I usually run alone.
I’m trying to get back into running, though, and lately i have run a few times in a group. I’m learning why this is good and bad.
When i run alone, i have no accountability to anyone else. I can run at my own pace. Stop and walk up hills if i want. Bring the dog. And i don’t feel guilty about any of it.
Last week i did a track workout in a group. Guess what? I ran faster and longer than i would have on my own. I spent most of the time trying to keep up with Cindy & Frank. And then when they did finally leave me in the dust, i spent the rest of the time trying to catch them. I didn’t give up. I didn’t just run at my own pace.
Monday night, a bunch of us helped $Bill celebrate his 42nd birthday by running 4.2 miles with him. What a great run it was! (Especially the part where he bought us a beer after – thanks Bill!) But again, i pushed myself. The pace was a little faster than i would have gone on my own, but i went with it. There were more hills than i wanted to run up, but i ran up them.
All in all, i like this trend of running with people who will cause me to push myself. I know i’ll still do runs on my own with the dog, but i’m looking forward to more group runs this running season.
March 4th, 2010 12:23 pm
Glad you could make it for the bday run. Wait till you come out on the weekends for some long runs, we goto breakfast afterwards, makes getting up early well worth it
March 7th, 2010 8:46 pm
I agree with you Audrey! There are good and bad. The bad is: you’ll push yourself harder than you would normally and feel like shit trying to do it. You may even get pissed, feel sorry for yourself for feeling like it hurts all the time. The good news is: when you decide you want a day to run on your own, you’ll run up those hills at a faster pace than you ever had in your life.
I look forward to training together for the half in May.