I Loved Training as a ‘Lone Wolf’— Until I Didn’t | by Jamie D Stacey | In Fitness And In Health | Feb, 2021 | Medium

T rain alone, or train with others?
My first experience of fitness was running: alone. I loved the escapism, the peace, the ability of choosing my pace, rhythm, and direction. But then I joined the gym, then the dojo, and while I continued to love running alone I also relished those moments of friendship, the bonding over iron or fists or burpees, the shouts and screams of encouragement and eagerness.
Cue the Covid-19 era. So many, it seems, are alone — in their work, in their leisure, and even in their training.
Of course many (parents, sharing households etc.) have maybe a little too much human contact these days, a little too much of the little one, the big one, or just everyone. But whether it’s a full house or a lone one, it seems more and more of us want time to ourselves. The same, it seems, is true for fitness. Indeed, it seems to be a trend to point out the benefits of training lone wolf style — the peace in a yoga home workout, or the meditation of a solid, solo run outdoors.
And I love training solo. I could do it forever. Or at least I thought I could.
Yet recently I’ve really missed training with others. There’s something in the sweat and grind of a Spin class, or the shouts and bouts of the dojo, or having a training partner or personal trainer who knows just how to push you, encourage you, help you to lift that last, painful rep.
I see so many extolling the virtues of going alone — and there are many — so why bother to partner up or find a local studio?
Well, even for an introvert like myself, I’ve been reminded that there’s a lot to be gained.
Let’s train (together).
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