If you only ever run solo, you are missing out. Training with others, be it formally or informally, can really take your running to a new level. When Mo Farah moved to train in the US, his new training group was made up of guys who were hungry and ready to push him. He knew he needed the group to take his running just that little bit further and to the next level. A year or two further on and the results are there for all to see.
We’re not suggesting you ditch your life for a nine-month training camp in the States or take up residence in the Rift Valley; we just want you to give running with others a go and one of the best ways to do this is to join your local running club. Here are five reasons why you should:
Increased knowledge
No matter how long you’ve been running, or how voraciously you devour every morsel of running information you can lay your hands on, you will never know everything. Talking to other runners is a great way to learn and expand your knowledge on subjects including injury, different types of training, kit, nutrition, good and bad races, and many, many more. Don’t believe everything you hear, and bear in mind that what works for one person may not work for another, but be open to the opinion of others and engage in a bit of healthy debate – you’ll become a more knowledgeable, mentally active athlete as a result.
Training with better runners
Although this is probably the main thing that puts people off joining a club or group, for fear of embarrassing themselves, training with runners of a higher level is a fantastic way to improve your own ability. Whilst there’s little benefit in trying to keep pace with someone ten times as fast as you, training with people who are just ahead of you in terms of fitness and performance will drag you up to their level. You’ll also see what the faster people are doing that makes them so fast, and be able to apply some of this to your own running and lifestyle.
Fewer skipped sessions
We’ve discussed the beauty of not having to answer to anyone else in terms of when you run and for how long, but that can also be a negative. If you’ve had a long day, you’re tired, and really not looking forward to your planned run, it’s a lot easier to skip it if the only person you have to answer to is yourself; we can all find ways to justify it to ourselves and tell ourselves we’ll make up for it. If you have other people relying on you to turn up, you’ll get it done.
The same applies within the session itself. With no one else watching, it’s easy to coast through a session when you’re not feeling your best. The friendly encouragement of others, and your pride, will ensure that you push yourself and get the most from every session.
Money saved
Many groups and communities are free to join, but even official clubs tend to be pretty reasonable; you can join many from as little as £25 per year. Alongside all the other benefits, which more than make that great value, many offer discounted race entry and even discounts in local sports retailers. Chances are, it’ll be the best bit of running money you ever spend.
Support network
Without wishing to get all Oprah Winfrey, there really is something to be said for surrounding yourself with likeminded people who grow to care about you and want to see you achieve your goals. Knowing that you’re not in it on your own will help lift you through the tougher moments, give you a sense of perspective, and encourage you to do yourself and your running mates proud.
More events
There’s nothing to stop you finding and entering as many different races and events as you please, but being part of a community will not only make this easier, it will encourage you to try things you might otherwise have missed or ignored. As well as team races, the great variety of events you will be exposed to by other runners can only be good for you and your running.
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