For some of us, there is no choice. We either run alone or we don’t run at all. For others of us we only run when our running partner drags us out the door. Forgetting these options where we have no decision to make, is it better to run by yourself or with a running partner (or two)?
To get you thinking I will drop a few pros and cons of running by yourself.
Pros:
- You set your own pace
- You set your own distance
- You set your own timing and direction
- You can focus purely on your own running needs
- You get the time to be just by yourself doing what you love
Cons:
- You have no body to help you with motivation
- Sometimes you can get lonely
- Some people feel in danger if they run by themselves
- You have to make all of the decisions by yourself
- You have nobody to give you external feedback
Next are a few pros and cons for running with a partner
Pros:
- The relationship you develop with a running partner can be meaningful and lasting
- You can share the triumphs and defeats along the way
- Knowing that someone is waiting for you can help you get out the door on time
- You can share the cost and effort of resources and research
- If you twist your ankle there is someone to drag you home
Cons:
- Even the most perfectly matched partnership can get strained at times
- No two people should train in exactly the same way every day
- If your partner can’t make it you can feel lost without them
- Your run often depends to some degree on their motivation or mood
- Sometimes it is just plain inconvenient to schedule your runs together.
What do you think? Is it better to run by yourself or with a partner? Have you had experiences that you think we would all like to hear about? Do you have the best running partner and would like to tell the world about them? Has anyone tried a long distance or online running partnership?
Let us all know. This post was published as part of a series lasting a week with the aim of finding out a bit more about the readers of this site. So far they have all been a fairly quiet bunch, but I am hoping that soon I will hatch a topic that breaks the silence. One day Runningmonkeys will be the place where all sorts of runners feel comfortable to hang out and say it like it is. Why not take part and have your say?
5 responses so far ↓
1 Vern // May 24, 2007 at 4:58 am
Hi Tim, Nice site - I was referred by a girl in Hawaii to check you out so I added you to Google feed reader. I like the site, keep it up. You have an aweful lot of photos of shoes though, you know? lol! I also write some running articles since I enjoy it so much and I think it’s a great way to stay mentally healthy, balanced, and full of energy while working. I never run with someone unless they ask - and usually it’s short lived as I don’t enjoy going the same pace as someone else slower than me - and ESPECIALLY someone faster which most people seem to be these days! Are you in Florida? I saw a mention about melbourne… that could be Australia - so not sure. Ok - just wanted to say hey and tell you that I like your site design, I almost picked that template at wordpress.org. Ok - good luck and maybe we can link up on some running pages - I’ll send some folks your way. Once I get some folks that is!
Vern
2 Evelyn // May 24, 2007 at 12:01 pm
It’s alone 99.9% of the time! That’s MY time. I get to talk and listen to me for a change. Conversation, for me, distracts from the focus of my run. Running distracts from the focus of a meaningful conversation. Running with someone usually ends up a walk instead with a log of meaningful gossip!
3 Tom O'Leary // May 24, 2007 at 8:29 pm
I understand where you are coming from. I too fall for the trap of trying doing too many things at once. We’re probably better off deciding that this time is for talking and that time is for running (except maybe for talking and listening to yourself as you said)
4 Evelyn // May 24, 2007 at 8:49 pm
I didn’t see Vern’s comment earlier… I’m the one that sent him this way.
5 Tom O'Leary // May 24, 2007 at 10:52 pm
Vern, I love the way you say that running keeps you full of energy at work. It is really true but only runners can understand how you could possibly get more energy by spending energy.
Different running pace is a great reason for not having a regular running partner. There is no way around the fact that we may never meet another runner who trains exactly as we do.
The Melbourne I mentioned was the Australian one. Although I don’t live near there any more. I’m now in a city called Tsukuba which is about an hour north of Tokyo, Japan.
I’ll drop by your site and have a read early next week. Thanks for telling me about it.
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