Human beings, by nature, are a pretty selfish species. We want success, victory always tastes oh-so-very good, and let's be honest, usually the fittest--mentally or physically--survive. There's certainly a reason our parents enrolled us in kindergarten. Where else would we have learned how to share?
Running may typically be dubbed a solo sport, but isn't everything a little more fun when you add a friend? Here are a few tips on how to be a good running partner--and hopefully, not turn any friends into foes by the end of your genial jog:
- Be on time. Coordinating schedules between two people can be tough and usually requires a bit of compromise on both ends. Your exercise buddy probably traded carpool days, sacrificed an extra hour of sleep or put off running an errand to keep their cardio date, so remember this as you incessantly check your email when you should be darting out the door. At the very least, give your partner a heads up if you're running late.
- Be a team player. Treat your running partner like a teammate. You wouldn't encourage your goalie to skip practice a few days before the state tournament begins, so don't call up your running buddy to suggest skipping your long run for an appealing happy hour.
- Pace yourself. When you're running with a friend, try to minimize the "bat out of hell" approach. Take note on how fast your partner is running and pace yourself accordingly, even if this means taking it easy. If you're training for a race and working to shave off time, then save the intensity for another day. On the other hand, don't hesitate to speak up if your buddy is a speed demon.
- Unplug. Unless both you and your buddy plan on keeping mum throughout the jog, then leave the headphones at home. There's nothing worse than having to shout while holding a conversation--especially if you're sucking some serious wind.
- Take turns choosing routes. If you and your fellow workout fiend live on different sides of town, take turns choosing locations. You'll both compromise a little extra time on certain days, but a new route is a great way to freshen up the monotony and give your body an extra challenge.
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