Exercising with a partner is nice, but consider going at it alone once in awhile. Get A (Good) Workout Buddy referenced the great benefits of pairing up, but focusing on a workout by yourself has rewards as well. It’s a great feeling to know that you had the discipline to start, push, and finish all on your own. You get time to let your thoughts go anywhere you want without interruption when exercising alone. By taking a solo workout you can gauge your personal level of fitness – you might discover you have a faster running pace if you pound the pavement alone.
Encouragement during workouts is fine. The important thing is that your physical fitness routine is productive. Those that go solo most of the time can find new challenges by getting together with a group occasionally, just as much as a team of folks can benefit by taking a break from each other from time to time. ~trvw