Okay so I used to hate running – I managed to get out of every class where we did 1500 metres at my school! But last year I decided to really try and change my attitude to running and get fit. I made a lot of progress but although I appreciated my fitness levels going up and the feeling afterwards – I found it really hard to motivate myself to keep at it and found the actually running quite dull, which made it a struggle doing it. Then my friend asked if we could go running together and that’s when it all came together! My running buddy has made all the difference and here’s why…

1. YOU ACTUALLY GO BECAUSE YOU CAN NOT STAND THEM UP

If it is just me going for a run at 8.00am in the morning – I am gonna hit that snooze button. Believe me, I managed it for about a week and a half before I just kept preferring my bed to getting up. But with a friend that you’ve agreed to meet, you have to go there because you know that whilst you can give yourself reasons why you won’t run, you haven’t got any real excuses to give them. Plus you can’t leave them at a corner waiting for you. Boom, step one – you’re out of the front door!

2. YOU CAN MOTIVATE AND PUSH EACH OTHER TO GO FURTHER

Just when I think I  want to stop, my buddy will yell “Come on!”,”We’re nearly there!” or “We’re nearly at that tree!”. Immediately I want to keep going for them and they give me the encouragement and boost I need just when I would probably give up if it were only me. So you run even further than you would alone, so you get fitter!

3. YOU CAN SYNC IPODS!

OH MY GOSH. So this has revolutionised our runs. My friend and I both have 1989 on our iPods and we decided to hit play at the start of the album at the exact same time. When you are both listening to Taylor Swift, your run hits new heights! You can yell out your favourite words and you both know when the drops are coming. I don’t know what it is, but knowing someone is listening to the exact same part of a song as you is amazing. Silent disco on a run!

4. YOU CAN TALK AND TAKE YOUR MIND OFF IT

Obviously you can’t always talk when you’re at the end of a section of your jog and it’s normally just really breathless, mumbling where I’m concerned. But even saying look at that dog, ha it’s so funny just walking by or exchanging a sneaky side glance due to someone’s casual Sombrero at 9 in the morning is great. It takes your mind off your run for a bit and you can forget about wanting to stop.

5. YOU FEEL SAFER AS A PAIR

Running by yourself can be a worry if it’s late at night or you run in a relatively deserted area and this can deter you from running. Having your buddy immediately makes you feel more at ease. Also you know that if you fall or injure yourself, you have someone on hand.

6. YOU FEEL LESS SELF-CONSCIOUS TOGETHER

What with media representations of people with perfect figures, dressed in skin-tight running leggings and crop tops, if you’re at the beginning stages of running you may feel less like running because you worry that people are judging your body or clothes. Try to ignore these feelings as remember, you got out of bed and went running today and that’s what counts. But secondly, running with someone else immediately makes you loose those worries and feel more confident in your skin and running in public.

7. YOU CAN COMPLIMENT EACH OTHER ON YOUR RUNNING GEAR

So I have to admit that buying new fitness gear and clothing is becoming quite a guilty pleasure at the moment. Whilst there are plenty of things that motivate you, I do think wearing some running clothes that you really like or that make you feel all sporty does increase your enjoyment of and desire to go running. The great thing about a buddy is they are probably one of the few people who will actually see your new outfits, so they can compliment you on them and vice versa. This all builds your confidence!

8. YOU HAVE SOMEONE TO GET BRUNCH WITH AFTERWARDS

Running with a friend also presents you both with a glorious excuse to pile all those calories back on and eat a splendid brunch at the local cafe or instagrammers’ hub. You can indulge on some lovely fresh squeezed orange juice and sourdough and avocado toast or a classic full english, feeling good about the fact you really deserve it today. And you can natter with your friend throughout.

9. YOU CAN SPEND MORE TIME WITH FRIENDS OR MAKE NEW ONES

In our busy schedules we may not always find enough time to hang out with our favourite people. Running with them makes it totally fine – as you are exercising but also socialising at the same time. Tick and tick! It’s also a great way to get to know someone better through your enjoyment of exercise, who you can then see outside of running too!

10. YOU CAN NOW SEND THIS AND ALL YOUR FAVOURITE RUNNING ARTICLES AND TIPS TO YOUR RUNNING BUDDY!

Finally someone who can share in all the things you read and learn about running. Newest shoes, running playlists, articles on healthy eating and exercise. You’ve now got someone who loves this as much as you do and you can share your passion and path to greater fitness together!

Lots of love,

Sunny Kitty