Joining a Running Club

RenewedRunner

So how do you do it? I feel like a nerdy freaking high school kid, but do you just show up to an event? Do they have new members meetings? I have gone through the website and can't find it. Maybe I should just go to the monthly members meeting???

http://www.meetup.com/FayRunClub/

I have no clue how to join a running club. And I even googled it :embarassed:

prdavies1949

I, too am not a member of a running club, but am thinking about joining one. I suppose you just go on line, find one local to you and turn up to one of their meetings, cheque book in hand. However, is it worth it? We have come this far down the road in our running, is a running club that useful?

ContraryMaryMary

I can only share my experience. I joined our local YMCA a marathon club, went online and found out when they ran and showed up one morning. They were really welcoming and helped me decide which pack to run with. I was then introduced to the pack leader who kept her eye on me throughout the run to make sure I was keeping up ok. With my club you can run twice before being obliged to join. And yes, joining a club has been fantastic, even though I've been running for years - it's great to have company for the long runs and to try so many different routes that I'd never dreamt of. Do it.

schmenge55

I can only speak for our club (www.frtr.org) but we do not have new member meetings. We do have several group runs during the week, three club races and various activities throughout the year. I encourage people to try and make a group run and to "jump in." It's the best way to get started

Stoshew71

Our local club has a Facebook page that I joined. Different people announced group runs throughout the week in the FB group. I just showed up to 2 different ones that were announced that met near my home. They seem to like new faces. So now I became a regular for the past 3 weeks. I enjoyed myself. I am also daring like that.

pobalita

I found my club in a local running magazine. I visited their facebook page before I went and messaged the group leader about how to join - he said to just show up and run. My club doesn't cost anything, but many do charge something. Usually, they will let you run with them a couple times before they ask you to join.

I love my running club. I've met a lot of new friends, run trails in my neighborhood that I didn't know existed, and got great training tips and support. You won't regret joining one.

RenewedRunner

The local running group sponsors a lot of the local races and does a good bit of vomunteering at other ones.

For me, I am new(er) to this area so it would be great to meet some other people with my interests

jchite84

I have been tangentially involved with 3 different running clubs. Some have "dues" and others do not. All of the groups I was associated with, I found on Facebook. They have a regular group run in the week where they meet at a specific place and go for a set number of miles usually 3-7 miles. Then, people will post intermittently if they are going for a long run and are looking for a pacer, or just to see if anybody in the community wants to hook up and run. As far as "how to join", ask to be part of the facebook group, show up for the scheduled group runs, make friends, have fun, run hard. They are all fairly informal, with one exception. One group asked for dues, but you got a T-shirt and they would meet up for races, and host races. It was a larger group. If you have trouble finding one in your area, you might just put up an open facebook group and see if you can get anybody to join.