Does anyone else hate running with other people?

I feel the same way a lot of the time. sometimes I do enjoy running with people, especially on workout days but other than that I love to run by myself.

I wish I had someone to run with once a week. But I don't, and I'm fine with it. I like running alone. But company would be nice on those days that you want to go either really easy or really fast.

I am kind of the same way. I like do almost all my easy runs alone, all my tempos alone, and all my sprint work alone. The only type of runs I like to do with other people are hard intervals, especially longer repeats like 1000-1600. It really helps having someone to push you those last few intervals when you're tired.

I also like to train alone. There always seems to be a lot of politics involved when you are doing workouts with others to. For example, my coach was having us run 400s in 70 sec and while two of the guys were running them in 34/36 running high 70/low 71, i was running them in 35/35 so it looked like i was behind the first 200 then i was trying to beat everyone in the last 200. So of course one of the guys was getting pissed off. I can come up with many examples along these lines.

I don't like most people's idea of having to conform to someone else's pace either. Telling a group of ten guys to run ten miles easy together means that sum are running faster and others slower then what their easy pace is. If you check out chasingkimbia.com you will see that one day when the guys were all out for an easy run, Matt asked Dieter why the guys aren't running together where in some cases they were only ten meters behind the next guys, why did they not just catch up with the other guy? Dieter said something along the lines that everyone has their own pace that is easy for them and it changes from day to day.

Don't necessarily "hate;" it's not my preference. But nowadays it's as much or more of not having the time or schedule that's compatible running with others. With a house, family, and other priorities, I found to continue decent training I've had to eliminate "running-related things that aren't actually running," e.g. traveling to places to run and meeting groups at the typical 5:30-6:30 pm weeknight times (my work schedule is 7-3:30) or post-0700 weekend times.

I'm the exact opposite. I prefer to run in groups for all my runs. High school and college teammates are what have made the sport most enjoyable for me. On easier recovery days or warm ups before workouts its great to hear some good stories. Obviously when it gets down to business I feel that running workouts with one or two other people who are at a similar level is extremely helpful.

I will admit the occasional night run alone is definitely a pleasure.

Train/run alone pretty well all of my running career...used to run with a group, once used to meet up with someone or two - three people to do a specific w-out or run.

Those were in my competitive days. Nowadays run on my own.

Yes, I also hate running by myself though.

I guess it depends. Intervals I find a lot easier and enjoyable with a group of people (i think it's the competitive aspect but honestly it's been a while for me and intervals).

I really don't like running long runs with faster people because I'm afraid I will get left behind.

fownaq wrote:

With an attitude like that, your post probably describes your love life too.

Maybe. But I think the opposite can be equally or more true. I find that so much of work, social, and family life is about accommodating other people and running is a break from that. It's a time where I can do what I want, avoid what I don't want, think about what I want rather than talk with someone about what they're interested in.

If I had to run with someone most of the time I think I mught quit. But if I lived alone I might really enjoy the company and socialing that goes with running with someone.

I like easy runs and intervals with a group. It makes the easy run more fun and the intervals more easy.

I prefer doing tempo runs and long runs by myself most of the time. Out of all the people who've ever run with me, I've only found 3-4 ever with whom I like doing long runs. They're people who naturally run near my pace, don't try to be a half step ahead, and feel comfortable not talking continually.

I feel like running is my escape from having to deal with other people. I like to compete, but as far as the training aspect goes I run too slow or too fast when I am with my teammates. I am on a wll known d1 team and barely get any scholarship(books), I know for a fact if I could train on my own and run everyday to fit my needs and nobody elses I could do a whole lot better. Writing up a training regimine would not be too difficult, I grew up in the sport and I know many great coaches. This sounds kind of selfish, but What do you guys think?

If you think you can hack serious training 100% on your own, go for it. But remember, it's easy to say you want to train by yourself on days when you're feeling good and motivated. It's those days when it's 40 degrees and raining, or you're tired after a day of school/work when you'll miss the group pulling you along.

I'm a few years out of college and living in an area with no other competitive runners. I train maybe 97-98% on my own now (only other runs are slow jogs with my girlfriend), and while most of the time it's not bad, some days it takes everything I've got just to get out the door. It's a lot harder than I thought it would be, after spending almost 8 years running 90% of my runs with someone else. If you've got the personality for solo training, try it out!

I usually like having people to run with, but I always run my long run alone. This is the only run that I absolutely hate running with other people. I have a pretty specific way that I pace my long runs and having other people with me throws that off. I do mine as a progression run. I start off fairly easy and as I warm up, I pick up the pace so that the last 30 minutes or so I'm flying and it feels completely effortless. The people I run with like to go at a steady pace the whole time, so when I run with them, I'm starting faster and finishing slower that usual.

yes for most of my runs. i run at 5:30 am. i'm super slow for the first few miles because at 5:15, i am still snoozing. i.e. 10+ min pace and i don't want to chat. it's painful enough to start a run in the morning let alone have some bright and cheery person want to chatter.

but, after spending alot of time doing speedwork on my own, i've learned to really appreciate other people for intervals and tempos.

Zeeba Neighba wrote:

Don't necessarily "hate;" it's not my preference. But nowadays it's as much or more of not having the time or schedule that's compatible running with others. With a house, family, and other priorities, I found to continue decent training I've had to eliminate "running-related things that aren't actually running," e.g. traveling to places to run and meeting groups

Ditto here. I enjoy running with others when the opportunity presents itself, but traveling around and running at inconvenient times outweighs the group benefits because you come home and have to scramble to take care of whatever business needs to be taken care of and end up with much less sleep, all in the name of running with other people in some inconvenient location. It just isnt worth spending 2-3 hours of time to get in an hour of running. Running alone from a convenient location, the hour run doesnt take two hours. If I have two-three hours to use, I would rather run longer by myself than run shorter with company.

With respect to actual workouts, its hard to find people who want to do tempo runs or long repeats. Everyone is fairly keen on running quarters or the obligatory 400-800-1200-1600 ladder every week, but there aren't too many takers when you suggest 3 x 2 miles or 10k continuous.

I use to run 3 or days a week with a partner but then moved to another state and have since trained exclusively on my own since there are very few runners here. Now I love running on my own. It's just me and my trails for 7 to 10 miles a day. My dog tags along for some of the miles and every once in a while one of my kids will run a mile or two with me. I like the time alone. I like the quiet.