6 Benefits of Running in Groups
There are so many benefits to group running.
Running alone can be great but sometimes it can be a positive move for both performance and enjoyment to run with a group.
Since the beginning of the Lupa Run Clubs, we have seen firsthand so many benefits of running in groups. We have seen Lupa runners run their first 5km, 10km, and half marathons together, we have seen runners make new friends and find training partners, and we have seen some runners truly enjoy running for the first time - all thanks to the power of group running.
The idea of running in a group might not have been on your mind before, or maybe it just hasn’t appealed to you in the past. That’s OK. Maybe after reading this post, you will be inspired to find a group like Lupa, Run Talk Run, or Badass Mother Runners, that can help you to enjoy your running even more than you do right now
Here are 6 proven benefits of running in groups:
Connection
It has been a challenge to meet people and build new connections over the past 18 months.
In his best-selling book, ‘Lost Connections’, Johann Hari explains the importance of connection to community. He concludes that community connection is incredibly impactful on our mental health and that depression rates amongst people in tight-knit communities were significantly lower than in groups with less community connection.
Running groups could be that community for you. By joining a running group you can meet people in an outdoor setting, do something wholesome and healthy together, and build a community connection.
Group running can boost motivation and help you to improve.
2. Motivation
Having the motivation to run isn’t always easy. Sometimes it’s cold, sometimes it’s wet, sometimes we’re tired…
We have talked about how you can stay motivated in running before and one of our main tips was finding a running partner or a running group. Running with people helps to give you structure, as well as a chance to train with a group of runners who can support you or push you, depending on what you need.
There are social groups where the positivity could be all you need to spur you on to a great run, and there are more competitive running clubs where you can try to push and compete with other athletes. At Lupa, we have seen this at our run clubs firsthand, and at a scientific level, a study by the Society of Behavioral Medicine showed that exercising with a partner, improved motivation and performance, doubling the workout time of those who exercised alone. So whatever way your motivation works, there is a running group out there that can help.
3. Learning
One of the best things about running in groups is that there are so many great running minds to learn from.
At our run clubs alone there are beginners, 5kers, 10kers, half marathoners, marathoners, and ultra-marathoners, all from different demographics and backgrounds. The same can be said for hundreds of running groups across the world. This means there is always someone to talk to, seek advice from and ultimately learn from to the benefit of your training.
Having that knowledge by your side can help you to learn and get that bit more out of your running.
4. Safety
Safety in numbers is a common saying because, well… it’s true. One of the big benefits of running in a group is that you can feel safer than when running on your own.
In a group, you are less likely to get lost, you have people to help you if you feel sick or get injured, and you can feel a general comfort that you are safe within the group environment. Running is something you want to be able to enjoy and be present in. That means you shouldn’t have to worry about your safety.
Running with others might be the way to have more comfort during your training.
Group running can give you a greater sense of purpose.
5. Purpose
Having a purpose is so important in all aspects of life.
In 2017, Harvard released a study that linked having a greater sense of purpose to remaining healthier and physically stronger as we grow older. Sounds pretty good right? Well, What if your running group could be your purpose? What if those people, that community, and those runs could bring a new ‘Why’ to your training and your general life?
Having a general purpose has its proven benefits and having a running purpose will bring so much to your running and your general health. Maybe a running group could help you find that purpose.
6. Improvement
As runners, we all want to improve in some aspect. Whether that’s time, distance, headspace, enjoyment, or any other area. The great thing is that running in groups can help us to improve on many of these things.
In 2017, a study found that having a training partner enhances overall well-being. It found that those who exercised in a group showed significant improvements in physical fitness, mental well-being, and emotional stability, as well as a marked reduction in stress levels, compared to those who worked out alone. These are all things we at Lupa see as extremely important. Running is a holistic activity and if running in a group can help us to feel better mentally and physically, then let’s get running in groups!
Running alone can be great but sometimes it can be a positive move for both performance and enjoyment to run with a group. Running in groups can help us to build connection with community, improve our motivation in training, learn from other runners, feel more safe and comfortable while running, find a sense of running purpose, and improve our physical fitness, mental well-being, and emotional stability.
With all that in mind, why not try running with a group today?
The Lupa Run Clubs
