Kind of. I enjoy the social aspect of it as I usually go out with the same guy and we chat all the way around, which of course is another indication that there's more to give as you shouldn't be able to talk if you're trying hard enough. If he's not in work on a running day its rare I'll go on my own as I find it really boring and I don't like having my hearing blocked with music as our route is a small country lane.
Its definitely getting easier to push more and go further now though, which in itself is the big motivator.
That and not being a fat banana split any more