Intown Runaround: Team Awesome

Submitted by collin on Saturday, 1 January 201130 Comments

By Tim Sullivan

Her name is Cassi Niemann. She is a 31-year-old architect who lives in East Lake and you can call her Ms. Awesome. Along with friends Anne-Marie DeBacker and Shelly Holdren, she founded Team Awesome in 2007. Here she debriefs me on the adjectively named group.

What are the origins of Team Awesome?

Team Awesome began as a name for weekly trivia or the title we gave ourselves when doing human pyramids.

But the reason you are being featured in this particular column is the sporty component of Team Awesome. Discuss.

In 2007, we entered a team of 20 in the Atlanta Pride 5k. We made t-shirts with Sharpies. The team really took off in 2009 when we entered the Atlanta Women’s 5k and now we’ve entered over 15 races together! We have a website, 100 (real) t-shirts sold and 150 people receiving an official newsletter.

What events are you and your cohorts eyeing for 2011?

2011 will bring a new t-shirt design, happy hours, charity events, road races, jumping and trivia. If you have an idea for an event, we’ll promote the crap out of it.

I love that at each event you snap an ensemble photo of the team mid-air. Maybe you could get Leroy Nieman to paint the scene?

At the Atlanta Women’s 5k, a photographer shot us as we jumped in the air. We vowed to do the same thing after every event. I can only imagine how many times we’d have to jump in order to get a painting. But I really do admire his use of colors… I’m sure he could incorporate many rainbows into our scene. We like rainbows.

There are branches of Team Awesome in five different major cities. Is this the Starbucks of Friendship Teams in the making?

Ha! My friend Jill coined the term “friendship teams’ when trying to explain it. But it’s true. Some Atlanta members just moved out to Seattle and they have already run a race with our branch out there. Boston has over 15 members who run half marathons and bike all over the city. Everyone should have a team of friends.

I’m not so confident about asking my team of friends to do a human pyramid with me if you know what I’m saying. Is there a developmental league for Team Awesome?

One of the membership obligations is to not only be awesome, but to participate in activities that prove your awesomeness. The perspective you have on yourself will influence your performance in awesomeness. If you believe you are awesome, then you will be.

How many consecutive pull-ups can you do? Don’t worry, I ask most women I meet the same question.

That’s funny, I ask the same question. I can do 30.

An Oregon man named Douglas Smith has legally changed his name to ‘Captain Awesome’ – any copyright infringement at play here?

I’m a little jealous of this man. I’ve actually researched the trademark for Team Awesome and it has been taken, so I may need to change the name. For now though you can find news, upcoming events, photos and all things awesome at www.team-awesome.org.

30 Comments »

Cassi said:

Great article! We’ve already gotten some new members from the press! Awesome!

- 1 January 2011 at 1:57 pm

Katy Daugharty said:

Cassi Niemann! You really are awesome!

- 1 January 2011 at 3:53 pm

Dr. P said:

Awesome!

- 2 January 2011 at 6:48 pm

blair rostolsky said:

Awesome article featuring one of the most awesome people i know.

- 2 January 2011 at 6:51 pm

Andie said:

Best article ever! Team Awesome seems really neat!

- 2 January 2011 at 7:07 pm

Renee Butler said:

It is great to belong to a team! Especially to hang on to those good experiences from high school & college. 30 pullups…Cassi, you are awesome!

- 2 January 2011 at 7:20 pm

Leslie said:

Go Team Awesome! Check them out. You won’t be disappointed.

- 2 January 2011 at 7:32 pm

Coleman said:

I love Team Awesome! And of course, we all love Cassi!

- 2 January 2011 at 7:37 pm

amanda said:

yay, team awesome! keep it up! xoxo

- 2 January 2011 at 8:38 pm

Shelly said:

Thanks for the great article!!

- 2 January 2011 at 8:49 pm

Karen said:

Great article….no Awesome article!!
Everyone wants to belong to something. Something awesome.
And btw….Jumping Pictures are the best!!

- 2 January 2011 at 9:45 pm

Raja said:

This article is awesome! Can’t wait for 2011 awesomeness begin!

- 3 January 2011 at 12:42 am

Dawn said:

Great article about a really wonderful community group.

- 3 January 2011 at 8:21 am

Ree said:

Awesome!

- 3 January 2011 at 10:16 am

Adi said:

very awesome.

- 3 January 2011 at 11:07 am

Lindsay said:

Totally AWESOME!!!!!

- 3 January 2011 at 11:14 am

Joslin said:

This is fantastic Happy New Year Team Awesome!

- 3 January 2011 at 11:20 am

Claire said:

woot! Go Team Awesome!

- 3 January 2011 at 11:22 am

Carmen said:

Great , no wait, AWESOME!

- 3 January 2011 at 11:26 am

Karen said:

Way to go to Team Awesome!

- 3 January 2011 at 11:50 am

c b said:

a-w-e-s-o-m-e, awesome, awesome, TO-TALLY! (insert claps and cheerleader jumps) Yeah Cassi!

- 3 January 2011 at 12:06 pm

Katie said:

You are, indeed, the Queen of Awesome, Cassi. Can’t wait for an awesome 2011.

- 3 January 2011 at 12:20 pm

Babbler said:

Proud member! Can’t wait to do another event. Live long and awesome!

- 3 January 2011 at 1:04 pm

Tasha said:

Team Awesome Boston actually got a little press lately too…although we weren’t specifically credited as Team Awesome and it was just a picture, not a fancy interview: http://somerville.patch.com/articles/your-photos-from-the-jingle-bell-run

Yay Cassi!

- 3 January 2011 at 3:17 pm

Benny said:

Friendship team. Bloody brilliant!

- 4 January 2011 at 10:12 am

Donna P said:

Keep up the great teamwork, Team Awesome! Great article, Cassi. Congrats!

- 4 January 2011 at 10:56 am

Cat said:

Absolutely awesome! Thanks reminding us that being awesome is only what we make of it and helping us feel like we’re all a part of something awesome, Cassi!

- 4 January 2011 at 11:12 am

AMW said:

Thanks, Atlanta INtown, for giving me my daily dose of awesome.

- 4 January 2011 at 11:21 am

bk.iamart.adams said:

WARNING!!!! Cassi will ELECTRACUTE U !!! TRUST ME WHEN I TELL U SHES HOLDIN BACK THERES ALOT MORE 2 HER !!!
bk.iamart.adams

- 4 January 2011 at 11:51 am

Meaghan said:

You guys are such an inspiration! Let me know if there is an NYC branch in the works!

- 5 January 2011 at 12:10 am

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