Is loneliness a limiter in your training?

No.

My limiters are time available for training, and my 41 year old body's ability to recover.

Nope.  I train mostly alone and the few group workouts I do I consider "fun".

No not at all.  Time is my limiter, though I feel blessed with the amount that I do have.  

Sorry you feel lonely though. 

Yes...it is for me. I sometimes have to seek out group workouts just to get my head screwed on straight again.

Happens mostly in the pool...so I try and incorporate masters as much as I can.

Sometimes on the bike

Rarely on runs as they aren't usually that long

No.  In fact it's why I got into triathlons in the first place.  I wanted an individual sport that I had close to complete control over how I did it.  I dont have to worry about someone else's schedule or what training is on the docket.  If I want to run, I run.  I dont want to ride before work so I'll ride after.  I'll swim today b/c it will rain tomorrow etc.  I'd also rather do a time trial than a group ride any day.

I did Martial Arts for many years and that is an individual sport that is done in a group, and while I enjoyed myself, I still wanted more control of how I wanted to progress.

I also like and relish the alone time I get while I do this sport as it helps to clear the clutter in my head from the day.

X2 - Train solo and enjoy the convenience of it.  Just wish I had more time and younger legs...

Yes and no.

I always find that when I do my workouts alone, I tend to have more intensity (most people I know aren't training for anything, and so just like to run/bike/swim for leisure), but sometimes I cut workouts short because I'm bored of being alone.

Some days it's nice to have a training buddy, but others I enjoy the quiet....

If I found someone at about the same intensity level I am at and didn't mind running without talking (damn being a girl and wanting to chit-chat) then I think I would push through more workouts and have greater results.

Long story short, maybe?

From the other end of the talent pool, another no. I am so slow, I couldn't keep up with the local LBS group leisure rides. Not right now anyway.

I am an extrovert and love the atmosphere of a race. But training, I'd drag anyone else down, and I don't even consider it.

No.  I was on the trail today for a short run.  It was snowing.  I was the only person on the trail.  No people, pets, etc.  Perfectly nice an quiet...you could hear a pin drop.  Nothing better than that.

On the other hand, I was at the pool yesterday where I was sharing lanes due to the swim team using most of them.  I do go faster and push more sharing a lane...though I don't like it.

Yeah...I'm a lazy triathlete.

In the spirit (i assume) of the question - No. Loneliness is not a limiter. I have never had any problem getting motivated by myself... as a matter of fact, I generally prefer training alone.

However, loneliness does indeed hold back my training in some respects. When I am training hard in season It's generally very unlikely for me to actually see the *sunshine* outside of work. It is certainly tough at times (especially for a guy who used to be very socially involved with promoting clubs/bars/etc - that is, going out every night, etc) to know I will not see any of my friends for days at a time as my schedule will consist of "get up, train, breakfast, work, train, cook, dinner, shower, sleep" and repeat 5-7 days in a row. It's certainly a mental battle oftentimes as much as a physical one.

Obviously dating is a bit of hit/miss as well, as quite a few people do not understand "I'll be asleep at 9p.m. on a Friday/Saturday so I can get up at 5a.m. to do a brick."

That'd be a negatory for me too.  I have 1 group ride per week during the summer.  Otherwise, it's all solo work.  It's refreshing to unplug for a while and just enjoy the sounds of my gears turning or feet slapping on the trail.   Aahhhhh...nice.

No, not a limiter, but sometimes it would be nice. My wife will swim with me, but other than that I'm lone ranger. We are going to try to have her ride her cruiser bike while I run. But my wife is not a big black man

People are wired differently. Some people take energy and motivation from others near them, other people give it away and becomes a drain.

Compare and contrast Mark Allen and Scott Tinley.

Mark Allen seemed to gather energy and strength in solitude. He trained well alone, honed his attitude, concentration, fitness and mental game.

Tinley also did well alone, but seemed to also gain strength from the San Diego scene, training competitively and working synergistically with other elite athletes. He seemed to draw energy from his competitors and training partners. Allen seemed to surrender it.

This may boil down to personality type.

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