Invited to join a running group

[Evol]

Someone I know from work invited me to join a running group. I was shocked and said I wasn't up to it. She said it was social and everyone chats whilst running. I was thinking running, breathing and staying alive I can just about manage. Talking as well would be too much of a challenge!

[Seashells1980]

Be brave and give it ago (easy said then down) but it might be the best thing you do & if not you don’t go again but you will regret not trying x

[brilliantgirl]

Hi Evol,

I can only imagine how you feel as I have been in similar situations numerous times but my advice would be that maybe you should try joining in. I mean, worst case scenario you just walk and let them run. Most likely somebody will start walking and chatting with you. Maybe in the beginning you will feel like mostly walking instead of jogging and that's ok. And if you think you cannot jog and talk, just leave whoever is next to you talking to themselves.

Last week I went to my first Crossfit class in 2 year and I could not believe I actually survived it considering I am ridiculously out of shape so my advice to you is to try and go along.

You might be making it worst in your head then it will actually be and if you hate it you could simply not go again but at least you will know you've tried. Who knows...you might surprise yourself.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Most running clubs have at least two sections, one for beginners, the slow runners and a section for faster runners, If you go along with the slower running group you should be OK.

[MarkyD Graduate]

Per the advice for C25K in our pinned posts and in the podcast narrative for W1R1: you should be running at a conversational pace.

[Tasha99 Graduate]

Best thing I did as well as ParkRun

[Biddy62 Graduate]

I’ve joined two groups. A (mainly) road running group (club) and a casual trail group (Sat morns) I am so slow - always at the back but love the push it gives me. The group are so supportive. In our Slow Runners group (there are about 3-4 faster groups) everyone runs at their comfortable pace and when the front runners get to a point where they are 50-100m ahead they loop back to the back giving lots of encouragement. Lots of groups operate like this. I don’t feel bad at all.

As far as the chatting goes if I can’t do it I ask nice open questions like how did you get in to running and let them do all the talking 🤣.

Give it a go - as said above you don’t have to go back if it’s not for you. Good luck!! 😊

[Kevtrev]

I know were your coming from with that lol. But it probably would be good for you to have someone else to run with you might like it what’s to loose give it a go if u don’t like it don’t do it again at least you would of tried it and you can do it as you have done so well u should be proud of yourself 😉🏃🏼‍♂️