Workout Buddies are Winners

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Our shout out this week for some "Winners" in our lives goes out to those people who are always there and motivate us to get out and moving. They can be running buddies, workout partners, biking pals, whatever. There are so many times when our alarms go off at 5-5:30 am and it is dark outside (not to mention right now that it is freezing cold) and all you want to do is go back to bed!

Other than making the experience a lot more fun and enjoyable, here are a few other reasons why having people to run with is a good idea:

1.      Accountability. One morning I was laying in bed and all of a sudden I heard something tapping every once in awhile on my bedroom window. I sent my husband to see if there was a bird out there trying to get in. He immediately looks at the clock and says, "Crap. I am supposed to be riding right now." You better believe that outside our bedroom window, with little pebbles in their hands, were his cycling clan. They were waking him up to get a move on and get their ride on! 

Other than helping you get out the door, great friendships will come from running buddies. The friendships will be different then any others. They will be motivating and inspiring and help to build you up. Some of the deepest conversations and best brainstorming usually occurs during a good old run, with my ladies!

 

2.      Consistency.  Running with friends will force you to set somewhat of a schedule for your weekly runs. For our buddies, we usually run three times a week. We generally run 6-8 miles on Tuesday and Thursday and then a longer run on Saturday. But the real benefit of this kind of consistent training is not about the miles. It is about the progress and the discipline that starts to become part of your life.

 

3.      Improvement. If you are consistent and accountable to running with a partner, you will push each other to slowly get faster and stronger. When this happens you will take steps to get a little leaner and you will get in much better shape over time.

Let's be honest...Life is too short to do it alone and the benefits of having a running partner outweigh the benefits of running to just run. Plus, 9 times out of 10, your workout buddies will have a huge impact in your life!