Stay in touch

Running with a friend keeps you going

I’m out for a run with Matteo. The weather is horrible; grey, cold, humid. Yet we’re running. He’s here in the Netherlands to run, so I can’t let him down. I guess that’s why people have running buddies, because running with a friend keeps you going. 

As you know, when I’m running on my own, I listen to audio-books. One of the books I’m listening to now is Atomic Habits. As you also probably know, I’m very interested in habits; how to form good ones, how to get rid of bad ones. 

One of the topics James Clear, the author of the book, is talking about, is how the role of family, friends or even just people around us shape our habits. In our case, if we’re surrounded by runners, it’s easier to go for a run. Like today. If it was for me, I might have postponed it. Used last Sunday’s race as an excuse for another day of rest, but now Matteo is over from Italy, I’m running.

Find a friend

It’s a little trick we teach our yoga students as well; find a yoga friend. Maybe one to go to a yoga school with, maybe one who comes over to your place to practice. It can even be a friend who you sent a WhatsApp message to in the morning as a practice reminder. Or you do a WhatsApp call, both practicing in front of the screen. Whatever works is fine. 

If you like running, but you have problems going out on your own, maybe you should join a club. It’s harder to skip a training session if you know people are waiting for you. Yes, it’s social pressure, but it’s a healthy form of it. 

More fun

Plus, running together can be fun. I like to run with Sara. Just her smile makes it worth going out. I like to run with Matteo. We’re an odd couple. I don’t speak Italian, he speaks little English. I only understand a bit of Italian, he luckily understands more and more English. But somehow we always have fun. 

Which means I don’t only run for the fun of running. I also run, because I have fun with Matteo, with Sara, with my sister. Going to a race, becomes a day out, a social event. Sometimes even a weekend out. Which then motivates me again to go for that run when the weather is grey like today.

So if you need some extra motivation, running with a friend keeps you going. Now you just have to find that friend. 

Related Columns

Sign up for more Training Tips & Tricks

Newsletter signup

Please wait..

Yeah, you signed up! Now, you'll get the best training tips and greatest gear reviews straight in your inbox. The only thing you have to do yourself, is keep on running.

Latest posts

Dauwalter and Arsenio win Gran Canaria World Trail Majors

Miguel Arsenio and Courtney Dauwalter have won the Gran Canaria World Trail Majors 2024.

Kerry-Ann Marshall and Aleksei Tolstenko win UTCT

Aleksei Tolstenko and Kerry-Ann Marshall have won the Ultra Trail Cape Town (UTCT) hundred miles (164k, 7.516m+).

Starting all over again with ultra running

The snow has melted away. Mud and puddles are the only evidence it has been snowing this morning. I'm out for a run.

Lin Chen and Hau Ha Thi share victory Malaysia 100

Hau Ha Thi (Vietnam), Lin Chen and Ji Duo (both China) have won the Malaysia 100 Ultra Trail, part of UTMB World Series.

Running through the history of Paris

Two days after we’ve returned from Mallorca I find myself back in Paris. It’s a Monday morning, Sara is in bed, I'm out.

Clark and Quispe win Puerto Vallarta

Remigio Huaman Quispe (Peru) and Alyssa Clark (United States of America) have won the 100 miles race of Puerto Vallarta.
Training