Here, we’re going to take a look at marathon training solo vs in a group – so if you’re looking to get fit to take part in any one of the many professional sporting events taking place this summer you’ll be well placed.
Solo marathon training
Here are the pros and cons for solo training and running
The pros of solo marathon training
You might be the kind of exerciser who sees a daily run as non-negotiable, but only has a certain time of day to do it, that doesn’t interrupt working or family commitments. Therefore, running alone is the most sensible and convenient option for you. Doing it this way means it fully fits in with your lifestyle and you don’t have to think about anyone else’s schedule.
This run time can then turn into ‘me time’, an important distraction from work, family, or being constantly connected to smartphones! Everyone needs that quiet moment of time to think, work through things that are troubling them, or even just daydream. Running alone allows you to do that.
Solo training means you can go at your own pace and not think about anyone else’s requirements. Going under your own steam means you can confidently track your own improvements and recovery times, too.
It is naturally an individual sport, of course, pros will have coaches and training partners to give them help and advice, but once you’re out there on marathon day – you’re on your own. No one else can run the race for you.
The cons of solo marathon training
John Lennon said ‘life’s what happens when you’re making other plans’ and he wasn’t wrong. The curveballs that can be thrown at us can overwhelm us and distract us from training.
Marathon running can be unpredictable, too. The weather might be shocking on race day – there might be a rough start to the race, and you might lose your bearings. A solo marathon trainer might become a bit more of a control freak and less able to react calmly to chaos.
Sometimes it’s easy to slip into lazy habits – especially if there is no one to hold you accountable for your actions. You might start to cut runs short, or stop training sooner than required – and that’s not always healthy.
Group training for marathons
Now let’s look at the pros and cons of group training
The pros of marathon training in a group
In a group, you can share your training workload with others, whether that’s pacing duties or your interval session workload. By doing this, you can all help each other to achieve better performances that are sometimes not achievable when you work alone.
Accountability is key – making plans with others means you’re more likely to show up and fulfill a team effort. You’ve got an obligation and you’ll stick to it to make sure you don’t let others down.
Getting together with people who share your passion for running is inspiring. Chatting, laughing, and hanging out socially whilst getting fit is a great motivator to stay in the game and keep at it.
There might be aspects of marathon training you really don’t like – and conversely, some of the activities you like might be loathed by others. On these occasions, team training is a great way to keep motivated – having someone to chat with can help pass the time and make those less fun sessions a bit more bearable.
The cons of marathon training in a group
Are you overly competitive? If so, this is probably one of the cons of training in a group. This is about training and not racing – so if you find yourself comparing your style to others and trying to outdo other group members, this is probably not for you.
Setting a group up can be stressful – finding times that work for everyone and fitting in with schedules can be a nightmare. There might always be one or two members missing every session for various reasons.
There is always the risk of that one bad apple that ruins the overall joy brought to the group and there’s no way of knowing this until you’re all together and working out. It’s not easy to know how everyone will gel (or not) and this can be one of the cons of group training. Try, as best you can, to surround yourself with people who bring you happiness.
Last Words
Spare a thought for the team of unsung heroes at the event you’re attending. Safety stewards, marshalls, temporary event managers and all the others involved to make the event run smoothly and successfully.
This highly trained, unflappable team will have undergone training in many aspects of event management, safety and first aid drills in the event of any incident, so you as a runner can rest assured that there is always someone there for you in a worst case scenario.