Published on April 15, 2026 at 06:00 AM
On any given weekend night across the country, groups of runners hit the town, united in their common quest to log the miles.
But for every person who thrives from the camaraderie that comes with community work, there are countless others who choose not to participate. Some may feel anxious about running with a group of strangers; Others may worry about holding people back, slipping into a slower group, or carrying on a conversation while running. The umbrella term for all these concerns is Collective anxiety– Fear of running with other people – this may be something worth confronting.
Group runs are a built-in community. It is a place to meet training partners and make lifelong friends (And maybe more). They’re an incentive to get dressed and out the door on tough days, and they help give running more meaning than just a fitness chase.
Not that any of these benefits outweigh collective concern. To better understand the concept and how to manage it, we spoke with two of the best coaches: Jocelyn Thompson rulePeloton running and strength coach, coach, podcast host, and author; and Dan FitzgeraldNike running coach and co-founder of Heartbreak Hill Running Company.
Learn about the benefits of participation The group works And discover strategies to overcome psychological barriers that may prevent you from joining.
Reasons to confront your collective anxiety
As humans, we all crave a sense of belonging. Although running with a group of strangers can be intimidating, it’s worth plucking up the courage to try it because… Run the club “It can be an unintended nurturing space,” Thompson-Rule says. “It largely comes down to a sense of belonging. This includes feeling a sense of belonging to yourself. You are still committed to yourself when you show up in this group surrounded by others.”
Not only do running clubs help foster interpersonal connections, they can also help you deepen your relationship with yourself. As Fitzgerald talks about running clubs, “We connect professional athletes to themselves New runners “For themselves.”
Running with a group It can also help you achieve your goals faster. When you see others doing the work and crossing a finish line they weren’t sure they could cross, you begin to realize that you too can.
“This physical transformation in such a short time is an amazing thing to be a part of,” Fitzgerald says. “It’s really fun to be able to see these people push themselves through these kinds of transformations. And it’s not even a transformation, right? It’s really just relearning or reworking their abilities.”
Science adds credibility to these anecdotal benefits. One study of novice runners found that participating in a running group helped them achieve their training goals, improve self-efficacy, and enhance their mental health. Another study Many London Marathon runners found training with a running club significantly improved Reduced completion time.
Strategies for overcoming group anxiety
Shift your perspective
It’s normal to care about what other people think, but here’s the truth: no one cares as much about you as you think.
In fact, social psychologists have a term for this phenomenon. It’s called the Highlight effect—It refers to our tendency to overestimate the extent to which others notice our internal or external state. You may feel like your running performance, pace, or overall performance is being highlighted, but as the Thompson Rule reminds us, “It’s never going to be as bad as you think it is. … They’re focused on their workout, you know?”
It can be helpful to notice how little you care about other people, and then realize that they do the same.
Adopt a growth mindset
It’s one thing to know that discomfort, in theory, leads to growth; It’s another thing to embody that mentality.
Thompson-Rule chose to train with a group of runners who are all faster than her because, she says, “I can only get better by running with people who are better than me. … By showing up, you grow.”
While her mentality may not come naturally to most people, it’s a truth she acknowledges, and it may be a truth we can all borrow from. It’s inspiring to surround yourself with people who are a few steps ahead of you, using their training path as a road map for your own path.
Just go for it
While adjusting your mindset is a helpful preparation strategy, at a certain point, you just have to rip off the Band-Aid. Both Thompson-Roll and Fitzgerald stress the importance of moving forward. “You don’t know if you don’t try,” Fitzgerald says.
As Thompson-Rule reiterates, “This is one of those things that…you then have to practice doing, right? You have to go, ‘Okay, I hate this for me, but I’m going to try it and I’m not going to worry about what anyone else thinks.'”
Challenge yourself to be curious about the good that might come from showing up. Every time you experience this kind of anxiety, but you join the group anyway, you’re making a deposit in your trust bank and proving to yourself that you can do the damn thing.
Drop old stories
Once you do, you may start to realize that you’ve been telling yourself some old stories about why you shouldn’t run a team race.
Thompson’s rule suggests that only by following it can you rewrite some of that narrative. “I think… basically… it’s a matter of practice,” says Thompson-Rule. “I think you have to practice doing things you don’t like. Almost until you realize, actually, this isn’t what you thought it was. PE was me 25 years ago. I was cross country 15 years ago. It’s that old experience, ‘Don’t ever do this!'”
There may be something inside you that is trying to protect you from reliving an uncomfortable past experience. When you realize this, you will realize how common these ancient stories are.
Give yourself permission to upgrade your narrative. Replace the outdated self-talk that holds you back with more encouraging words. It can be helpful to remind your nervous system that joining a group race is safe and not actually a threat to your sense of self.
Find your people
Not every running club will be like that for you Run the club. “Hopefully you’ll get the hang of group dynamics on the first try, but sometimes it just takes a few tries,” Fitzgerald says.
Thompson’s rule reminds us of this New runnersIn particular, they may justify feeling uncomfortable in a new group because they believe that running and everything associated with it must be difficult.
But what if your first experience was subpar because they weren’t your employees? Don’t take it personally if you don’t feel like you belong; Just find another group.
Fitzgerald emphasized this point: “I think any good group is there to maintain the well-being of anyone who attends. That’s the job of being a group leader. If that’s not what they’re doing, they’re not very good at their job, and you can leave with that information. But the information shouldn’t be that you don’t belong in that group. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be in a group.” Run the group“.
While it is normal to experience group anxiety, it is also worth overcoming it; There are so many benefits waiting for you on the other side of this fear.
“Being in a running club, you’re going to benefit from the fitness, you’re going to benefit from the movement, you’re going to benefit from the group experience,” Fitzgerald says.
So, lace up your shoes, muster some courage, and give Run the group attempt. You may earn more than you thought possible.
