RUNNING SOLO
Turns out that training in solitude comes with some tremendous perks…
Words: Louise Pyne
Running alone doesn’t mean you have to miss out on a sense of community
There are plenty of benefits that come with turning your fitness regime into a social event. You can catch up with a buddy as you pound the pavements, use your lunch break to squeeze in a motivating workout with a colleague, or take part in a weekly running group where you meet like-minded people with similar goals. But sometimes nothing beats the thrill of getting your sweat on alone.
The trance-like effect that soars through your body as you find your natural rhythm, and the exhilarating rush of endorphins that quickly surges as you feel your feet hit the ground are heightened when you’re running distraction-free.
“The sense of community and camaraderie when running with others can be fun, but there are benefits to running alone too,” says head of content at The Running Channel, Anna Harding. So whether you need that extra bit of headspace to de-stress from daily pressures or want to run in solitude to help push yourself further, we’ve got the fundamentals of solo running covered.
Socially smart
If you’ve decided solo running is for you, there are plenty of complementary tools that can help to spur on your performance and enable you to still feel connected with others. One of the most effective ways is to share your training plans on social media.