Is loneliness a limiter in your training? (Page 3)

I train almost entirely solo and don't feel that loneliness in itself is a limiter. To be honest, I prefer it most of the time, and I don't need others to motivate myself to train hard. It's fine with me if I save the competition for the race. I have a very social job (teaching) and am not a party animal. I have started joining group rides occasionally and trying to find a training partner for long rides--more to feel safe and explore some new routes than particularly needing companionship. What I'm more lacking is someone like a mentor or coach. In my life, loneliness is, sadly, a limiter. (Not much else for a single white girl in SE Asia to do but work, and train her brains out.) To that extent it's good for training, since I don't have many distractions.

Nope.  Solo training has lots of benefits....for example you don't have to compromise what your plan is to accomodate others.  You can just do your workout.  You can workout whenever you want...no needing to plan around other folks' schedules.

I don't get lonely I guess.

It has been for me.

Right now... I'm in a tri class 4 mornings a week (2x spin/2x swim). My husband and I work out together at the Y 4 evenings a week (yoga, treadmill, weights) while daughter is in swim practice. I get together with my cycling team every weekend for an outdoor ride or a group trainer ride. I think I work out alone about once a week. LOL.

Not really a limiter.  I can run for hours solo, ride for hours solo and get good workouts for each.  I do swim with a masters group which I think balances things out a little.  My intervals during swim workouts are pretty tough, sometimes so tough I can't make all of them.

Now that I have that off my chest, leave me alone!

Nope.  I'm slow.  I'm an introvert.  I like training alone.

Although, I have trained with others on occasion.  I'm okay with it, but I don't like to chitchat or gossip while I'm training. 

Nope. I need alone time to get away for the daily grind, work stress, kids fighting, etc.

I think it depends on your personality - whether you're an extroverts or introvert. By one definition extroverts need to interact with other people to keep their energy and spirits up. Introverts get drained of energy / motivation if they spend too much time around others. They recharge their 'batteries' with some quality alone time.

I suspect most (but not all) long distance & endurance athletes tend to be more introverted, whether they like to admit it or not.  Take the Meyers-Briggs test to see how your personality scores. http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp

According to M-B personality test I'm a: distinctively introvert, moderately intuitive,distinctively thinking personality, moderately judging personality

I'm an INTP with the I off the scale and the P not far behind.     I live in a small town in a rural area.    There are a few triathletes around but our lifes and training schedule rarely coincide.

I teach at a community college so I get all the social interaction that I need when at work.    My work is cerebral so I am comfortable in my own company.    

Not a limiter at all for me.  All of my current workouts are alone.  Advantage is I dont have to wait or rely on someone else's schedule or commitments, or have to worry about anyone waiting for me.  Like most, I have to fit in training around a work schedule that sometimes can be all over the place, so I fit in workouts to suit my own needs.

Last summer, I did a few rides with a buddy but his family obligations started to hold things up so I just went back to solo.  It was ok to have some companionship once in a while but to be honest, I preferred riding alone, and not having to try to hold a conversation for 30-40 miles or more!

yes and no.

no for running and swimming...but yes for long bike workouts...gets a tad too lonely.

Sometimes. (ha, how's that for wishy-washy!)  Most times I don't mind training by myself.  I can go at my own pace and do my own thing and not have to stress over keeping up or what others think, etc.  It can and does become lonely at times.  But on the rare occasion I do train with someone, I really enjoy it.

The other part to my wishy-washiness is I have a very talented tri friend who also trains with other very talented tri friends.  I refer to them in my mind as the 'fast kids'.  I get pangs of jealousy, I suppose, when I hear my friend talk about all these great training sessions with the other friends, or when we meet up for supper or after a race and they talk about all these fun, shared experiences.  I feel very much like I'm on the outside looking in, but I also know that I wouldn't have a prayer of keeping up with this gang.  It really is complicated...

Not remotely an issue for me. It's the time that I get to spend on my own. 

I love the crowds at big races, and I enjoy it when there are others training at the same time. At the pool it motivates me if there's somebody in the next lane who's a little bit faster than me. And on the bike or on the run I enjoy trying to reel people in (even when I should be taking things easier). But I don't miss having others to actually train with. 

Having seen the almost unanimous "no" responses on this thread, I wonder whether this is a quirk of folks who are drawn to triathlon, rather than the way that most people would feel about sports and exercise.