
For years, running was something I did alone. Early morning solo jogs, treadmill sessions, long runs on quiet roads. It was a personal pursuit, a way to clear my head. I never really saw the appeal of training with a group. The logistics seemed like a hassle, and I liked the freedom of running on my own terms.
But a year ago, I joined a serious amateur Japanese running club, and my perspective completely changed. Running with others not only made me faster but also transformed how I think about training, racing, and even myself as a runner.
Here are five things I learned from my first year in RETO Running Club.
1. Running Together Does Make You Stronger
I was always skeptical about this, but it's true that running in a group leads to individual improvements. The power of collective effort is undeniable. I remember a 5K time trial we did during one session. I was struggling, but I locked onto the heels of the pacemaker and others in the pack, and instead of fading in the tough third and fourth kilometers, I held on.
Everyone encourages each other, and that pack mentality pushes you beyond what you thought was possible. You can then take this experience with you to other races or sessions and have confidence that you've done it before, so you can do it again.
2. Positive Peer Pressure Works
Running in a club certainly encourages you to do things you wouldn't if you were by yourself. From training in the lashing rain to pushing a faster pace than is comfortable. But the biggest thing for me this year was the decision to run a marathon.
Before joining the club, I had zero interest in running 42,2 km. The half marathon felt like my limit, and I was happy with that. But when you train with marathoners, the question isn't if you're running a marathon — it's when. Every practice, the conversation was the same: "What's your next race?" And within this club, "race" usually meant "marathon."
That unspoken expectation nudged me into signing up for my first marathon in Kobe, and now I have another one coming up in Kochi. I am definitely out of my comfort zone here, and I struggle with the training, fueling, and mental aspects, but I've come to accept that progress takes time.

3. Running in a Group Also Teaches You About Yourself
One of the biggest mental shifts I had to make was learning to be comfortable with where I am. In a club, there will always be runners faster than you and runners slower than you. That’s just a reality of training in a group. Accepting that — and focusing on my own improvement rather than constant comparison — has been a game-changer. Running isn’t just about who you’re ahead of; it’s about how you improve over time.

4. The Social Side Can Be Hard — but It’s Worth It
The running part? No problem. The social part? That took some work. Before practice, especially early on, it felt awkward. Like any new group, it takes time to find your place. Especially speaking in Japanese.
But the key is to relax, be open, and let relationships develop naturally. After a year of shared workouts, running camps, and post-race celebrations, I feel at home now. The bonds formed through tough sessions and long runs are real, and I've made a whole host of new friends and memories.

5. Your PBs Will Thank You
One of the most tangible benefits of joining the club has been my improvement in race times. Before joining, my PBs were:
5K:Â 19:26
10K:Â 39:59
Half Marathon:Â 1:38:39
After a year of structured training, those times are now:
5K:Â 18:12
10K:Â 38:44
Half Marathon:Â 1:27:33
I’m not the same runner I was a year ago. And as I sign up in the club for another year, I can't help but wonder (#SATS) — who will I be next year?
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