Erika @ MCM Mama Runs hosts Tuesdays on the Run with April @ Run the great wide somewhere and Patty @ My no-guilt life!
This week’s topic is: Running Solo Vs. With A Group
I mostly run solo so I’ll start here:
Advantages of Running Solo
- You choose your pace.
You can run slow or push the pace. You can walk when you feel like it or just stop and take photographs. No pressure.
- You can be flexible with regard to time and distance.
You can wait for the rain to stop or change your mind and run in the evening rather than the morning, You can cut short your run or if you feel like it, you can extend it.
3 mile planned run before boating
- You choose the location.
You can leave for a run right from your house or from your work. No driving to a scheduled location is necessary.
right near work
- You can be spontaneous.
You can decide to go for a run on a new route.
- You can listen to music.
Just put on your headphones and zone out to your favorite tunes.
- You can just be alone with your thoughts.
or just plan your day or figure out a solution to a problem.
Advantages of Running With a Group
- It’s fun.
You’re never alone. There’s always someone faster and slower than you.
- You will be motivated to run faster.
my long runs with these 2 ladies were faster than when I ran alone
- You are less likely to cancel.
Especially if you’ve paid for the training. Or people are waiting for you.
- You make new friends.
You will then bump into them at races or make plans to race together.
we met at the Turkey Trot Group runs
fellow Freihofer Challenge groupies
- You may run at a location that you normally wouldn’t choose.
I’ve run at parks and in neighborhoods that I had never been to before.
path near Knickerbocker Area
- It prepares for better for race conditions.
Yes, no one ever runs races solo.
- Chatting with others make the miles go faster.
- You may learn something new.
You’ll learn about new races or new gear and get running tips.
Happy Running! Do you run solo or with a group?
My First 5K and More... 
Well, you know how I roll. The spontaneity of running by myself can be a plus. However, today is probably a treadmill day!
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haven’t run since Sat. enjoying the recovery.
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About to time you took a break! I always take a week off after a half even if I have another one coming up.
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Great post! I do most of my runs solo, but I’m looking forward to more runs with my new group.
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You summed it all up perfectly! There are definite pros to running solo and running with others. Going either way really depends on what you want your run to be!
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I am trying to decide now if I should give the group thing another chance. There’s a training team starting in August for the Richmond Half in November…
I like all the reasons you posted about why I like to run solo. Sometimes I really need music and my breath, running with others I do talk more and sometimes that just makes every thing feel harder lol
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Even though I did join a training group, I only went half the time if that. But it was nice to have the option.
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I always get worried about running with a training group – I won’t be fast enough or something – so I always talk myself out of group runs.
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I did for years but if the group is big enough, there’s always someone your pace.
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I like to run solo. I like to be alone with my thoughts!
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I enjoy running solo or with my mom because she will adapt to any pace and won’t mind if I slow her down….lol
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