In June of 2022, I marked my 30th season of racing triathlons, which included 21 Ironman events, 10 ultra running events, and competitive swimming from kindergarten to college. While I believe that group workouts can provide motivation and accountability to keep others on track, I generally prefer to train alone, except when riding with friends for social purposes with no other structure. When it comes to my own workouts, I relish the solitude and training at my own pace.

During my time in Chattanooga in 2008, I rode with a group of triathletes who were faster than me. I pushed myself to keep up with them because I was unfamiliar with the area, and they were always friendly and waited for me when I fell behind. However, during my 21 years in Fort Collins, I discovered that most groups were either too fast or too slow for me or involved a structure that did not align with my training plan. I did find a running group that was successful with track sessions, but they usually met at a time when I was working.

As a masters coach, I looked for other swim programs but found that most master swim programs had sets that gave me too much rest, and I never felt like I got the swim workout I desired. With work and family obligations, I prefer not to be held up by other people’s schedules. When preparing for an Ironman, my thinking and processing time usually come during solo rides of 4+ hours or runs of 2+ hours. Being able to self-monitor is essential in long races, and training alone on long rides and runs is the best way for me to achieve this. While training alone can be beneficial for mental toughness, having a stronger training partner around during a difficult session can be motivating when you’re not feeling up for it.

As a coach for master swim and open water swim clinics, I know that swimming with a group that has on-deck coaching can be helpful since coaches can correct stroke flaws that you may not be aware of. However, one training plan does not work for everyone, and sometimes the group dynamic does not allow for adaptations to swimming based on your current fitness and event goal.

When training for a long event, I suggest training solo for at least 50% of your long-distance miles. This prevents the urge to slow down your pace or work to keep up with or surpass your training partner, which can lead to entering the wrong training zone in the process.

It’s essential to train correctly at your fitness level, but it’s also okay to spend a day riding with friends and not obsess over your performance unless you’re an elite competitor striving for a spot on the podium. Train, sweat, and share the “punishment” with friends.