Running SoLo or Why Hard Exercise Feels Worse When You’re Alone

outsideonline.com/2412178/p...

Ah, so that's why I dread the long solo run. Interesting stuff about the virtual training, recently I did a skierg thing that just got harder as the days wore on, hard as in longer but also harder as in just turning up to do it. So I used the pace skier which gave me a virtual competitor that I had to keep up with and then being competitive with myself beat to the line. In the end, I slowed the pacesetter down just a bit as the cumulative stress grew over the days of the challenge, that took the stress out of keeping up out of the equation and resulted in better average times. It's all in the head I tell you this exercise lark!!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Interesting! I had no idea I was so competitive. For 58 years it hid quietly, but now I can't deny it - only with myself, but it's fierce 🤣.

I definitely agree, a huge proportion of the physical push is in the head, not just the perception of success v failure but also a very real impact on the numbers.

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

We are all wired differently. I am very happy running on my own and all but one of my current PBs have happened in solo runs, but, all Park runs, except my first, were PBs (so 6 in a row) and my only 10k race was a PB at the time. Running with others upped my pace because it changed my perception of what was possible...so I tried harder, but then carried that confidence on into my solo runs and managed to run faster still. Interesting. 🙂

[Hidden in reply to Beachcomber66]

It's when the guinea pigs were told they working below their best they believed it and responded even though they were on thier recorded limit. Trying to figure out how to convince myself on that one

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Hidden]

Oh no , I have been brainwashed 🇬🇳 🐷 ! 😊

[Decker Ultramarathon]

Great article. Our minds are such slippery things aren’t they? I’ve had wonderful solo runs and some just awful ones. Some are full on surprises and others are fully expected. The weather has much to do with my run moods and some deeper instinct thats harder to pin down.

[Hidden]

Absolutely. It's interesting when a new pair of trainers or any other new kit for that matter seems to gift free speed only to cruelly disappear the next day or when the weather can either inspire us to go for it or pull up the duvet and say not today thanks.

[sTrongFuse Half Marathon 10 Miles]

It's odd but I much prefer solo running. I enkoyvthe occasional companionship of parkrun or an organised event run but 90%+ of my running has always been solitary and I prefer it that way.

[misswobble Marathon in reply to sTrongFuse]

Me too. I Detest waiting about. I want to go when it suits me. This is, I think, years of waiting for my sister, who would keep me waiting still had I not dispensed with her tardiness 🙂

She who travels alone sorta thing 🙂

I like parkrun occasionally. I used to be in a very local run group but it fizzled out

I think it teaches us much about ourselves