This week's TiaRT is turning the tables and letting us and ask questions of our fellow running bloggers. Since you guys have unknowingly bestowed upon me such invaluable running wisdom during my almost daily lurks on your blogs, it is kind of appropriate that I want to pose a question about running buddies.
Last night, I met up with New Friend Natalie, who I am running a half-marathon with in May. It will be the second for both of us, though she has also run a marathon. It will be my 12th road race, and the first one I've ever trained for with someone else.
Over dinner, we chatted about speed workouts and long runs and race shwag, and it was all very exciting to think about. However, now I am starting to get a little nervous. My first year of running was entirely solo, save for races and the one time I ran with my brother for about a mile until his IT band acted up.
So many of you talk about your running pals and support groups, and it all sounds so great, but what happens when one pal is significantly faster than the other? Is it a hindrance to the faster pal, or a painful annoyance to the slower?
My question to you, oh wise running bloggers, is how do you make your running relationships work?
Signed,
Commitmentshy
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6 comments:
I have a friend who is quite a bit faster than me. But I actually find I run really well with her ... though, I can't actually run with her.
I try to keep her in my sight as she zips along, and I tend to push myself more than if I was running alone. She'll circle back whenever she pulls too far ahead and join me for a minute before she's off again.
I've also been running with a slower friend, but it's been a great way to incorporate tempo runs. I'm running eight minutes with her at a pace a little bit slower than my usual, and then sprinting for 45 seconds. When I'm done with the fast part, I'll jog back to her and pick up the slower pace again.
It's much more fun, though, when everybody is running the same pace!
I actually enjoy training with faster runners as it helps improve my speed as well. Since I have also run with slower runners before I can tell you that it is not at all annoying, and I bet you will be able to keep up with your faster running buddy in no time.
It can work both ways. I'm often a solo runner as well, but I enjoy getting together with people faster than me -- it forces me to go faster, and I openly tell them to not slow down because of me. On the flip side, I enjoy running with slower people too. It'll make them work harder, but at the same time it might slow me down when I need to take it easy.
For me it is just about having someone out there with me. Sometimes the hardest part is just lacing up - once you hit the trail it is all good. Whether they are behind me or in front of me, just knowing someone is there keeps me going. I tell people right from the start my times. I would never expect a faster runner to stay with me, nor have any of my slower friends expected me to stay with them. That doesn't mean we don't incorporate runs where we do run together, run routes that pass each other, etc however, personally for me it is just about knowing someone else is out there.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment!
Since everyone is faster than me, I have a lot of experience with this one. I know my limits and know my friends potential and find a happy place in between. I find that I have to choose the days when we can run together (side by side) and the days when we show up together or support our running via email and phone calls.
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