Running communities benefit from new and experienced runners alike. Whether you have a great community or want to build your own, you can gain both mental and physical advantages from training with others.
No matter how much you love running, some days can be a grind. Maybe it’s the weather, anxiety about a challenging workout, or other life factors that are impacting your energy and enthusiasm. When you have a friend or a community to support you, however, it’s much easier to get out the door!
Even if you enjoy running solo, doing long runs or workouts with others can benefit your training in a multitude of ways. Some areas, like Boulder, CO, are blessed with an incredible community of athletes, ranging from weekend warriors to ultra runners to Olympic marathoners. Whether you are running a workout, a recovery effort, or playing in the mountains, you can find company if you want it.
Benefits from running with others go beyond the physical aspects. Research shows that people with whom you surround yourself can influence your performance by up to 30%. That’s significant! Spending time with other athletes who support and educate you can help push you toward stronger performances, mentally and physically.
Jonathan Levitt on group running and building community
This week’s guest on the podcast has the amazing ability to build community wherever he goes. On an average week, you may find him leading a group of 40 runners or training alongside past Olympians. Jonathan Levitt is a runner and host of the For the Long Run Podcast, and perhaps secretly, the (unofficial) mayor of Boulder, Colorado.
Jon moved to Boulder several years ago and is a huge presence in the running community. He thrives off the companionship of group runs, and often does at least 4 of his 6 runs each week with friends. Through trial and error Jon has learned how to manage the logistics of running with both faster and slower runners, while blending it seamlessly into his own training schedule.
Jon and I discuss the incredible running community of Boulder, along with:
- How Jon finds joy in helping others feel like they belong
- The unique aspects of Boulder’s running scene
- What is the “soft hour” in Boulder and why it works so well
- The ways Jon balances his training while joining other runners
- How to build a running community in your hometown
- The importance of emulating the mental models of other runners
Jonathan Levitt is thoughtful, fun, and full of insights on what makes a running community great. Enjoy!
Subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, or Google Play
Links & Resources from the Show:
- Visit Jon’s podcast website, For the Long Run
- Follow Jon on Twitter and Instagram
- Listen to the For the Long Run podcast on YouTube
- Subscribe to Jon’s newsletter
- Listen to Jon’s podcast episode with Jason
- Join Strength Running’s community!
Thank You AG1!
We’re also supported by AG1, the greens superfood mix. This is a category-leading greens mix that has 75 vitamins and minerals, prebiotics, probiotics, antioxidants, and adaptogens. It’s recommended by professional athletes and has over 7,000 positive reviews.
One scoop per day is what I’ve been doing to help me fill in any nutrition gaps in my diet. It also provide a nice boost of energy and focus throughout the day. With all 3 of my kids in school, I know I need to support my immune system or else I’m getting sick and can’t train.
I also love that AG1 has changed over the last decade. They’ve made 53 improvements to the formula based on the latest research to make these nutrients more absorbable and rigorous with the 3rd party testing that they do.
For our listeners, they are offering a year’s worth of free Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs of AG1 with your first purchase. You can sign up for single shipment or for a monthly drop – the choice is yours. Check out AG1 to redeem your offer today.
Thank you to our Performance Training Journal!
We’re also brought to you by our very own Performance Training Journal, which is now available on Amazon. Since I started running in 1998, I’ve kept a hardcopy training journal. Holding a tangible log, writing in it daily, and reflecting on the ups and downs of running is a surefire way to improve.
This hardcopy training journal helps you focus on the training metrics that matter, prioritizes a long-term outlook so you don’t take any shortcuts, and maintains your motivation with strategic self-praise. With a no-frills, functional design, the Performance Training Journal includes coaching advice on racing, injury prevention, strength training, and more. It will guide you through race scheduling, how to plan your race morning, the best workouts for endurance runners, and encourage you to track your personal bests over time.
You have the space to make this journal your own whether you’re a new runner or a professional, a trail or road runner, or a mid-distance specialist or ultra marathoner. So don’t just track your running, learn from it with the Performance Training Journal! Check it out today on Amazon.
