Make Running Social

Running is inherently a solitary sport. While it’s possible to be part of a team in high school and college, there aren’t many team opportunities for us adults, but that doesn’t mean you have to go at it alone. There are many ways to make running more social and more fun. I’ve made running more social by joining running groups, utilizing social networks, and following other runners on Twitter. There are certainly other ways to do this, but I thought I’d highlight the ones that have been most successful for me.

For starters, it’s more fun that way. Sharing your struggles and accomplishments with like-minded people makes it more rewarding. I love chatting up fellow runners about races, strategies, and obstacles. I can’t do that with my non-running friends or they’ll start avoiding me or roll their eyes once I get started on the joys of running.

In addition, having comrades-in-arms also keeps you motivated. When you’re scheduled to meet friends for a regular run, you’re less likely to bail on that run than you would if you were planning a solo one. Most importantly, you can learn a lot from the broader running community whether it’s a local running group or a running website. I can honestly say I’ve learned more from fellow runners over the years than I have any book that I’ve read on running. This is not to take anything away from authors of good running books, but sometimes connecting with a person who has experienced a situation similar to yours makes all the difference in the world. When you overcome problems, you stay motivated.

Without further delay, here’s how you can make running social.

Over the past 20 years, I’ve been part of many different running groups both formally and informally. The first running club I ever joined was the Atlanta Track Club in Atlanta, Georgia. Most large cities (and sometimes the suburbs around them) have formal running clubs. These clubs typically charge annual dues and distribute periodic publications about running. Not only do you get a lot of great information from the clubs to help you get better, but you also can make connections with other runners in your area and meet up for regular runs. Whether you’re training for a 5K or a marathon or running 12-minute miles or 6-minute miles, you’re very likely to find someone who matches up with you through these running clubs. They are usually well worth the annual dues you have to pay just for the social aspects alone.

Another way to find a running club is to look around you. Many companies have at least informal running clubs operating within their ranks. These clubs offer the convenience of being close to where you spend a lot of your time and build camaraderie among fellow workers. At my employer we have an email alias that runners can join so that we can communicate about all things running. I’ve used this alias to find running partners for my long runs and I’ve learned a ton about running itself. The running community is incredibly knowledgeable and more than willing to share that knowledge. Tap into it.

Close to home is another place to look for a running group. Years ago I moved to Beijing, which is probably one of the least runner-friendly cities in the world due to local lack of interest in the sport and the extreme air pollution. Not to be deterred, I looked for a running group and found one in the expat community in which I lived. This running group became one of the most influential groups in my entire running life. The group helped me get back on track to completing more marathons and ultimately helped me qualify for the Boston Marathon. I learned so much and had such a great time with this group that I still miss them to this day despite moving back to the U.S. almost two years ago.

If none of these options work for you, start your own group. Often times, those around you need someone to step up and lead the way. That can be you. Find some like-minded runners and start a regular run once or more per week. I’ve done this informally on occasion, but I haven’t had one that has stuck around for more than one season. That doesn’t mean you can’t make a lasting impact on your running community by starting a group that outlasts the whims of any individual runner. Everyone needs some inspiration to stay motivated, and that could be you.

While there are many niche social networks out there, Facebook is the most common example. I use Facebook for connecting with friends and family, but I also use it to connect with the running community at large. I subscribe to the feeds from elite runners such as Meb Keflezighi (the American silver medalist in the 2004 Olympic marathon). I’m not even near the same league as Meb, but it doesn’t mean I cannot learn from him. He posts about his training and, recently, his efforts in the 2012 Olympic trials. I will never be an Olympic athlete, but it doesn’t hurt to emulate people who are.

I also use Facebook to tap into communities such as Runner’s World, the magazine, local running clubs, and local running information sites. Runner’s World posts a lot of good information on Facebook, which you can access without having a subscription. I find a lot of useful information from its Facebook feed, and I think Runner’s World does a good job leveraging social media unlike many traditional publications. If you have a running club in your area, it’s very likely that they have a Facebook feed where you can keep up with the latest runs and learn more about the club’s events. If your club has a lot of engaged members, the posts on the local running club page can be a source of a wealth of information about training and races. I’m also lucky enough to have a group that consolidates running event information for my area. The feed, created by Seattle Runs (www.seattleruns.com), provides the latest event information and helps me learn about new races. Your results may vary depending on where you live.

Another social network that doesn’t get much attention outside of athletic circles is Daily Mile (www.dailymile.com). This network allows you to post your training much like a training diary and share it with the world. You can follow people much like you do on Facebook, and they can follow you, too. Admittedly, I haven’t followed a lot of people, but I occasionally peruse the posts and find someone who seems to be inspirational to follow. Being able to share with a niche group of like-minded folks is a powerful motivator. Daily Mile makes it easy because you can provide motivation and kudos to your fellow runners. You almost feel like you don’t want to let your peers down, so you’re incredibly motivated to stay on track with your training.

Another way to connect with the running community is Twitter. I actually like this approach better than Facebook because it allows me to focus my feed on running only, while Facebook mixes my running feed with that of my friends and family. I actually have two Twitter handles. My regular one is more broadly focused, but I also created one called @runtheglobe. I only follow running-related people on @runtheglobe, so the feed is all running, all the time. The great thing is I can scan the feed daily and get my running fix. Not only that, it allows me to find and connect with some really interesting runners who share my enthusiasm for the sport but who, like me, aren’t Olympic runners or famous runners. Sure I follow folks like Meb (@runmeb) and Ryan Hall (@ryanhall3 – another Olympic marathoner), but I also follow folks like @BartYasso (Runner’s World editor and runner) and @pmumbower (regular runner and family guy like me).

If you’re interested in starting such a Twitter feed, I encourage you to follow my Twitter handle (@runtheglobe) or view my profile and follow some of the people on my follow list. As you start getting posts from these folks, they’ll introduce you to other runners and you can follow them. Before you know it, you’ll have your own virtual running community. This feed will become a wealth of information and motivation for you. I’m always finding great articles through this feed or hearing about challenges from my virtual community that inspire me to do more. Short of having your own close knit running group that meets every week, this is the next best thing.

I hope these ideas help you make your running more social. Running doesn’t have to be a solitary sport. Whether you take one or all of these ideas to connect with others in the running community, I would bet that you’ll be a better and happier runner as a result. Just like anything else, the knowledge of the community can create exponential results. Happy Running!