Running alone can provide that mental space you need to relax and reflect. Running with others is not for everybody, some prefer their own company and time away from others to reflect.
Benefits of running alone
Running alone allows you to indulge in some peace and time to yourself, control your own pace and fit in around your schedule. Key benefits include:
- If you’re limited with time it says meeting with others, you can leave and return to your own house without the padding time of meeting up.
- You can focus on your own session, such as a tempo or progression run where running to your own ability and rhythm are key.
- When returning from injury so you don’t get carried away trying to keep up with your running buddies.
- You don’t have to compromise your run session in any way so you can dictate your pace, distance, route and time of day.
Cons of running solo
Whilst running with others is obviously much more sociable, running alone requires more self-motivation and mental energy. This is more obvious during the winter months when it’s often darker and colder.
If you feel more vulnerable and unsafe when running alone, you may want to run with others. This way, you’ll have safety in numbers and you have the reassurance that help and support are on hand in case of an emergency.
It’s important to remember that one size certainly doesn’t fit all when it comes to training though. Personally, I prefer running along much of the time due to the time I like to run and the type of sessions I do. That being said however running with a group really helps mix it up for me, and I certainly feel more motivated after spending time chatting with others whilst running.
If you want to read some benefits of running with others see my other posts here.
