There are times when I set off for my running-group sessions with little enthusiasm. It might be because I'm tired, or stressed, or have had to unwillingly tear myself away form something else. I'm the coach, so I can't choose to give it a miss.
It was yet another cold, dark, wet evening and i wasn't feeling the love as I gathered all the necessary outfits—head torch, reflective waterproof jacket, hat and gloves. No one in their right mind will come out in this weather, I thought. But when I turned into the car park, my headlights picked out runners making a dash through the rain to our meeting point, where others were already working out to stay warm, with chat, laughter and hugs. They, too, I realized, might be tired, stressed or busy. But, unlike me, they had a choice abo9ut whether to come running or stay at home. And that makes their decision to come —and to keep on coming —all the more uplifting. As on so many other occasions, I went home from the run feeling better than when I'd arrived.
I believe one of the strongest motivations behind these runners' decisions to come along is being part of a group. Belonging to a running community makes running greater than the sum of its parts. It's no longer just a workout; it's a catch-up with friends, a laugh and a shared experience. It provides a space to share your running triumphs and disappointments, to be congratulated and comforted, and, just as important, to congratulate and comfort others.
Research has long shown the likelihood of staying motivated is higher when exercise takes place in a group. The reasons are many. A study at the University of Southern California found people enjoy physical activity more when the y are with others and are more likely to keep it up over the long term. There's also an element of social facilitation—an "I'm not going to let XX beat me" attitude that drives you to push harder and produces a greater sense of achievement. And research by Strava in 2017 found running in a group made runners go faster and further. Using data from 90 million runs taking place all over the world, Strava found that the average pace of runs taking place in a group was seven seconds per mile quicker than solo runs, and the distance covered was an average of 1.3 miles further.
I joke about people being more motivated to come to my running sessions by the tea and biscuits afterwards than by the running itself. There's probably some truth in that, but it doesn't matter. Those laughter-and chatter-filled minutes are every bit as important as the running in between.
