7 Benefits of Running Alone

Written by
Dorothy Beal
Running alone gives you the opportunity to disconnect from others while reconnecting with yourself. Consider adding a solo run to your weekly routine if you haven't already. It may be just what you needed.
It gives you a chance to listen to your body.
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There is a lot to be learned about pacing if you take the time to listen to what your body is saying. Listen to the sound of your breath. Is it labored when it shouldn't be? Do you need to slow down your breathing to find your rhythm during a speed workout? What does the sound of your feet hitting the ground tell you? Are you shuffling? Do you need to quicken your stride? You can glean helpful feedback from your body if you're open to hearing the quiet sounds that often speak loudly on solo ventures.
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It can give you confidence in other areas of your life.
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There is something to be said for setting an intention and accomplishing it on your own. Running alone gives you a chance to feel the sweet satisfaction that comes with completing something by yourself. Running with a friend is often collaborative. Friends keep you moving when you'd rather quit, lending their words and motivation to help get you to the finish. When you run alone, it's just you versus you. The feeling of nailing an intimidating speed workout on your own can carry over into the rest of your personal and professional life. The confidence that follows can empower you to dream bigger when it comes to both your running and non-running goals.
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Connect with nature.
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For many runners a run offers up the opportunity to listen to--and appreciate--the little things we are often too busy to notice. Birds chirping as they flit about chasing each other in the sunlit sky, leaves rustling by our feet, dancing as the wind swirls them around; It's easy to miss these things when distracted by conversation.
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You control the pace.
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Beyond the emotional reasons for running alone there are practical reasons to add solo runs to your weekly schedule. If you are training for a race with a goal time in mind, there are likely very specific pace zones that you need to train in for certain runs. It's easy to get sucked into running faster or slower than you need to on group runs. While it's certainly okay to stray from the intended pace every once in a while, consistently doing this on every run sets you up for failure come race day.
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There's nothing to coordinate.
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It's really nice running with friends. The miles fly by--or, at the very least, you have someone you can commiserate with over its length and difficulty. However, when you are trying to maximize what little time you have to fit in runs, a solo run gives you a break from coordinating your busy schedule with your friends. Last minute changes don't affect anyone but you.
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The mileage is up to you.
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One of the beautiful things about running alone is that you can choose how far you want to run, how fast and where you want to go. There is no planning involved unless of course you want to plan. If you are out on a five-mile run and feel great and want to run farther, you don't have to check in with anyone to see if that is okay. Conversely, if it's just not your day and you want to head back home and try the run a different day, it doesn't impact anyone else.
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It's great mental training.
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If you are planning on racing alone, the importance of the mental training that comes from running alone is paramount. When the going gets tough during a race, you'll be able to pull from previous runs during which you overcame struggles all on your own. You may discover that the solo runs that were the hardest for you, whether because of distance or speed or both, are the runs that you gain the most benefit from.
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Find:
Your Next Race