By Michelle Kruse
I want to congratulate my training “buddy.” She placed eighth overall and won her age group at a large triathlon this weekend. She is one amazing cyclist and has really taught me a lot over the last eight months. She’s also a really fast runner and pushes me to do my best. I’m lucky to have a friend and partner in crime for ridiculously long runs, pouring down rain runs, snowy runs, and even the great runs. She even understands when I want an all-by-myself run. If only everyone could have a workout buddy like mine.
Just the other day, I overheard an office conversation discussing the value of workout buddies and said conversant wishing she had one. It’s easy to find people who want to work out and get fit, but it isn’t so easy to find someone who meets your pace, your schedule, your goals, and your fitness level. Finding a good training partner is kind of like finding a spouse. You have to test them and sometimes the relationship doesn’t always work out.
If you’re serious about finding a training/work out partner, there are some safe and other not-so-safe ways to find one. If you’re a runner, your first step should be to contact your local running club. Join them for a weekend group run and ask about weekday runs. Running clubs, triathlon clubs, even walking clubs sponsor training sessions year-round. Don’t be afraid to join them – we all started somewhere. Local charity runs are great places to meet fellow runners (even walkers). With the exception of elites and those in the race to win it all, most of us are a pretty friendly bunch. The people who do charity races are out there simply to support a good cause and to get fit while doing it. And, most of the time, the people you’ll meet live right there in the community. Strike up a conversation. You never know who you’ll meet that way. (I’ve actually made a couple of good friends at races and had really interesting conversations at others.)
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