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The Downsides You can push yourself too hard
“There are pros and cons,” Jermyn says. “Certainly, competitive people can risk pushing themselves too hard.” That’s especially true if you show up for a group run not quite ready for what you’re getting into or you try to keep up with people you have no business keeping up with. That’s why Tuhabonye has people fill out questionnaires about their fitness and recent results, and even do a test to find out where they’re at with it.
One size doesn’t fit all
Both CARA’s programs and Gilbert ’s Gazelles workouts are coached in-person, with many of the athletes training for the same race. That means the plan is both created by a certified coach and structured for the specific race, with the ability to make adaptations for an individual’s paces or needs. But not every running group has a coach; many are simply informal collections of
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friends. And even if there is a coach, it doesn’t necessarily mean the workout or the plan is the best one for you. (Although it’s still better than no workout and no plan.) Plus, by definition, along with doing a certain workout, a group meets at a certain time and place. All those things might be convenient or right for you, or they might not.
You won’t learn to suffer alone
Training with a group is fun and pushes you, but when it comes time to race, you have to race on your own. There’s a school of thought that sometimes you need to get out there on your own and learn what it takes to battle through the tough days. All those issues are real, but Jermyn points out that most elite athletes train in squads precisely because they want the support and company. The day-in, day-out grind can be hard, and a group makes it easier. “The best marathoners in the world all train in a group,” Jermyn says.
Getting Started Before you lace up your shoes and set your alarm clock, “do your homework,” Tuhabonye advises, to figure out what group is right for you and what is expected. You can search for groups on the websites of Road Runners Club of America or USA Track and Field. You can also ask at a running shop, talk to other runners, or check out local race and expos. Then you’ll want to talk to the person in charge to make sure you know what to expect—where will the route go, do you need to bring food or water, what kind of gear is necessary for this workout. And it may take a couple tries to find the group culture that’s right for you: some are more performance oriented, some are more laid-back. If you do it right, “joining a group is like joining a family,” Tuhabonye says. That comes with all the good and bad of a family.
5/11/17 11:04 AM