Accountability breeds response-ability. — Stephen Covey
Here’s what accountability mean to me: you say you’re going to do something. You tell someone. And because you’ve told someone, you feel you must go through with it — and you get it done.
There are many reasons I love to run in groups. And one of those reasons is absolutely accountability. It’s incredibly easy to bail on a run when it’s raining, when it’s snowing, when it’s too cold, when it’s too hot, when you have a headache . . . the list goes on and on
What if you know someone else is already there, counting on you to show up? Women (and let’s face it, most, but not all, of the bloggers I’ve connected with are women) tend to be people pleasers. We don’t want to leave another runner in a lurch.
On my own I have a tendency to procrastinate about getting out the door. It’s too hot or too cold or I get involved in something else. When there’s a group run on the line, though, you don’t want to keep your buddies waiting and you actually get yourself out that door when you said you would.
The internet is a great place for accountability, too. Tell someone you’re going for a run on your blog, IG feed, FB feed, and you’ll think twice about bailing on that run. Because then you have to fess up.
Another way I like to hold myself accountable is to pretrack something, usually food or exercise. I put that exercise in my tracker and then by golly I’ll go and do that exercise. Like how I just went and did the yoga I put in my tracker before I finished up this post, because I knew if I stayed here writing I wouldn’t get the yoga done . . . but it was already in my tracker and I wanted to make sure I was accountable to my tracker, which sounds really silly but totally works.
Good men are bound by conscience and liberated by accountability — Wes Fessler
Do groups help you in your accountability?
Chocolaterunsjudy 
That Steven Covey quote is a good one! I struggled a bit with my post, because accountability is so closely tied in with responsibility and commitment! I like to think that I’ve been running so long that I don’t need much help with accountability. In fact, I get upset when something prevents me from getting my run in!
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Nothing worse than something preventing us from running! I had a bad start to my day Monday, and even tho it was a short easy run that morning, I felt SO much better afterwards!
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Groups help so much with accountability! You definitely don’t want to leave your friend or group waiting when you’re supposed to show up. It’s a lot easier to bag a solo run, but not so much when someone is expecting you.
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I tried to find, not even a group, but a runny buddy through work. We are a facult/staff of 182. Lots of runners. No takers. š¦
Luckily I am highly discipline and am accountable to myself š
I agree totally with sharing plans for accountability. It’s exactly why I post my goals on f/b, not to brag, but once it’s out there, giving up is not an option unless something drastic happens.
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It has taken me years to find just a couple of people to run with! So you never know.
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I like to pre-track my food in myfitnesspal, because then it helps me stay on track and be accountable for what I’m eating all day. Great idea for the exercise too!
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I plan my food out the day before, too. I often decide on something else, but it just helps having a plan.
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I agree if you say you are going to do something, you HAVE to do it — at least in my mind. For me accountability is all about self. I certainly can’t cheat myself, we know how that ends up. So I got up for my run this morning when I really wanted to sleep in.
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I don’t sleep in, even though I don’t work — getting out the door — that’s a different story!
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Love it- what ever works š I love my Lose it and it keeps from over doing it many days.
I just put my exercise clothes as soon as I get up, once I have them on I won’t get distracted by all the undone chores š If I didn’t run at the crack of dawn, I may not run as much lol
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I’m out walking the dogs just after dawn. I wish I could be running but it’s got to be done!
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If I say that I’ll be somewhere at a certain time, I am.
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I know. š I almost always am, it’s pretty rate for me to be late (reaction to my parents, who were often late to everything).
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I do believe groups keep you accountable! I was mostly a solo runner but I most often met up with a friend and she went her pace I went mine but we started together and waited on each other. I didn’t want to let her down, she doesn’t like going by herself so it was a good fit for that! š
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I meet up with a friend like that occasionally. It does help push you!
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Great points! I am pretty good at doing what I say I will, but having people counting on me makes me that more determined to follow through.
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I think running with others definitely keeps you accountable. I know if I didn’t run with someone everyday I would run much less.
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You’re very lucky to run with your husband!
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My running group absolutely keeps me accountable. Your advice for putting your workouts on your tracker is great. I suggest to my clients do that if they have trouble fitting their workouts into their busy schedules.
Thanks for linking up!
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