The Downside of Running with a Group
Monday morning I woke up tired and a little achy but decided to go on my group run anyway. Bad idea. Normally I would not have run, I would have taken a rest day. After all I did run a 10k race on Saturday, and then ran in the 5K with my daughter on Sunday. And although the run with my daughter was easy it was still running. I show showed to running group and found out the leader had speed drills and other taxing things planned, I really did not foresee any problems until I started running. As soon as I started running I could tell my legs were tired. I couldn’t even keep up with the warm up pace. After a half mile warm up we were supposed to run a fast mile. I tried to pick up the pace, but my ITB tightened up and then I got a severe pain in my inner thigh. I fell further and further behind. I tried to stretch and walked a bit. When I tried to run again the pain came right back. I decided to call it a day, I caught up to the group, while they where running up and down stairs and told the leader what was going on and said I was just going to call it a day. .
I think I would have been fine running a nice turtle paced 3 miler, but speed work was to much. I will probably be cutting back on my group runs and only do them if they fit in with my running schedule. Maybe only once a week, instead of twice. Group runs can be nice, but not being able to set my own pace and listen to my body is going to get me in deep trouble in the long run.
Tuesday I did not run, instead I attended a spin class. And today I went out for a run without my Garmin, it was nice to just run what felt good and not worry about my pace. I went for what I know to be approximately 5 miles based on past runs. It was drizzling part of the time and just plain old humid the rest of the time, but I thoroughly enjoyed my run. I felt a bit of pain around mile three but then slowed down and was fine, stretched and spent some time on the foam roller and now my legs feel great.
Filed under: Running Blog
I love running on my own. Granted it would be nice to have some girlfriends to run with once in a while, group running would not work for me. Some days i’m with it and other days i wanna be by myself. As group as i get, is running on the treadmill hour after hour all by my lonesome and i have the time of my life.
I like running with people when possible but ultimately end up running solo most of the time. I do know that when I have run with others my pace is better and I’m getting a better workout but sometimes that’s not what is needed. Sometimes you need to run “just because” and don’t need others pushing you beyond your limits (on THAT day). It sounds like you know when to push it and when to relax. Sorry to here that the group run was a drag and I would encourage you to just enjoy YOUR run and save up your energy for the next butt kicking race!
All the best!
I have never run with a group and don’t really have a desire to do so. I am so focused on my own running that I think it would just hinder me. I enjoy races with others, but I’m still in my own “zone”.
Hang in there and do what is best for yourself (running wise, anyway!)
Gina
I used to love running with a group and must admit I miss the social aspect of it-the sharing of goals, information, race war stories. I supplement that need on twitter now.
I think the built in peer pressure is good for getting you out of bed for that 17 mile training run you are on the fence about and you’d rather stay in bed. Also, I can tell you that I was grateful someone had taken the time to lay out water while I brought the energy gel.
That being said, when your body is screaming “rest,” you need to listen to it. I used to do group long runs 70% of the time, and then oaccasional track workouts. I say good call for packin it in.
Taking some days off can really bring back the enthusiasm for running. I hope you are better now. Take care of yourself.
I’m part of a running group, too! And on THOSE kind of days, I skip my group run. On some days, I know I just need to do my own thing or REST. But I totally understand the “downside”!
It is very important to make yourself number one when it comes to training. Like you I have gone along with the flow in recent times and it has not done me any good. So you are correct to make your schedule and stick to it.
Thanks for all the feedback..I think most of us agree, groups have their positives. Company, encouragement, motivation, and sometimes our peers give us that extra little push we need. But there are times that we need to just skip out so that we can go at our own pace or just recover. Thanks again for all your kind words and encouragement.
Gah! That sort of group run wouldn’t be my thing, either! Makes me appreciate the very, very casual nature of our running club: “Show up and move.” We have walkers and sprinters, and everybody does their own thing for an hour before going for coffee.