Phone a friend

1hr swim(2900yds), 1hr weights

Let's talk about training with friends.
First and for most, IT IS AWESOME.
Second, it is motivating.
And third, IT IS BLASTED AMAZING!
Ok, I think you got the main message.  
I love training with other people and I think there are lots of amazing benefits to training with others; yet it seems to me that most women are scared to do it.
Why?
The reason I get from most is that they are afraid that they will slow everyone down.  

This is what most of my long runs with Stephanie look like.  Sometimes she is farther and sometimes closer.  We train at different heart rates and so we get separated.  We start the run together and run the first few miles together as we warm up but then our paces separate us.  

We are ok with that and you should be too.  You have to run your own race.  You need to train for your race, not the race your friend is planning to run.  Could I keep pace with Steph?  Probably for a while but eventually I would hit the wall or worse, over train my body and end up injured.  Could she slow down and run with me?  Definitely but then she would be training for my race and not doing her training any justice.

So why train with anyone?  Um, please read the first paragraph.  Haha
Training with people that are faster than you motivates you to push a little harder and set higher goals.  Monkey see, monkey do. ;-)
Training with someone slower than you gives you the opportunity to be that persons cheerleader and motivator.  
Beware they will probably become faster than you.  
It happens to me all the time.  
It is because I am slow a great cheerleader.

There is no greater feeling than seeing someone accomplish a goal they have set.  Especially when you have been there with them through all their hard work and struggles.

I'm not gonna lie and say it is easy bringing up the rear all the time.  It's not.  It can be mentally draining if you let it.  When I get down on a long run and my mind is telling me I'm slow or I should just quit since I'm so far behind, I use that opportunity to train my brain.
I train it to think positive, to remember how far I have come, to not give up and push past those negative thoughts.  Negativity and self doubt have no business in my training plans and I try to not let it in.
It's not easy but it won't always be that way.  One day you won't be so far behind and maybe one day you'll be the one leading the pack.  You will never know unless you keep at it.

My peeps and I might get separated during a long run but we always hook back up at the end to die share war stories.  The camaraderie and support is what it is all about.  

Who better understand what you just went through than someone else who was out there with you suffering in the same conditions.

Lastly, ice cold soaks are only kinda fun if you do them with a friend.  Wait, that sounded wrong.
Misery loves company. ;-)
I really could write a book about all the blessings that come from all my training buddies.
I just hope that you find the courage to get out there and try a running group, cycling group, tri club or just call a friend for a run.  
You won't regret it.