To join or not to join .... UPDATE

[littlemac24]

Well, I finally went for a trial run with my local running club last night.

I was very nervous for all the reasons I had discussed before. However, they were very welcoming and friendly and I was 1 of 3 newbies to the group. The other 2 had never run before so I thought I would be ok and was not as nervous as I’d been. I gave blood last week and have struggled a bit since with breathlessness. Apparently this is common until all your red blood cells have been replenished.

6.5k later, off road, up and down through the rolling hills of Yorkshire I reached the club house to finish the run. I may have been kn*****ed but i was not the last person home. Result!

So to answer my own questions from the first post on this topic ...

1) am I good enough? YES I was.

2) will it be too competitive? NO it wasn’t it was very encouraging & supportive.

3) will I be able to keep up? YES I could. The front runners looped round where possible to encourage those at the back.

So the big question is will I be joining?

I really enjoyed the run and the group, my legs ache like hell today though! The group was great and so supportive but I’m not sure about off road hill running. I can’t escape hills living where I do but i am able to choose easier routes.

So in conclusion I am going to go again and see if they do a different type of run and take it from there.

[Tasha99 Graduate10]

Joining a club was one of the best decisions I made last year! The fact that you’ll do things you wouldn’t ordinarily do on your own is exactly why you should definitely join, even just run with them once a week 👌🏽 My club has brought my running on loads! Enjoy 😊

[Tasha99 Graduate10]

Oh and another thing - the social aspect of my club and ParkRun has changed my life 😍

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

I think it sounds like a great running club littlemac24. 👍 You’re clearly fit enough for it, and think how much fitter still you’ll be after regular some off roading! 💪

[littlemac24 Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

😂🤣😂 not sure about that.

My legs don’t think so today.

[Deals1 Graduate10]

sounds like you did great!!

good plan to try it out again

I'm still debating joining a club

[littlemac24 Graduate10 in reply to Deals1]

Try it you’ve nothing to lose.

[Deals1 Graduate10 in reply to littlemac24]

U r right 😊😊

[damienair Administrator]

Embrace the hills and the off road running. It is certainly harder but when running in a group you will do it and push yourself more. It means then that you will be regular PB times every week at Parkrun.

It also results in your nice relaxed easy runs being nice relaxed and easy. But much faster than you would have done.

Damien.

[littlemac24 Graduate10 in reply to damienair]

Thank you for that Damien. It makes sense.

[Agelesslass Graduate10]

I joined a running club last July after plucking up the courage to go. Best decision I’ve made. Support is tremendous. Good luck with yours.

[Katiepops Graduate10]

I joined a club about 6 weeks ago. They do all sorts. Some are fanatical and competitive and I hear on the grapevine about some of the events they go to (generally ultra marathons or even better, ultra marathons in the dark through the woods!) but they seem quite normal and sane when I speak to them!

So far I have taken part in 6 mile XC runs in the woods and fields near me (not quite Yorkshire hills, but we do run the Chilterns), similar distances on roads, generally flattish round the outskirts of town and something they call ‘efforts’ which is jog/sprint training (don’t know what the purpose of it is!). Like you I was nervous about whether I was good enough, but seriously, the club has made me feel welcome and having people to run with makes going out when the weather isn’t great or it’s dark, much more fun.

I’m glad I joined. It’s given me a great motivational boost. Hope your club does the same for you.

[littlemac24 Graduate10 in reply to Katiepops]

Thank you 😊