5K and 10K races - run alone or with a partner?

Both, but I tend to do better on my own so if I'm in it for time I go alone.

I do 5K's and with a partner- but one with the same pace as me. When she is not available, my daughter tags along. She's much faster than me but will slow down to my pace to keep me company (but she will push me at the end). It just depends if you prefer to run solo or with a buddy too!

I've done a bunch of 5Ks, 10Ks and half marathons and a couple of them, I've done with a group of people. But for most of the races, I've had at least one good friend with me. But during the race, we do not run together. We just meet up at the finish line. I'm lucky because I know a lot of people who run. But I have met tons of people (at the start line of half marathons) who were there (at the race) by themselves.

Always alone (though I might have friends at the start, and I'll say - see you at the finish!)

I run at my own pace, and its quite slow. Plus I like to listen to music as I run.

I usually don't end up with partners, but it doesn't matter much either way to me, because I'm not terribly into times or the race itself.

When I started running in races, I didn't have a whole lot of friends who ran, so most of my half-marathons, 5/10ks were alone. And it's nice, because you can set your own pace and follow your own body. I also run alone when I train, so it's not any different than training.

It is lot of fun running with a friend, though. Only thing that ends up annoying is that you are subject to whatever they have going on. If they need to pee, you stop. If they get a cramp, you stop. But you do get to chat, or point out things along the way, and you can celebrate at the end. If you're competitive, running with friends probably isn't great, but just for a good time, if you have people to run with, I'd say go for it.

I ran my first 5k in May. I ran it alone, but my family was there to cheer me on. My 2nd 5k, I ran with a friend. However, I run faster than she does, so we ran at our own paces and met up at the finish line. My 3rd one (today), I ran alone with no one there to cheer me on (only because the weather sucked). It kind of sucked to be completely alone for this one, but I was running for time, so it didn't really matter. I wasn't looking to "hang out" afterwards or anything. LOL I have a few more races over the summer, and most I'm doing with my friend, but we most probably won't run together. I'll also be doing the Color Run with a bunch of friends, but that one is just for "fun", so it will definitely be more fun with a gang.

When I first started I would always try to find a running partner, but then I found out how difficult it is to find someone who runs at the same pace. As long as you and your friend are ok with running separate than it is still more fun than going alone, but if not, I'd say run alone so you can run for time and improvement!

I run with my 3 kids 15, 13, and 10. It has become addicting for all of us to run 5Ks. Since i am ready to do my first 10K I will be doing that by myself. I you do it with anyone, just make sure they are as committed as you are so they don't hold you back!! Good luck!!

If you are plunking down money for a race, why would you run with someone else at a pace that isn't yours? You can always do that for free. When the gun goes off, it's see you at the finish.

Always alone, but I run for time.

True story!