The Benefits of Running with Friends
The Benefits of Running with Friends
Whether you're an elite athlete or just lacing up your running shoes for the first time, running with a friend can benefit you in more ways than just a smile on your face at the finish line.
Motivation: There is no denying that running is hard, but sharing that experience and success with friends makes all the difference. They can motivate you to keep training and running further distances without getting bored or discouraged.
Faster Pace: Sometimes friends can turn into the perfect competition. One of the greats, Eliud Kipchoge, has shared that he would not be where he is now without his running group. They encourage each other and work towards their personal goals together, so when it comes to race day, they can break records.
Connections and Belonging: Although running is technically a solo sport, the running community is one of the strongest. Having people around while accomplishing goals not only inspires you, but also inspires the people and friends around you. This is especially true running in the electric Friday night atmosphere at America’s Mile presented by VisitPITTSBURGH where you can celebrate at the after party at Mike’s Beer Bar!
Lifestyle Change: The friends that surround you influence the choices you make outside of your runs as well. Encouraging friends to join you for runs also encourages the opportunity for healthy ways to fuel the body, such as eating and drinking properly, getting enough rest, and engaging in other healthy activities.
Safety: Runners who run long distances travel many miles outside in different locations. Having friends creates safety in numbers in case any emergencies happen during the run. Regardless, it is always important to let a friend know the location where you are running.
Physical Wellbeing: Talking and laughing while running helps you have a better run for your body and heart rate. Runners tend to focus on their heart rate zones during training, with one of the most important ones being Zone 2. To achieve this zone, the runner has to be calm and comfortable enough to speak, also known as a “conversational pace”. The more you can talk your friend’s ear off, the better!
After all the hard work you put in while running, it is time to experience the best benefit you get from running with a friend, sharing the race day. Looking for a race? Come join us for America’s Mile on July 11, 2025, and bring all your friends! More information on signing up can be found here.