Q: Is it possible to get to that highest level without training partners?
Hey Lauren,
Can you be a truly elite marathon runner without having running partners who would push you during the long hard runs? I’m 3 minutes away from qualifying for the olympic trials in marathon, but I always train on my own. I have a coach who gives me all the workouts, but is it possible to get to that elite level by always training by yourself? Especially when you have to do long hard runs and there is no one to push you?
Polina-Kin
A:
I love this question. And of course I have to start with the disclosure that everyone is different, blah, blah, blah, but here’s what I think. Everyone has a point they can get to on their own, and then they need help. Where that point is is different for everyone depending on a few factors:
- Experience…have you done it before?
- Running Personality…are you a lone wolf? Or a social runner?
- Support crew outside of a hard core training buddy…do you have a supportive partner? A coach on site, or long distance? A local running store that has your back and keeps tabs on you?
I spent a few years training alone, guided by a coach’s workouts, but now I’ve got a crew. The women of Little Wing often run different paces, but we sync up our schedules so we have company and accountability, and people to show off for. 🙂 We also recruit local guy friends to run with sometimes.
Qualifying for the Olympic Trials in the Marathon is hard. It is certainly possible to do it without a training partner, for some people. It doesn’t mean they are harder core, or better, or whatever. It just is. It might be due to a combination of the three factors above. Personally, I am a social runner, community driven, and if I didn’t have training partners, I wouldn’t even get out the door more than 4 days a week, and certainly wouldn’t be a pro runner. But when it’s race time, I’m internally motivated like nobody’s business. Quite frankly, I don’t know of any top pros that do it alone. But there is no one formula for what constitutes “help.” For Meb, it’s a buddy on a bike.
Anyway, I’m not doing a great job answering your question, so here’s my recommendation. Try to get a training partner. It certainly can’t hurt. Go to your local running store and ask if there’s any fast dudes who want to train for a sub 2:42 marathon in town, and I bet you’ll get an answer. That’s what I’ve done. It certainly can’t hurt. Failing that, find other people training for the same target marathon as you and sync up your workout days with them at least once a week. They might even want to follow your training program…most people don’t have a real coach…even if their paces are slower. Even in all the pro training groups I’ve been a part of, I still end up doing most of my hard workouts alone because our paces aren’t identical. But having a person to meet, warmup with, commiserate with, and share battle stories with makes a huge difference.
That OTQ is Calling. You can do this.
Lauren
I think that having a workout partner is a great way to have the motivation to keep going and getting those results, Having had a workout partner who helped me workout I got in great shape, when he stopped working out with me it was hard to maintain those results
Yes, absolutely agree on 3 factors you mentioned above. On the other hand, I think the main cause to get to that highest level is depend on your desire. If you really want to do it. Nothing can stop it! of course “without training partner” shall not be a barrier.
This is an interesting question, and I think the answer you provided shows how hard it can be to nail down one approach for everybody. I am not an elite runner but probably run more miles than most people who share my age, gender, and profession.
For the past few years, I have focused on running alone and have been doing better that way. My long runs in particular have been targeted solo runs because I am training my brain as much as my body on those. Unless I plan to run the marathon with someone else, then I better be able to know my triggers and develop some tools for getting through the tough on my own. On race day, I will have the benefit of the course support to keep me company, but that is not the same as someone running beside you. I also really want the chance to run the way my body is ready to run that day, which is not always what I predict. Running better than planned can only happen when I run by myself it seems. I generally do my long runs with as few stops as possible and those only long enough to do what needs doing. I see others running with small groups who stop more often and then seem to linger and then slowly wander back into the run. That is nice for a casual run with friends but really disrupts what I usually hope to get out of a long training run.
For the rest of my daily runs, I either run alone or with my husband for flexibility. Doing my own thing means every day can be customized to how much sleep I need, how I am feeling that day, what time I have to get to work, whether my dog was sick that morning, or whatever. My husband is flexible enough that we can take these things into account and make it all work based on a few minutes’ conversation before bedtime. If I had to coordinate every run with someone else, it would be such a burden that I would be less likely to do it. In my case, meeting someone would require driving and sometimes packing up shower gear, work clothes, and my food for the day the night before. It’s just a lot more work when compared to stepping outside the door, waiting just long enough to acquire GPS, and going. Running from the house by myself or with husband easily saves an hour a day in packing and driving. I don’t have any trouble getting out the door in the dark by myself for a solitary hour or two, so this works for me. If you choose people to run with, you have to be pretty selective about how reliable they are, where and when they will meet you, and how much they might affect the workout you hope to do that day.
All that said, on the rare occasions when I really ramped up my mileage, I sought running company for generally my second run of the day just for variety and because aiming for volume over other things gave me more flexibility in being social over being specific about the workout.
So this super long reply is just intended to point out all the considerations that go into running with other people versus running solo. There might not be one good answer even for the same person all the time. The best way to get better is through consistency, so whatever way gets you more consistent might be the way you choose to train.
I always find it so hard meeting someone who wants to do the same things as me, is flexible (as I have children) and can motivate me enough to push myself!! But then, if I fancy a hard 3 mile run right there and then I’m on my own anyway!!! Great article!!!
I personally feel that you can’t …. the motivation and knowledge that someone external to us provides is invaluable to helping one reach their peak!
I agree, it definitely depends on who you are. It goes back to the training principle of individuality. some people just do better under social conditions and some on their own. I believe more people strive as social runners because the support system helps with motivation, but I have met plenty of people… aka my father-in-law, who are very self motivated through their routines. Great Post Lauren!
It’s all about holding yourself accountable. If you can’t do that then you have to train with a group of people who will 🙂
Nice post and l agree that at times one needs a partner to reach a certain level when it comes to running….
When answers recognize the individuality of the runner, they make sense to me. What is helpful for one isn’t helpful for another. What is productive in one situation because of your intention or purpose may not be in different circumstances. However,what makes most sense in your answer to me is experimentation. Whenever we’re confronted with choices, it’s natural to fall into the mentality of either-or. Experiment and learn. Be open and learn. Good answers for many questions in life.
I believe the fact, it definitely relies on who you are. It goes back to the training concept of personality.
I agree really. It relies on what and who you are.
A piece of eruoitidn unlike any other!
I think, i depends on who you are and who you train with. Based on my experience, some people can push me beyond my limits, but some can demotivate me and set me back…
Interesting question, and I like your answers.
I did also notice more of an improvement when I started running with a partner. Maybe is because we both motivate each other and also have a bit of friendly competition to stay on top of our game 🙂
My husband and I run together, he is much more acquired to running, so I just try to keep up. But I would not be able to run at all if it were not for his support and encouragement through it.
I am a huge supporter of group exercising for encouragement and boost.
Good luck, get those 3 minutes (:
I really liked this post. I have basically always had a running partner (or two). I love them and I love our runs. There is nothing like sharing a good run with another person and keeping each other accountable when its training time, etc. THAT BEING SAID, I have lately run alone more. There is something about running that gets you in touch with places within yourself that no other activity does. Your article is geared toward traning with a goal (time) in mind, so I think its a little different for me who is at this point simply training for life. I love how you describe yourself as a social runner. So am I. But I hear you when you also say that when it comes to competition you are internally motivated. I think it is important to stay in touch with that and to run alone on occassion while training to really do that. Thanks for your blog!
Having a workout partner or group is great, but reaching a goal on your own can be very rewarding too. However, working out with a partner can sometimes push you further because everyone has a bit of competitiveness to them. For myself, sometimes when I run by myself I may stop because “I think” I’m tired. But when I run with friends I never stop, and that’s because I am so competitive and do not want to be known as the person who stopped and held up the group. While everyone is different, it probably is a good idea to mix it up and train by yourself and with others.
Good luck!
Work done! It is so good to hear these words from a tainer. I mean you need a trainer to follow your actions. And when you`re done and have good results, it`s good to hear these words from an experienced person (in that field).
Finding partners where I live is soo hard! So I have started to include my children in my workout…it benefits all of us 🙂
I agree when it comes to having a running partner, to each its own. I have been a lone runner all my life and I always liked it that way but there is one thing I have noticed lately, having some body around, sitting, watching you run and gives you feedback after you are through, makes a huge positive difference to your performance on subsequent days.