What are running clubs like?

[Vitty]

I'm thinking of joining a running club but worried everyone else will be too good (when I enquired they were doing a 5k time trial in their standard club night) Anyone got any experience of running clubs? I'm about to start week 5 so was going to wait till I finished the programme.

[Deryn61 Graduate]

They vary hugely. The ones near us vary from one that says "we dont want you unless you compete for us" to "come and join us we are a nice friendly social bunch and beginners are welcome".

The nice ones will let you go along for a few sessions before committing.

I wasnt going to join a club as the one I wanted to join (the sociable one) meets on a Weds when I go to choirc, but luckily my sister found out about a running group that does speed sessions on a Monday night on a playing field near me.

This is run by very keen people who are members of a competitve club but want to encourage all. The sessions aren't as frightening as they sound. Basically a couple of laps of a track in ability groups doing indian file, then different shortish sprint practices. I am not at all fast but it doesnt matter, the idea is to improve one's own running by doing this.

[Deryn61 Graduate]

You could ask at local running shops for any groups near you, and also go to parkrun if there is one convenient, good fun to do, but if not you could chat to the marshalls/regulars and ask about groups.