Running can be a lonely sport but extremely rewarding. We have solo runners, group runners, club runners and of course the ad-hoc runner. I’ve been running for over 6 years and for the first 6 months I was solo runner, which suited me perfectly. It wasn’t until I started to train for a marathon that I found the roads lonely and on occasion the thought of running almost killed me! Facing the road alone in training became a hard task. We all experience this as runners one time or another in our running careers. It was around this time that I said I would experiment and opened the door to running with a running buddy.
Let me help you answer your question 'Why All Solo Runners Should Have A Running Buddy'!
It wasn’t long until I was completely bought in and have never looked back! The biggest difference that I found was I started to feel part of a team, we had similar goals and faced similar challenges, and we could share responsibility with one another.
On numerous occasions I didn’t feel like running after work or on those early morning before works runs, but knowing my buddy depended on me to turn up was enough of an incentive to get me out on the road clocking the miles… I was of course training for a marathon and turning up is key to success.
If you don’t believe me on why all solo runners should have a running buddy I am going to try and convince you otherwise. Here are 4 reasons why you should really consider it! It may just turn you into a runner you didn’t know existed.
1) Performance
2) Experience
3) Accountability
4) Shared Goals & Target
Performance:
From my own experience I've seen big results and big improvements in performance. The reason behind this is I turned up for each run, I worked harder and was committed to improving as a runner. I didn’t want to let my buddy down. Actually both of our performances improved and we've seen personal bests (PBs) within 6 weeks of running together. Who doesn’t want that, right?
Experience:
By buddying up with another runner you both get to share experiences with each other and help bring one another to the next level. I am guessing for some runners this isn’t the most important thing, however, experience doesn’t always mean getting faster, it can also mean experience on how to avoid injury, how to recover from runs and how to prepare for long runs, speed sessions and what the hell does fartlek actually mean!? (If you want to know more about pre & long run nutritional plan, feel free to download our guide here)
Ultimately knowledge and experience is key for growth in everything you do in life and sharing this knowledge and experience with a running buddy is priceless!
Accountable
I mentioned above that on numorous ocassions I just wasn’t in form for going for run but knowing that my buddy depended on me I turned up for the run. Come on, who hasn’t finished work and got home and decided 'I will leave my run for the night'.. Sit on the sofa, watch a movie and then regret not going for a run. I know I have! By buddying up with another runner, 99% chances are you won’t skip the workout as you feel accountable or obligated to turn up.
Shared Goal & Target
What runner hasn’t talked to colleagues, friends, family about their running goals and what race they are planning to participate in. We all do it, and we even announce it on social media. Ok, not all do that but we all know a runner who does. By having a running buddy you are able to talk about your goals, work on plans together to achieve your goals. Sharing your goals with your running buddy really does help massively, you speak about these goals as you run, they become very real to you. Repetition Repetition Repetition, your goals and targets become stamped on the forefront of your mind. And isn’t it great to be able to share goals and targets with a buddy who completely gets you and isn’t thinking 'she/he is nuts talking about running all the time'!
If I haven’t convinced you yet then I suggest at least run with a friend just to test the water. You may never look back.
Yours sincerly,
The Running Nut
Ps: Choose a running partner who can challenge you and that you can challenge right back. If you are happy to head out for a run and a good catch up well then it doesn’t really matter who you run with, but if you have a target race in mind and want to achieve a certain time or personal best, then I’d say chose a runner partner who is at the same fitness level as you.
The Running Nut offers Running tours of Dublin. I recently had the pleasure to go on a guided run with him and highly recommend his Phoenix Park sightseeing running tour. I promise you, his energy will make you enjoy your run even more!
