Running Alone vs. Running With Friends (or with music)

I prefer to run with music, but not when I'm with a friend. I have done training runs with friends, but it's difficult to find someone who will hang back at my easy pace. Most of the guys I know do not know the difference between easy and hard pace, so I run with girls in my club since they tend to be more my speed. And it usually ends in a disaster. Just stick with music lol

Music definitely helps. I find it fun to run both ways. Although running with someone can be a bit challenging if you don't have similar paces. Have fun with it.

I definitely run to music or sometimes to my favorite podcasts when I'm alone. If you get bored, it feel sooooo much longer! And great pump-up music can really help performance as well. Good luck, you got this

I prefer to run alone, sometimes with music and I seem to be able to loose myself when I just listen to my breathing - like a meditative state. I realize running with others would probably help my speed but just feels like pressure to me. Good luck with your 5k, you are running for a good cause. I am a hospice volunteer.

I've tried to run with friends in the past and it hasn't worked out. I'd love to find someone who is available whenever I want and runs at my same pace--or slightly faster to keep me motivated
So since those are hard to find, I run alone. I do listen to music though. I think I might go crazy without music.
Good luck with your 5k! I did my first 5k (by myself) about a month ago and LOVED it. What great energy! I'm already looking for another one to sign up for.

Check to see if headphones are permitted during the event, some race directors don't allow them as they may interfere with your ability to hear course marshals, traffic etc.

As I run outside 99% of the time I never have music for the reasons above, being able to hear oncoming traffic, bikes and/or other runners etc is important for your personal safety. I enjoy running just for the sake of running but I see lots of other people using music, if it makes the run more enjoyable and doesn't compromise your safety feel free.

I wouldn't run with music on a 5k race, personally. And I doubt it would do much for your performance since you will be chock full of brain chemicals making you feel magically fast already. With friends, it would help if they are faster than you and be less helpful if they are slower than you. But pace groups can help a lot (if they are running accurately, anyway).

I never run with music if I'm outdoors. I like focusing on breathing, form, pace, and taking in my surroundings. It's great for clearing my head; music would just get in the way. I generally prefer to run alone (or with my dog, although as she gets older she's slowed down quite a bit) but sometimes running with a partner is a good way to push yourself if they are faster than you. It's very difficult for me to run with a slower paced person.

When I trained for the marathon, I ran my long runs either with a running partner or with someone who was willing to follow me on a bike. For these long runs, it was better for me to have someone than it was to be alone (although I did do a few long ones on my own).

It all depends on what I'm looking for that day.

As a busy mama of 5, sometimes I just want to get out, away from everything, and think, pray, or just plain zone out in the quiet that is solitude. Other times I want and/or need the music to pick me up and motivate. And then again, sometimes I just want someone to talk to. It can slow you down, running with someone else, but socializing AND exercising at the same time is always a plus in my book.

Try to change it up and see what works for you. Don't be afraid to try something different if what you are currently doing does not work anymore. You can always come back to it when you are ready.

I run alone and without music. I almost exclusively run long trail races... road races are too crowded for me.

Good for you for deciding to run your first 5K! They are addictive so I have a feeling it will not be your last!

I like to run alone. The reason is because everyone's pace is different and I don't want to feel like I have to run slower/faster than I feel like I need to in order to match someone else's pace. I wear a Garmin but I hardly ever look at it for time/splits because I pace myself according to how I'm feeling and the conditions. I go slower if there or hills, if it's windy, or if it's hot out. I do like to run with music though. I keep it quiet enough so that I can hear what's going on around me (safety first!). I used to focus on my breathing too but now I don't think about it at all. If I start to get a cramp, I know that my breathing is becoming too shallow and I need to take deeper breaths and slow down.

I run with my boyfriend - he slows me down because we tend to get too chatty. Otherwise, I run with music. The only time music distracts me is if I don't have a playlist ahead of time - else I'll muck around choosing songs for 10 minutes going at a snails pace instead of running.

I run in the very early hours (pre dawn) with my German Shepherd and with music (no head phones - just an Iphone on my arm that is also running Nike+ which gives me my pace and distance periodically). Can't say that I enjoy racing but will do charity races now and again. Love running with my brother once or twice a year when we see each other although he has to slow down considerably for me.... Run strong!

Being an introvert, I run alone, with music, usually. Extroverts who run in babbling packs exhaust me mentally long before my legs want to give up.