Runners Need to Train Together

Running with other participants can provide companionship, security, commitment, training information, and mutual support. Running alone can become tedious, but by completing one or more sessions a week with others, you break up the monotony and make running a joyful experience.  Once you become a regular in the group, you will know your friends are counting on you to show up, this knowledge can help you get out of bed, and out the door on those mornings when you would rather go back to sleep.

Running with others is a good way to broaden your training knowledge. By asking the right questions of more experienced participants, you can often pick up valuable tips that will help you run longer and faster.

Many athletes are regulars in the group while their running is going great, but when they experience difficulties they withdraw.  This is unfortunate, because when you are experiencing problems that is precisely the time when the group can be most valuable to you.

Humans are social animals, and our lives are enhanced by social contacts. No matter how difficult your training may become, there will be participants in your group who will have never trained better.  Associating with people who are enjoying success will lift your spirits and cause your enthusiasm to soar. But more importantly, by associating with healthy people, your problems will melt away more quickly.

Never underestimate the healing energy available from healthy people. Even if you are injured and unable to participate, don't isolate yourself from the group, you will recover quicker by associating with and supporting your training partners.