Positive Results by Sabrina

Once upon a time, I would have adamantly said I only worked out with friends. Working out alone is boring. Why do I want to do it alone? That was a long time ago. I made plans to work out with other people and they would reschedule, cancel, or not show up. Then I would miss my workout. Again and again and again. I soon realized that only I had to deal with the consequences of not taking care of my body and therefore I was the only one I needed to rely on to get the workouts done. I learned to go to the gym alone. I learned to walk, hike, run and train alone. I’m appreciative of the strength it took. I’m proud of the woman I became and the things I was able to learn about myself.

When I trained for my very first Half Marathon, I trained mostly alone. Some of the workouts were lonely but I learned to run with podcasts and music. I learned to use free training runs on apps so that I wouldn’t be as bored. I learned to push and listen to my body. When we crossed that finish line, we were all so proud and hopeful of what was to come next. We had no way of knowing that just a few weeks after that race, the world would SHUT DOWN and the only way we would be allowed to workout would be alone.

We were signed up for a race the week after the shut down. That race would become the first of many virtual races we would run. They issued a playlist and led an online warm up session and then we set out to run. I ran my neighborhood streets, alone. The streets that I traveled over a thousand times, having grown up there the majority of my life. And I cried. The streets were eerie, deserted and foreign. I felt so detached from everyone and we had no idea how long it would last. But I got the miles done.

Over the next few weeks, that turned into months, that lasted over a year, I would continue to take to the streets, alone. On my work from home lunch breaks, after work, on the weekends, I would take to the streets, alone. I appreciated living close to an industrial park. There were plenty of streets and parking lots for me to get to know. I appreciated the peace, the lack of stop lights and the ability to run without a mask. When the parks opened back up, I could drive a few miles down the road for a change of scenery. Sometimes we could see that the birds had taken over, appreciative of the lack of human presence and it was a welcomed sight. I took in the beauty, grateful that I learned to run alone so that I could make it through the time continuing to run alone. Nature reminds us regularly of the benefits of survival. Exposed roots do not mean the trees are dying or falling. Flowers grow through pavement. Animals make new dens. The more I was able to explore the world around me, the more I was reminded to be thankful for each day. I truly believe that the strength and independence developed on these solo ventures saved my life at the time.

When the world opened back up, I would join Bay Area Run Crew, thanks to a random Instagram ad. I wanted to connect with new people, pass my Taji 100 miles, and learn new spaces where I could run safely alone. I had no idea that I would meet my newest, best running friends. I had no idea that they would encourage me to sign up for more races, training in different ways, and take me on new adventures. With them, I’ve hiked half a dozen new places. We’ve logged so many miles running and walking together, laughing and learning about each other. They stood beside me as I trained to run my next Half Marathons, pregnant and four months postpartum. They’ve joined me on walks and runs with my newest blessing and helped me welcome this new stage of my life. They continue to support, encourage and train with me. With them, I’ve been able to look forward to bigger and better goals for myself. I know my strengths and abilities and when I doubt myself, they have been there for me. 

So to answer the question? Both. 

It just depends on the day. It depends on my mental and physical health. It depends on everything going on around me.

I have a handful of friends that I have been able to workout with, outside of my run group, over the years. They also appreciated having someone who can make and keep dates and try out new places. Their friendship has helped shape me into the person and Coach that I am. We come together from very different social and physical stand points, to enjoy a small amount of physical movement together. They remind me to stop and appreciate the beauty that is this life around us. They remind me of how much more fun life can be with more variety. Variety of location, speed, terrain and conversation. We support each other’s fitness journeys and appreciate everything we bring to the miles. 

I’m thankful for amazing friends to share the miles and smiles. I’m thankful for a partner who has taken me on hikes to nearby places that I’ve never heard of before. I’m thankful that he and most of my family now know that most of our vacations are going to include some type of workout for me. I’m also thankful for finally being comfortable enough with myself to workout alone. There are days that I know I just need to get out alone and enjoy the podcasts that I’ve come to enjoy. There are days when I know time is limited and I therefore need to be able to go whenever I can go, and just get it done. There are also many days that I know I would not have gotten the workout done without my friends. It’s easy to cancel on yourself. It’s easy to tell yourself that it’s not that important and you can get it done later. This is a mindset that we actively work against. It’s not as easy to cancel on friends. Sometimes, we’re honest with each other, admit our exhaustion and how we almost canceled. We admit how much it sucked to get up early to get the workout done but how great it feels when we’re done.

Sometimes it’s rewarding to get things done alone. Other times, we’re thankful to have an amazing support system to get things done together!