Running has become a time that I really enjoy. I usually run alone, sometimes with music or podcasts playing. It’s “me time” – time where I don’t need to think about anyone else but the path ahead of me.
That’s why 6 months go when my friend Robyn put out the call for friends to run her first 8k with her, I hesitated. Run with someone else? Of course I’ve seen those kind of runners on my own runs – running buddies who seem to be chatting effortlessly while running. What!?!
See, although I consider myself a runner now, it’s still not easy for me. The first mile is usually still a challenge to get through, especially when I haven’t run for several days. I breathe hard.
Can you run and talk at the same time? I didn't think I could! Click To TweetSo although the distance of an 8k wasn’t necessarily the challenging part, running with another person was the part I felt challenged by. As an introvert, I could do things all day, everyday by myself and not notice that I haven’t spoken to another person all day. This tendency isn’t healthy though and I know it. It takes extra effort for me to actually reach out and set up a time to see friends, but I’m never sorry after I do it. It’s always life-giving.
So I told Robyn that I would run the race with her and we signed up in June.
Photo by Amanda Capasso
Training
Training for this 8k was not as strenuous as training for the Broad Street Run which is 10 miles. An 8k is 5 miles, and definitely challenging for me, but not to the same extent.
The majority of my training was running at least 2 miles twice a week. The last few weeks I increased the mileage by a half mile each run. I never completed a 5 mile run before the race. The longest run I did was 4 miles the week before the Rothman 8k.
As for running with another person, Robyn and I only ran once together before the race. Robyn and I both have 3 kids and with our hectic lives that’s what we could manage. When we did run together though – it was fun!
Running with Another Person
I know Robyn frequently runs with other people so before we set off I nervously checked in with her about how we would do this.
Me: “Um, I usually run with headphones and music on.”
Robyn: “Sure that’s fine. We can run together with our headphones on or we can talk. Whatever you want.”
Hmmmm, what did I want?
I wanted to be able to run and chat with a friend, but I had never tried it.
We ran a little over 3 miles that day and talked the whole time. It was great! Robyn and I have kids that are all roughly the same ages. We’re in the middle of a very involved high school application process for our oldest sons and commiserated about the process. We caught up about the rest of our children, my husbands, our churches. It was life-giving.
Rothman 8k
The race was on 11/21 at 7:30am starting on the Parkway near the art museum. Robyn and I met another friend, Meredith, who was running the race as well.
One of the best things about running races is being able to run in the middle of the street – you get to see the city from a whole new perspective. There’s always a friendly and excited feeling in the air before, during, and after races that I really enjoy.
Robyn, Meredith, and I kept ourselves at a slow but steady pace. We only stopped and walked once to drink some water halfway through. We didn’t chat during the race – we each listened to our playlists and focused on the road ahead of us, but there was a sense of companionship that was nice.
At around mile 3.5 I had to step up the pace because of a sudden need to find the nearest port a potty, which turned out to be at the finish line. I left Meredith and Robyn and finished a little ahead of them at a little under an hour. I was so preoccupied with finding the nearest port a potty that I missed my chance to give our mayor a high-five at the finish line!
Myself, Meredith, and Robyn showing off our spiffy medals!
So whether it is the distance (8k vs. 5k, Half marathon vs. 10 mile run), or another factor (like running with friends), I’m still learning how good it is to accept challenges and try new things. My preference will always be to run solo most of the time, but now I know that I can run and talk to a friend at the same time! Both are life-giving!
What new thing can you try in the next few months?
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I am also a solitary runner. It is the only time that my brain is quiet. I ran a women’s half-marathon a few years ago and signed up for a training group through the local running store. Having accountability motivated me to get my miles in, when I would rather slack off. I was really out of my comfort zone running with other women, I must say. I work in IT, so I am not around women a lot. But I’m glad I did it, because it was a challenge for me.
That’s great Jill. I’ve never done a training group but I imagine that that helps. My sister did one for a marathon she did years ago and I know it was helpful to her
Great going Angela!!
Thanks Melinda!
ahhh there is a locally owned running store WALKING DISTANCE from me.
I need to go in and ask about running groups.
THIS MONTH 🙂
Let me know if you do it Carla – and how it is for you!
I’m happy to run with friends, though I’m usually the one slowing everyone down, but I do have to have music when I run. I usually just run with one earbud in so I can also chat 🙂
One earbud in – that’s an idea! Thanks for sharing Suzanna. It really was fun so I’ll have to try and schedule some more runs in with friends.
I’m a solitary runner. I haven’t found any friends who are willing to run as slow as I do. HAHA! But I love the idea of trying something you’re not sure about before making up your mind.
Hi Sarah! If you’re in Philadelphia, we’ll run with you! We are all pretty slow but steady.
I run by myself too…but I will be running the Big Sur marathon with a friend in April! I’m not so worried about it because we plan on taking it slow and enjoying the ride. If I were racing tho, I wouldn’t run with anyone. I just can’t.
A marathon! That’s great Wendy. I’m a big supporter of taking it slow and enjoying the ride!
I completely do my running alone – not good at keeping up with another person’s pace. Yet I have ran a mud run with a friend and it was fun to go with a partner. 😀
Hi Ally! A mud run – now that sounds like a challenge! We were all pretty slow runners so it wasn’t too bad staying together.
I would love to run with a friend but I can’t seem to find anyone near me who runs haha And I don’t run all the time, but I think I would run more if I had someone holding me to it!
It’s true Alexandra. It’s hard to coordinate runs with friends, although I do know of a couple of people who have runs scheduled weekly which is such a lovely idea. I hope you can find a running buddy to keep you company!
Great job, Angela! I’m totally with you, I’m not sure that I could run while talking! I definitely breathe too hard, but maybe I could work up to it! Or run slower. 🙂 I may have to try it out with my sister! Thanks for the encouragement!
I breathe hard too Hannah – which is masked by the music I usually listen to! We ran pretty slowly which was fine with me!
I have a hard time running with others too, but mostly because I’m so slow! I like having someone else to motivate me, though 🙂
Thanks so much for joining the Alder Collective this week again! Pinning!