There is still a stereotype that exists about running: that it is an individual sport and a solo pursuit. Across the world, however, more and more informal running groups and running communities are springing up.

This series of blogs aims to give voice to those groups – celebrating the power and impact of running with others.

Why running?

If you surveyed 100 runners and asked the question: “Why you do go running?” You would be presented with a huge range of answers.

Motivation in any field is complex, and the reasons why people lace up their shoes and head out the door embody this.

For some it will be intrinsic: an internal drive or motivation, such as the sheer enjoyment you can experience from being out in the fresh air and exercising.

For others it will extrinsic: done for some external reward, such as smashing your 5k PB. For most of us runners, it will likely to be a cocktail mix of the two.

One thing that can support your motivation in running, however, is something that combines both extrinsic and intrinsic factors – running with others. 

Accountability

The word motivation comes originally from the Latin term ‘movere’, meaning to move. That is interesting from a running perspective: we might feel motivated to run internally, but unless we take the practical steps to move, we don’t act on the motivated feelings.

When you are part of a group, or you have arranged to meet someone to go for a run, you leave behind the procrastination that we runners can often fall into.

Yesterday, for me, was an example of this. I rarely drink much these days, but I had been out socially the night before and was feeling a little fragile (that may be somewhat understated!). Running was absolutely not what I wanted to be doing. If I didn’t have a 7.30 pm group run organised, I would have very likely not run.

This accountability works on a number of levels. Most obviously it is that you don’t want to let people down and you feel obliged to see plans through. The internal excuses I know I often give myself (yesterday: I’m too tired), are often ones we wouldn’t want to vocalise to others. The expectation from others that you will show up helps you to focus on the benefits you will feel after the run, not the feelings of reluctance before.

As last week’s blog highlighted, running with others deepens relationships and making commitments is a clear part of that. It’s not often I will quote Oprah Winfrey in this blog, but her statement that “running is the greatest metaphor for life, because you get out of it what you put into it,” is as true for running as it is relationships.

Having those social runs as regular commitments also helps with motivation– my Sunday evenings always have a 7.30pm run with others, and that has helped me to make sure I prioritise it. That again helps to provide the consistency that will help us to improve.

Running Role Models

Running with others can be hugely inspiring in motivating and pushing you on in your own training.

That could be related to some extrinsic factors: someone you run with might have recently inspired you in a race they completed, or by getting a new PB they have trained towards. By talking to them about it, hearing about their training, seeing how they might be running with you, your own drive to hit your running targets can increase. These success stories are necessary to help fuel the competitiveness runners need.

That can also be intrinsic. I was fortunate to be running with someone again this morning who was talking to me about the role running has played in his life since he retired. It was a great reminder to me about how running can provide a purpose and help to energise you. One of my own goals is to be a life-long runner, and I found this morning’s run really motivating in that regard.

Easy Miles

One final point about running with others and its ability to motivate us. When you run with someone the run almost magically becomes easier. Perhaps it is we become less self-involved, less preoccupied by any discomfort or struggle we might be feeling – or indeed by the obsessive checking of our watches.

Time seems to move quicker, and what might have been a sludge through a few miles seems to pass easily and enjoyably.

So, if you want to improve your running motivation, go with a run with someone else this week!

Read Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates us by Daniel H Pink

Listen: The Running Channel ‘Easy way to boost Running Motivation’.