The more the merrier

Two weekends ago was my first time on a group run. To clarify, a group that I volunteered to run with, not in a race and not my platoon. Simply put, I really like it, in so many ways. The group has been small, 5-7 others and they all have so much experience. I'm the young one and while I might be faster, I don't have the history of races and stories that these people do.
The first thing I notice, is that I'm talking through the first couple miles then as things loosen up and I go ahead, I'm running w/ the knowledge that there's some people I know running out here with me, which is comforting. It takes my mind off of any doubts I may get around mile 3 about how long this run might be and I might not be able to finish it or how my knees are hurting and maybe I should just turn around now. Then there's the built-in slow down effect, saving me from myself. This last Saturday was 11miles at a nice slow 8:45min/miles plus another 5miles later that afternoon at 8min/miles and the next day there was no pain. Had I gone out on my own, I'd pushed 8min/miles at the slowest and probably had a tough time getting the distance, not to mention the subsequent pain, putting me out for a couple day recoup.
And lastly, I'm getting out running places I'd never known about which also helps the distance go by.

P.S. Moleskin works if used correctly. I'm looking forward the next lesson that will probably take me 2years to figure out what most people already know.