Strength In Community

I’m sure you’ve heard of the phrase that there’s strength in numbers. This is also true in the fitness world. With technology and social media, it’s easy to find others who share the same interest as you. However, physically having that community support is huge! Here’s a few reasons why there’s strength in community.

Reason #1: They Help You Show Up

Community is a big deal at my gym. There are regulars in every class and it’s easy to learn people’s schedule. I go to the gym three days a week and if I’m absent for whatever reason, I don’t hear the end of it. The rest of the class helps me stay accountable and when I wake up and get the inkling to skip class, they’re the reason I show up. Even if I look at the workout beforehand and know it’s going suck, I know they’ll be there by my side going through it as well.

Reason #2: They Push You To Get Better

It’s easy to get in a set routine or stay in your comfort zone when you’re working out alone. However when you’re in a group, you tend to feel less risk in trying something new or picking up a heavier weight. When I first started going to my current gym, I would stick to my “safe” weights. It wasn’t until a fellow member would give me his weights to workout with that I felt the nudge to get out of my comfort zone. I would see someone try something and think “I can do that.” Even I failed, I tried something and it gave me something to work towards.

Reason #3: Friendly Competition

I’m not one of those people who get super competitive. However some friendly competition can push you to get out of your head during workouts. There was a guy in my class who was ridiculously good and when it came to running, I made it my mission to catch him. Sure he could lift heavier and faster than me but I had him when it came to running. Before workouts would start, I would tell him “Don’t let me catch you on that run.” Not only was it fun to chase after him, it kept me from thinking about how much the workout sucked and it helped me take less breaks as I wanted to get out the door quickly. Whether it’s a workout in a group setting or a run, adding in some fun games like that can make any workout go by quickly.

Reason #4: They Can Help You!

There’s only so much you can learn from the internet. Having someone in person look at your lifting or running form and give you tips is huge. I’m not afraid to ask questions so when I first started going to CrossFit, I asked everyone what types of grips they had. Seeing them in person and listening to their reasoning helped me find what worked for me. The same with my run group. Going on long runs and figuring out fueling took some time for me. Luckily, I got to see what everyone used and it helped me get my fuel plan figured out too. I truly believe the fitness community around you can help you out more than any Google article could!

Do you have a real life fitness community? Do you have a group of friends you workout or run with regularly?