Just wanted to ask if anyone has joined the Lonely Goat Running Club and how they use their club membership?
When looking into the statistics of Parkrun, I saw that the Club most mentioned by Parkrunners is the Lonely Goat Running Club, so I’m wondering how members think their club experience is like? I’m considering registering, in order to have a club (beyond C25k) that I can name at (virtual) races and I believe it’s free. And the website suggests it gives another great experience of a running community? (Strava ✔️ Facebook 🙁 Instagram 🙁)
As you can see I’m getting closer in my thinking to my first ever Parkrun, but it might still be another 4-6months until then? But I have the tags, the BackTogether bracelet and am listening to Free Weekly Times podcasts! 🤣🤣
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For me, there'd be absolutely no point in joining, even with a free account. They say "Lonely Goat is an inclusive online running club and community. Run on your own terms – when it suits you." Well, I already do the latter, thanks, and see the HU forums as the former. There are free Strava clubs too.
Yeah, there is that. But it’s more of running goodness, I guess! Specifically for solo runners. It has a Strava presence as well, and I am watching what happens there. 👍🏽
I guess I just don't see why I'd need it, even though I suspect you don't get much more of a solo runner than me!
In the 15 months since I started C25K I've come across another runner precisely twice when I've been out on a run. One of those I never got to speak to, since he emerged from a forest path maybe 200m ahead of me and we were running in the same direction.
Also, you have to have a medical certificate to run in events here, regardless of club status. I ran solo for most of the one event I've done, a 22+k trail run, as the 68 others were almost all much faster than me!
I've done one or two virtual races for them, got nice medal for a couple of quid, but I rarely even use their facebook pages...I too have C25K as my club for parkrun.
You could give it a go, see how it feels for you...
Lonely Goat Club is well represented at races I find. The 🐐 logo stands out a mile! I’ve seen them at PR too, but I’ve never considered joining. For me personally it sounds very “solo”, and even though I run solo the vast majority of the time, I don’t want that label I guess.
👍🏽🤣 I think at the moment i cling to that label! 🤣 “Solo runner” sounds pretty good to me from where I am in my running journey… I’m still getting anxious when considering running with others! 🤣
I nearly always run on my own, even at parkrun., unless I am the Tailwalker. Occasionally I am running at the same pace as someone else and we might have a chat.
🙋🏻♀️ I'm a member but I've never done an official race/parkrun, affiliated or not so I'm not much help. You can join their FB group and see what you think without becoming a member. Mostly I find them supportive and knowledgeable, but there are some serious runners there who can be intimidating, even if they don't mean to be. 🙈
looking forwards to hearing what you find out - never heard of them either. I also registered on park run with NHS Couch to 5k but have yet to actually do it. I checked the results for the Edinburgh one on Saturday and it had around 500 runners and only about 5 of them were slower than me or in the region of my pace.... So I need to find an alternative that won't be a total embarassment! On the other hand, like you, I am very happy tootling along at my own pace. I ran with a colleague recently and it was torture as she was faster than me and even though she had slowed down, I was probably going a lot faster than usual. So perversely, I ended up with my slowest ever 5K as I had to actually stop and walk for a bit....
Edinburgh is a very nice parkrun. All very friendly so don't worry about being near the back. If you are anything like me you will run a bit faster in the fun of taking part. And remember - you absolutely cannot come last. There is always a friendly Tailwalker to do that.
🤣🤣 yeah, that sounds similar to me. I also looked at different park-runs and glad that I noticed at least 1 runner slower than me … until I realised that that must have been the tail runner. 🤣🤣
I joined but left the strava as they seemed very serious compared to me and I found health unlocked group much more supportive! But I still get emails which are sometimes interesting. I haven't done any actual races with them so can't comment there! I thought I'd join to get a running club but just found it hard to feel a member as yet....
I can't comment on the Lonley Goat thing, as never heard of it or them. I run solo because I live rural and im basically 'Billy no mates' don't have anyone to run with. That said, I think I enjoy it because then Im not tied to times routes etc, I go out when I can and do what I can. I love the 'me' time and it always makes me feel so much better. I guess at winter I have to start being a bit more careful, I still run on rural roads that are pitch black and no where near houses, and my other half is always concerned incase a car stopped and anything happened because no one would hear. I can't think like that otherwise I wouldn't go out and my running would suffer if I could only go at weekends in the light.I would say, go along to your local ParkRun though, even if you just watch the first one to get a feel for how it works. Ive only done 3, but I absoluetly love it! I run on my own at my own pace, but just love the atmosphere and I do tend to run faster because there is a little person inside me that gets quite competative when people keep overtaking!! Its a lovely friendly one, first week I did actually run along with another lady, and we chatted all the way round and I still did the fastest 5Km I've ever done. It doesn't matter what you do it in, its whether you get something out of it.
I love it when the results come through a couple of hours later , its a very efficent system.
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Running with a running club :-)
Who's in a running club? 
Running with the club 🥵
Ouch (click on pic to see my running club)
Running Club Virgin (and naked!)
