OK, having run (and rode) alone for the better part of 9+ months in training for IMWA, I am trying to run with a marathon clinic group on Sunday mornings.
While everyone around me is talking, I am quiet; I tend to zone out and find it difficult to be social. I am tempted to just run halfsies with them: run out with and back on my own (which I did today).
I still do the majority of my running alone, but this long run on Sundays… I’m not certain I am looking forward to it as much as I thought I would be…
I have learned to run alone, but do I have to relearn to run with others?
Don’t sweat it. It’s all about Andy. You have chosen to seek a group because inside you feel you need one and like being new too any group we turn into ourselves until we get the group vibe.
Don’t relearn anything. Just do and things will work out.
I always ran alone, because I didn’t know anyone else around here who was the same pace and wanted to do the long distance runs I was doing. I loved running alone… then I found a running club an hour from where I go to college, and those runners have become some of my best friends I run with them every Sunday and we have our own forum so I learn a lot from general training talk. But it is so different running in a group! I had to learn how to talk and run at the same time.
I think it’s something you adjust to… but if you don’t like it, then don’t do it.
Keep trying; a couple runs doesn’t define a whole group. But in the end you will do what you like best.
I like to do long runs and bikes with others, or at least I do part of them with others. But I am real chit-chatty. There are a few people who run the same pace and distance as I do and we had some great long group rides last spring and summer. Usually more enjoyable for me than 5 hours solo.
Then again I am single and often alone (which I like). One fast IM guy I know of around here does most of his training alone and I think he likes to because he has a wife and kids and a very busy and social job so I bet training is his only ‘alone’ time. Its nice to ***not ***have to talk or listen to anyone for a while.
I started training alone for the most part during my build for Oliver last year. It wasn’t because I don’t like people, but because I needed control. I noticed it when a buddy asked why I didn’t seek out company for my long rides and I told him that I didn’t need company - I needed control. Not a lot of my riding buddies can handle 3-4hrs @ z1/z2 - they get bored.
Sometimes I run with others, but most often alone. I find it easiest to schedule that way. I used to have a running club way back when, and it was a lot of fun. Mind you, a lot of the time I finished those runs alone too… Maybe I’m just anti-social.
But Andypants it’s all about the shower, sauna, and BREAKIE!! It didn’t help that your good bud Ya-neh wasn’t able to join you today, and that YVR K chick complained of back pain.
i’ve always found that running with people will make me run faster…start running with some faster groups and it pushes you more. i still looove solo runs - great time alone - but like to balance them with group runs, or one-on-one runs with folks who push me and vice versa. it grows on you.
I would do what you want to do - some people need other there to keep them going, seems like you do not. I wish I could run really long with out others…that way I would never ever have to live past another “Stride Fart” again.
JFYI, I am not looking to build any speed anytime soon, I am building to do a few big ass Ultras over the next 18months, and Z1/Z2 but VERY LONG is what I need. If this was a tempo or VO2Max run, hey, no problem, I can get the push from someone else, just like you describe (although I would prefer a race! ;-)). But in rebuilding my aerobic base a la Maffetone, I don’t need any pushing right now.
The social stuff is a perk. I often spend the weekend with a family of one of my running friends. Nice to get off campus and be in a house where a mom cooks for you
I like the connection to other real live people who ‘get it.’ Y’all are great too, I just haven’t met any of you!
Another good thing – people to cheer you on in your races. For my fall marathon, I had one friend from the group pace me over the last 10k and it freakin’ rocked to have that type of support. Everyone else who wasn’t running that day was out there cheering and passing me water, gus, etc.
We might just be an abnormally tight group, but I wouldn’t trade them for anything.
JFYI, I am not looking to build any speed anytime soon, I am building to do a few big ass Ultras over the next 18months, and Z1/Z2 but VERY LONG is what I need.
Does this mean I won’t be seeing you in Langley next Sunday?
Andy, just adjust your training schedual to make sunday morning a “recovery” run…that way the chi-chat keeps you paced and you won’ feel like your not in control…
ps; i love to ride alone…but i will ride with the family just to mix it up…
I run with them every Sunday and we have our own forum so I learn a lot from general training talk. But it is so different running in a group! I had to learn how to talk and run at the same time.
