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Mar 2013
4:22pm, 25 Mar 2013
157 posts
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Dooogs
Hmm… I think I might be better off joining a club – running solo is convenient but I can see myself getting bored / demotivated running by myself sooner or later… and I run a lot faster when I’ve got quick runners to chase. The complicating factor is that most clubs seem to have their runs at 7pm – exactly when it’s time to put the toddlers to bed. So, what factors should one consider when picking a club?
Random list in approximate order of importance:
1) Friendliness (you don’t want to be stuck with nasty folk, after all);
2) Location (bit silly to avoid the club next door, unless 1) applies);
3) Sessions (as above – you want a club whose sessions match your availability);
4) Facilities (less important for me – I’m not a gym bunny and don’t currently have time to take advantage of a bar, alas)
5) Competitions (not an issue for me in the near future – I can barely commit to a parkrun half the time)
6) Price (they seem to be roughly similar and v good value compared to a gym – apart from that £30 per month club that turned out to be a swimming club)
Right, what have I missed out or completely misprioritised?
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Mar 2013
4:29pm, 25 Mar 2013
23,179 posts
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Old Croc
even if you join a club and can't make some sessions you will soon meet some others in the same boat.
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Mar 2013
5:06pm, 25 Mar 2013
3,439 posts
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lazydaisy
I would really recommend joining a club. I am positive i have run more because of being a club member than I would have done on my own. If you're lucky, as I was, you'll find a club which has a range of abilities so is not too scary to join in with on that first club run.
if you look on your regular parkrun results list you'll see which clubs affiliated runners come from - that might help to suggest local clubs to investigate - you could even have a chat to the members on a Saturday morning?
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Mar 2013
6:21pm, 25 Mar 2013
747 posts
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macapple
Dooogs, I'll add my 2 cents for what it's worth as we are in a similar situation re: kids.
I joined a running club last year but am seriously considering whether or not to rejoin this year. I am a stay at home mother and my youngest is now in preschool for a few sessions. I run in these times as I can't be positive that my husband would make it back in time for a 7/7.30pm run (with travel time/warm up etc makes these 6.30/7 leaving the house). I have occasionally run with them in the holidays when I have the kids at home in the day and OH does make it home in time. This helps as I may do 3 miles on my own in an evening but will happily do more with company. I have gotten to know more people at races and via the clubs fb page and I do find you get more support at races if you wear a club vest.
However, I just don't know if I can justify paying for a running club that I "run" with about 5 times a year even with the other benefits it brings. I'm thinking I may not rejoin this year but would consider it in a few years when I'm back working and the kids are older, therefore can stay up later etc.
Sorry, probably the opposite opinion of everyone else on the thread.
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Mar 2013
6:37pm, 25 Mar 2013
8,449 posts
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fleecy
I'm in a similar position to mac, my dh gets home late or not at all and can't be relied on to ever get home for 7. I'm considering joining though as I know clubs do cross country races (usually on Saturdays) and other events at weekends and I may be able to make it to some of those. If you can't even make it to parkrun or an occasional evening run then it doesn't seem worth you bothering tbh. Find a running buddy who can run at a time you can make maybe?
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Mar 2013
6:45pm, 25 Mar 2013
15,751 posts
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sheri3004
Yeah me too. 7pm is just not a good time for me at the moment hence I haven't been to running club for a while, although I have really enjoyed it when I have been. The feats of organisation required to get me out of the house at that time make it unfeasible lately to manage more than once in a while. Because I work part time I do have an hour or two in the afternoon when I can run, so it's usually that or later in the evening.
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Mar 2013
6:51pm, 25 Mar 2013
748 posts
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macapple
Fleecy, I have done for some runs. I don't mind running on my own and I also don't mind running with company.
Sheri, That's what I often end up doing at weekends, just grab 30/60 mins and go while I can!
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Mar 2013
7:28pm, 25 Mar 2013
6,198 posts
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RichHL
My club experience has been fantastic. Each one is slightly different and has a different 'feel' so if you have a choice of clubs near you, visit each of them. Whoever suggested asking club runners at parkrun had a good idea there.
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Mar 2013
8:23pm, 25 Mar 2013
161 posts
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Dooogs
Thanks, all - it's very helpful to get multiple perspectives. Happily, Saturday 9am is one time when at the moment (please, 3 year old daughter, don't develop any pony club leanings), I can currently make it to parkrun. I might check if any of the local clubs (and at least two - possibly more - do periodic organised volunterring at the local parkrun) do Sunday daytime runs as that would fit the schedule better than weeknights.
Maybe I should start an insomniac / shift-workers' late night run?! That would frighten the locals - even me running solo has freaked out one or two tipsy kids heading home at 11pm...
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Mar 2013
9:24pm, 25 Mar 2013
72 posts
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Jo_London
I started running just under a year ago and am doing the VLM in a few weeks time [I did the Hyde Park 20m marathon prep run last weekend in 3h 41 mins at a lsr pace].
Now that I am a bit more confident about my running, I was thinking of joining a running club, but a bit nervous about it as well. But having read this thread, I might have a proper look at the clubs around central/north west london. Thanks for all the advice!
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Club Captain and Vice Captains - ideas
Sep 2022