Over the past year I have noticed a lot of differences between running alone and running with a partner. My running partner lives far away now..far far away..too far away. This means my runs are all done alone. It wasn’t so bad at first, in fact it was nice to get out with my thoughts and just..run. Then while I was on my latest run I thought about all the down sides to running alone.
Running alone means..
- No one there to talk with. I get bored easily, and who’s to say I wont dart into the road if a squirrel catches my attention?
- No one there to laugh when you snot rocket all over your clothes. People driving by don’t count..in fact that’s more embarrassing when a stranger sees you.
- No one to high five after the run. Running is great alone, but coming home to brag to my daily mile is nothing like accomplishing a great run with another person.
- No one to save you from weirdos. OK this is seriously getting annoying. Every time I go running I get scared. I see weirdos in their cars honking at me, waving at me, smiling at me, turning their heads to see me. Then there’s the weirdos on the street. I need to get some mase. It’s like night and day my comfort level running with someone vs. alone.
- No one to push you that extra mile. You mean I have to find my OWN motivation to keep going!?
- No one to laugh at the other runners with. I’m not that mean I swear..
- No one to brainstorm ideas for lunch with. ALWAYS think about what’s going to be consumed right after a run..well..after I cool down of course.
- No one there to cry/hug when you achieve a new PR.
There are still some good sides to running alone like feeling strong, accomplished, independent, letting your thoughts run wild, and being one with nature. Basically I have been spoiled by having a good running partner, and now that I don’t have one anymore..it sucks! If any of you runners need a slow, but fun running partner, I’m your girl! Seriously, I don’t want to envision a scene from CSI while I run anymore!
Q: Do you prefer to run/workout alone or with others? I do like both, running I like with another person. Hiking I like with other people, but classes at the gym I can handle alone.
Blissfulbritt 
40 thoughts on “Solo Running”
Life After Swimming
Booo if I were closer to you, I’d be ALL over running together! I wish I had someone to run with!
Megan
Hmm, I’m mood dependent, sometimes the thinking time is awesome and relaxing. When it comes to at the gym I like solo bc I can bang out what needs to be done and not chatter. The weirdos though are bet kept at bay with a friend. — when I do a brief stint in Nashville I was running and the heat exhaustion kicked in and I starting up chucking on the street and a car of creepos pulled over and attempted to flirt as I barfed… Winner winner chicken dinner.
Brittany
Bahahaha I legit laughed out loud at this. What WERIDO’s! Who hits on someone that is puking!? HAH
Rachel Elizabeth
Me and my sister used to run together every morning… I loved it. Then her schedule changed so I’m on my own
I do miss it!! And I always think about what I’m going to eat after too haha! Me and my sister would talk breakfast ideas :p
imakeeper
I like both… but most of the time, I enjoy it alone. Unless I’m doing a really hard, long run then I totally need a partner to keep me on track and on pace. But most of the time I enjoy running alone and having it as ‘me’ time and my ‘thinking’ time.
I HATE weirdos that honk and gawk at your while you run…. I usually snarl at them. I want to carry a squirt gun with me while I run to shoot at themm, but I haven’t figured out where to hide it yet.
IF ONLY WE LIVED CLOSER…. we could partner up and run together. A dream come true.
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
Awwwr. I would be your running buddy if I was a runner… and if I actually lived anywhere near you. It definitely sucks to have to work out alone though. Let’s face it, as good as it feel sometimes, there are other times where exercising just plain sucks and it’s a whole lot easier to get through if you have someone to distract you from the monotony. I get bored really easily too, which is why long, steady workouts are never for me. When I went to the gym, it was all about circuits and HIIT. These days my ‘workout’ is basically just being active in general, so I don’t really get that ‘how am I going to get through this’ feeling anymore. Thank goodness.
Rebecca @ Blueberry Smiles
I usually like working out alone so I can zone out with my iPhod. I like workout buddies occasionally though– The first time I ran with a running buddy, I was so nervous that we were going to go at different paces and I would be distracted by conversation….I was so wrong– it was great and I ended up having a “better than normal” run!
Alex @ therunwithin
I agree, I think it is good to run solo for some runs but you need those social runs I totally miss them as well, like a lot
An Unrefined Vegan
I’ve always been a solo runner, but now you make me want to partner up! Wish I lived nearby, I’d totally snot rocket with you!
Lou (@fridgescrapings)
Ha, snot rocket! Classic, Annie 🙂 I can’t offer my running-partner services, as I can’t run…. but I shall take you for a yoga practise – yes?
An Unrefined Vegan
Oh yes, for sure!! My yoga has slacked of late…sigh. My body and mind miss it!
Brittany
Count me in too!
Choc Chip Uru
If we lived close we would definitely be running buddies! But I guess there still are some positives 🙂
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Britta
GOOD POINT. I haven’t run a lot with other people.. actually I think only 4-5 runs have been with my good friend, Amy, and they rocked!! I would SO be your running partner!!!! Bah. The lunch brainstorming thing always gets me… its basically a good reason to go for a run, period. 😀
Natalie @ will jog for food
I usually like running by myself. I love to just listen to the music and go on my way. But I miss running with my sis, she was a great running partner and we had similar paces.
Emily
I need to find a running partner sooonnn… if only you didnt live on the total opposite side of the US!!!
Barbara Bamber | justasmidgen
Here’s the thing.. I can’t run anymore because of my knees… I’d give anything to run again and would so be your partner if I could:D
Brittany Trentham (@batrentham)
I actually enjoy running solo. It gives me time to think!!
cleaneatingveggiegirl
While I love the motivation that I get from running with a running buddy, I generally like to run solo. It gives me time to myself and it doesn’t make me feel pressured to have to run faster or slower for the other person. I like to control my own pace!
jessielovestorun
Boo, wish we lived near each other. We could so do runs together!
I’m all about solo runs actually though. It’s always been my “me time”, and place to release any stress or emotions I’ve had throughout the day.
Christina Does It All
haha love the list and i wish i could run with you!
i do usually prefer running alone though. i don’t usually get or even want “me” time, and i think it’s because i get my daily fix when i run. it’s just me and my music. and occasionally an annoying or perverted car passerby. but we’ll ignore that. 😉
Khushboo Thadani
I’m the weirdo who likes a quasi-version of the 2: I love running with someone yet both of us have our music plugged in! Just the presence of someone else is such a powerful motivator to keep going!
Brittany
Oh me too me too. I used to ONLY run with my music..even with someone else running with me. I just recently let go of the music and tried running without it and now I love it!! I still listen to jams occasionally, but without is so soothing for me at times!
HollieisFueledByLOLZ
So this is such a relateable post for me. I run a lot of my runs alone (well when I wasn’t injured) and that is how I met my boyfriend! Running alone..he was running alone and then we basically started running together bahaha. I’ll run with him and a few others but that is about it.
Brittany
OK..this is the BEST “how I met my boyfriend” story. Seriously I love it.
Rach @ This Italian Family
Girl, you definitely need some pepper spray! You are too pretty to run by yourself without some sort of mace!
michaelamoran1
Love this! There’s really nothing better than an awesome run with running buddies!
Change of Pace
You should get pepper spray! We’re not allowed to carry it here, but if I lived in the States I would for sure.
I love running by myself or with my husband, but that’s about it! I’m definitely a loner when it comes to working out.
katalysthealth
I love doing things with others like playing soccer and hiking, but I do love my time alone as well. I think to me it is a greater success to be able to motivate yourself to do something when its just you. No one else is there for you to let down. So I think working out alone is really my way of testing myself in a way
cottercrunch
i teach so many exercise classes that when i do get a workout alone, i crave it. I think that’s why though. I need a social break, ya know?
Kailey
I love walking with others, but I am a solo runner through and through. I get nervous when others run faster than me/take more walking breaks/don’t take breaks, etc. It was nice running with my dad in high school since we paced the same and he was super encouraging!
Luv What You Do
I have never had a running partner, which has always made me sad. I like to run by myself in the mornings before work because it is my quiet time of the day (no head phones either) but it would be great to have a buddy for longer weekend runs. When I was marathon training, my mom rode her bike next to me for my long 16 mile+ runs, which was amazing. It totally helped push me through!
naturallybalanced
I love running with a partner mostly because of fear of going on trails alone, so I try to get Danny to come with me, buuuuut he is a very speedy runner so it will be a casual jog for him whereas I will be in a continual sprint haha. If I’m at the gym I don’t mind going by myself
Erin
I like working out with someone else. I miss having a workout buddy!
Tiff (@LoveSweatBeers)
I normally like running solo, but lately I’ve been getting creeped out for no good reason. Just for that I’ve been taking it to the treadmill – no fun!
teabagginit
I can totally understand all the reasons to run with others but I’ve always hated it! No matter what, even if I know I’m faster than the other person, I feel like I’m holding them back and I just get super anxious. Wow, I guess that says a lot about me! 🙂
Nicole Marie Story
I have the best workout partner in the world.
Her name is Gwendolyn.
She is a puggle who looks like a monkey.
You should meet her sometime. 😀
lizzyj1305
I am all about running with others! I really like running with speedy men, which is good because I don’t have a girl-friend near me who runs my same speed. I try to do at least one group run a week.
It’s hard to go from running with a friend to solo but you will get the hang!
xoxo!
Melissa @ Mouthwatering Morsel
all I do is run alone because I don’t wanna be laughed at.
but now after reading this I wish I had a running partner. 😦
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