Deciding to expand your social circle and meet fellow runners is a huge step. Building community beyond you, your coach, and a few running friends is an excellent way to make running more sustainable and hold you accountable to your training plan.
Determining if you’re ready
There are many reasons runners come up with for not wanting to join a run club yet. Worries hold a lot of runners back and may impair your ability to enjoy all aspects of this sport. Maybe you don’t think you can run fast enough, you’re worried about not knowing anyone, or you don’t know the neighborhood. A lot of these reasons are related to a fear of being judged, which is very common.
When I started running, I didn’t join a run club for 1.5 years after seriously starting. I didn’t want to join a run club because I thought I would be too slow and the runners would laugh at me, just a variety of thoughts that were ultimately unfounded. If you run, you’re a runner.
When you aren’t really integrated into the running community and training aspects, you might think everyone runs an 8 minute pace casually and anything slower than that is too slow. That’s what I initially thought too when I first started getting into running casually. Every run would be a test of speed to see if I could get faster and closer to that 8 minute time. Chasing a pace you think is “normal” by turning every run into a speed test is what leads to injury.
I frequently have to tell my clients that you need to “run slow to run fast”. I joke with them when they do a recovery run at a faster pace than they should by saying “Hello [Olympian’s name]!” My services are not designed for Olympians, and I’ve (mostly) accepted that I won’t be an Olympian either. You don’t need to be an Olympic-level runner to enjoy running, though!
If you run, you’re ready. If you run/walk, you’re ready. If you want to only walk, you’re ready. There is not a requirement saying you have to run, or even finish the route. You can modify the route for yourself, too. Or run out with the group and run back early. You have options.
Runners are some of the most welcoming folks around. Run clubs, at least the enjoyable ones, are supposed to be social activities. Some run clubs even have a no-drop rule where they ensure someone will run with a runner if they fall behind the group. This is especially common for new group members, no one wants you to get lost!
Benefits
There are many benefits to joining a running community outside of pure movement.
Fun
Run clubs are fun. When you find a group you get along with and look forward to attending, you’ve found your run club. Knocking out ten miles can feel like you just started when you’re chatting the whole way, which is what makes running fun. Maybe ten miles sounds miserable to you right now, but misery loves company and social connection is a great distraction while you crank out the miles.
Some run clubs also hang out after the run, like going out for a meal or getting coffee. It allows for greater ways to see someone, spend time with your new friends to strengthen the connection, and lead to friends you meet with outside of the run club.
Mental Health
Running is great for your mood, but running with other people can take it further. According to recent research on run clubs, they combine social connection with the benefits of physical activity. Together, these can strengthen social connectedness and support, which may be protective factors against anxiety and depression. Run clubs aren’t a replacement for professional support, but they can be a meaningful part of taking care of your mental health.
If you work from home, have recently moved to a new city, or are going through a tough season of life, a run club can put something on your calendar that gets you out of the house regularly. Run clubs, by nature of being outside and with others, help to reduce social isolation. There is also an easy conversation starter built in: you all run, so you can start by talking about running.
Accountability
A run club is a fantastic way to keep yourself physically and socially accountable. If you go to a run club for a while, you’ll feel committed to attend future meetings. If you skip, you might not have the social interaction part of running for that week. Fellow run club mates may reach out to check on you if you stop showing up because they value your presence. Run clubs can motivate you to keep up with your runs so you can keep up with your friends.
Networking
At a run club, you will meet many different people. You’ll learn about them, and since work is a big part of many adults’ lives, you will likely learn what they do. Perhaps they are in a similar industry, so now you have a colleague you could ask questions. Or maybe you are curious about other industries and just want to learn more. Regardless, run clubs can help to expand both professional and personal networks.
Let’s talk!
I am an RRCA-Certified Adult Distance Running Coach at Anchor Endurance, LLC. I have worked with many athletes, all with different needs and goals. Please reach out today for a complimentary 20-minute phone consultation to see if we are a good fit and get more information on run coaching services provided by Anchor Endurance. You can also email me at [email protected].
