Wednesday should have been a weight lifting/swim day. But I awoke to the first sub 70-degree weather in I don’t know how long. I decided to go for a four-mile run jog on my favorite green way.
I was about 1.25 miles into my outing when I heard someone coming up behind me. It started to feel like he was camping out behind my left shoulder and I was getting annoyed. I knew it was only a matter of time before he passed me and I just wanted him to get it over with. It turned out it was one of my workout buddies. This solo runner was going to have some company.
He kept to my pace for the remaining 2.75. We talked about all manner of things and had quite a few laughs. As we were working on the last half mile I commented that according to my watch I was likely to complete my fastest four miles ever. He picked up the pace a bit, encouraging me to step it up.
Later I learned from another friend a possible reason my partner hung out behind me at the beginning of the run. He had told her about his frustrations with his running form. My friend told him to observe me. Apparently I have good, consistent form. So I was being studied.
Later that night while logging my workout data, I looked for past notes on my four-mile runs. The heat has really been slowing me down lately, so I looked at entries I made last Spring while the weather was cool. On Wednesday I beat my prior best time by two minutes. I’ll take it. On Thursday I thanked my friend for pacing me.
I’m going to rethink this running solo business.
482gr8 
This is really good for me to hear because I ALWAYS run or lift alone. I always think how difficult it would be to share that time with someone for fear of having to talk to them thus cutting in on MY training.
This week WAS awesome with the 67 degree predawn runs! Finally a break to that stupid heat!
I continue to be blown away by you & your training. What other events do you have coming up?
You’re kind, Dave! I have a tri a week from today. A half-marathon on September 25 and another half on October 23. I’ll sit on the couch and eat bon bons from October 24 thru Dec. 31…. not!
Let me know how it goes if you experiment with working out with others. I’m learning I tend to work a bit harder with someone by my side encouraging me.