My running itinerary
Posted at 18:06 in Running
The only official races I have ever entered before has been the race for life each year, which most of you will know is a 5k run to raise cash for cancer research.
However, as I have increased my running in preparation for my first ever half marathon, I have wanted to enter more official races. As a result, I have the following races that I have entered so far, though I plan on adding more:
- May 23rd – Sutton Coldfield 10k
- June 16th – 5k Race For Life
- July 3rd – Birmingham Black Country Half Marathon
- September 19th – Great North Run
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I recently learned about Park Run which is a genius idea – weekly timed 5k races around the world. Sadly, the nearest event for me is still quite a distance away so it’s not really feasible but I hope they bring one closer to where I live as that would soon get me out of bed on a Saturday morning.
I have also considered joining a running club. I’ve never considered this before and the thought terrifies me, mostly because I fear them to be cliquey and worry that I would be the slowest member.
Do any of my lovely readers belong to a running club? Or have you ever? What are your experiences?
I’m a member of a running club but it’s one with a nice slow pace, as I’m very slow! It’s really good because it’s so much easier to run when you have other people to chat to, you don’t have to think about where you’re going and for me it takes my mind off all the other things which are going on in my head when I run alone! It’s also ’safety in numbers’, gets you more variety with routes and running with other people can encourage you to challenge yourself !
The one that I go to isn’t cliquey at all, everyone talks to everyone and they have a ‘peel back’ system where when you’ve been at the front for a while you then run to the back of the group so that no-one gets left behind!
Some running clubs can be cliquey though, or just run and leave people behind, I’ve heard some horror stories! However, I think it’s worth going along for a session and trying it and seeing how it goes. If you don’t like it you can look elsewhere or just go back to running alone!
Thanks for taking the time to offer your experience Lucy, I really appreciate it. It sounds like you have a fab running club, that’s the sort of club I would love to join. I want to try out different routes and want to be able to trail run without having to go alone.
I admire you for being able to do the runs. I have bad knees so I walk, but I am grateful that I can walk and I strive for 3 fast miles in 40 minutes outside up and down some hills at least 6 times a week.
Best wishes as you continue your adventures with running.
Oh, I sympathise with your bad knees. I injured my knee in 2008 and it drove me mad not being able to run. 3 miles in 40 minutes by walking is an absolutely amazing goal, most people can’t even RUN that distance in such a time so bravo!
I am in a running group that runs once a week. Everyone is really nice and many people go at their own pace. I joined through a friend that told me about it, so I had a friend there when I started. I understand why you would be nervous joining one alone! You can always try it out and see how it is!
Hey Courtney, thanks for sharing your experience with me :) There are a couple of local clubs that I could try out, I think I just need to bite the bullet and go for it. I’m not normally a shy or nervous person and can talk anyone to death but this just feels a bit daunting. I might try and talk the husband into going with me the first time
I love my running club!
I started out as a sloooooooow plodder but I’m getting quicker and I wouldnt have got there without the kick up the butt that running with a group and having a bit of competition gives me!
Try one or two and see how you go – I love getting to know the local area better and running routes I would never do on m own.
It is a little daunting to start with but it’s soooooo worth it once you’ve found ‘your’ club :-)
Thanks so much for sharing, the more I think about it the more I want to do it. I think having the club to go to would give me the kick too, I really want to work on my speed a bit and I think having others with me will push me, even though I am pretty good at pushing myself.
I’m definitely edging more towards joining at the moment, I’ve checked out my local club and it looks really good :)
Hi Jo,
I have joined a running club a while ago and that has been one of the best thing I’ve done. They are all so very friendly and have even offered to run a bit slower so I can keep up with them :)
Often you can try one session to see if you like it so maybe do that!
Let us know how you get on!
Caroline xx
Thanks mate, I was hoping you would pop on and let me know about your club. I’m definitely leaning towards going at the moment :)
x
I joined a club last year with my running buddy as we needed to get out of our comfort zones. The club had many different groups to suit the differing levels from 3 mile run/walk up to 18 miles fast paced! Seemed ideal at the start but they were so cliquey it was pathetic, we were usually ignored or met with blank stares if we dared to try & chat to anyone :0/ Not to mention the amount of times I witnessed people get left behind or when we were chased by some tramps in the local woods!!!
I dropped out because of this & also my stamina dropped as they would stop every few miles or so for a breather. I started to get used to these little breaks during running whereas previously I could go an 1hr 20 mins without stopping..
My club could have been one of the bad ‘uns so I hope i haven’t put you off. Maybe Mr Jag could accompany you whilst you suss a few out?
xxx
See, this is the kind of experience I would be worried about, I’ve read so many mixed things about running clubs I’d be worried about cliques, etc. Scary getting chased by tramps, I would have freaked out!
Thanks so much for sharing your experience with me x