t be afraid to ask donors to pass the message on to people in their network that might want to join your effort.
• Your training buddies - at your next run, ask your marathon training team what has worked and what hasn’t. They may have firsthand tips to put you over the top.
• Team Firstgiving - our fundraisers have raised almost $70 million dollars for over ten thousand charities. We’ve learned a thing or two in the process, and want to share with you.

If you’re running and fundraising by yourself, you’re missing out on lots of benefits of group training, from improved motivation to expanded social circle. Not sure how to go about finding people to run with?

Here’s How:

1. Most local road running clubs offer group runs during the week and on weekends. Check out Road Runners Club of America to find the club closest to you.
2. Head to a running specialty store in your area. Many of them offer group training runs that start and finish at the store. Even if they don’t host runs, the employees are part of the running community and can probably suggest local running groups to you.
3. If you’re a mom, check out seeMOMMYrun.com, a free walking/running group for moms of all ages and stages (and their kids), to find out about