At the age of 42, Closter, NJ sales professional Amy Goldenberg returned to school to obtain a juris doctor. Now a lawyer with an NJ law firm, Amy Goldenberg spends much of her free time training for marathons and half Ironman races.

While many runners practice alone, there are many benefits to making it a more social activity by joining a running group. Some of the advantages of running with other motivated athletes include:

Diverse Abilities – Training in a group can benefit all levels of runners. For example, stronger athletes can manage their endurance by keeping pace with beginners for longer distances. Conversely, novices can challenge themselves to keep up with their more experienced peers.

Group Accountability – When a group of marathoners train together, it exerts a benign social pressure that encourages all members to put forth their best effort. People are more likely to attend all training sessions and push themselves to finish the run if they feel accountable to others.

Training Strategies – Since running groups bring together individuals who are highly focused on their health and nutrition, they can be great sources for training techniques and exercise advice. Running clubs may also offer special training for beginners, such as how to maintain a correct running posture and other running basics.