Why you should consider buddying-up on your next run

Posted April 29th, 2007 at 12:00 PM by Lisa Cieplechowicz

Section: Running & Training, Motivation, Training Tips, Health & Fitness, Exercise

running with dogs For most people running is a solitary venture, but buddying-up, either with a four-legged friend or acquaintance, is actually beneficial.

For starters, having someone depending on you is motivational. It’s easy to make excuses for yourself, but it’s harder to cancel on a friend, especially when you’ve both cleared your schedules to make time for each other. As a matter of fact, recent studies have shown people who run with a group or partner are more likely to stick with it in the long run.

Besides the motivation, studies have also shown that running in pairs or groups provides greater health benefits. Either way you’re getting a physical workout, yet scientists now believe that the social aspect of running with a partner can help stimulate growth of new brain neurons and provide better stress relief than running in isolation. In other words, by partnering up you are able to reap greater physical and mental benefits from your running workouts!

Of course, a little friendly competition never hurt anybody either. Knowing someone else is with you can be just the push you need to run harder and faster than you might have solo. This is why you should aim for someone who is on the same level or is slightly more experience. Your partner should help you improve and challenge you at times.

If you find yourself with a partner with different capabilities, there are still ways to adjust and make it work. For instance, if your partner runs at a slower pace you can choose to run with them during recovery workouts or days that you would like to concentrate on your form.

If you happen to be the slower runner, allow yourself to be challenged while also realizing your own limits. running with golden retriver You don’t want to hurt yourself running at a pace that’s too fast (check out more tips on how to deal with differences in partner ability at Just Your Average Joggler or Find Articles).

Still prefer to run alone? If so, then you should consider turning to man’s best friend. Running with a dog has many of the same benefits as running with a person. You’ll still have someone depending on you and there to push you.

So the next time you plan on going out for a run, think about calling up a friend. You’ve got nothing to lose and a whole lot to gain!

For more information on running with a partner, check out: [WalkAboutMag.com], [Hey! Jogging is easy!], [Lifescript.com]

NOTE: Amanda Black also contributed to this article.

PHOTOS: Running with dog(s) (Courtesy of CardioCanine.com); Running partners in action (Courtesy of My Running/Outdoors Page)

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