We all know the feeling of how good it feels to run solo--in the zone--in your own thoughts.  Just you, your body, nature, sweat dripping, and the in and out of your breath as you attack each hill. You can write a novel of thoughts- stream of consciousness abounds--.  These runs can be awesome mentally and physically pushing yourself.  YOU are in control, and afterall in life the only person one can really 100 percent rely on is themselves.  You can encourage friends, family, spouses, loved ones, but change comes with the individual....point blank.  Running can be very therapeutic solo, but solo every single day can also get lonely--especially when you have experienced months of bliss in training with someone very special.  Training with a partner, and especially someone who is faster than you teaches you to push faster and run harder.  Its a silent competition, and great speedwork, untitled.  I have experienced the best long runs of my life with my husband, who was just my boyfriend three years ago when we met and everything magically fell into place.  The runs were very long, very early, and almost metaphysical.  I recall following David's tiny runner light on countless out and backs for hours on end that spring and summer.  The years that followed we experienced several setbacks to training long and magical like this together. I will never forget these--major physical and chemical attractions initially formed--and will always wait for the day when they can be again.  They were effortless and BLISS. When you love someone and running so much and for various reasons, changes happen....its like a death.  Trying to get back on track is arduous and long and can and will be done, or I will never feel complete again.