Running Clubs

I'm a run leader with our local running group (Gatley Runners) - I did the one day basic coaching/leading course with England Athletics and that means any runs I 'lead' are insured by EA.

Its a really nice group; social running primarily with a wide mix of backgrounds and thanks to our founder (not me) we've 'specialised' in running 0-5k programs and run 2 or 3 each year - I think we're getting on for over a hundred 'graduates' now.

 

I joined a local running club for the "you can run" beginners training, but I was really disappointed. I paid £10, and the "training" was basically just the person who runs the club telling us what she did when she got into running and then us all running at our own pace. I also discovered I don't actually like running in a group.
On top of that I got quite ill in the third week, ended up with bronchitis, and I never finished the course, but the person in charge never even aknowledged my email when I told her I wouldn't be continuing. Might've been nice to get a refund!
I find the idea of paying someone so you can run along in their "club" quite odd.

 

To be fair, the coach was correct to say that you should run at your own pace - unless it involved an 'efforts' session, but I've never heard of a club charging for training only. My experience - based on 30+ years of running, is that you would normally pay more than £10 to join a club, on the basis that a joining fee usually includes a set of kit in the running club's colours - did you get any club running vest ?

Is the club registered with either England Athletics or the Association of Running Clubs ? It costs more than £10 for a club to register a member (every year) with English Athletics.

 

Unfortunately I haven’t got a good experience with running clubs,

I join Our local club for a taste session, and all they wanted to know , am I willing to do marshalling! When they have races.
Another club I tried. We meet in a car park, chatting about 10 minuets, then went for a warm up 2 miles jog , but it was faster than my normal pace and they dropped me. Did hill repeats then another two mile jog cool down, and yes I didn’t go back the following week,.

So nowadays I just go out on my own.

 

We're unusual in the way we do our 'usual' (not the 0-5km) runs, I believe - we make sure everyone can run 40 minutes continuously at their own pace (slow enough to be able to hold a conversation) - the faster runners double back to the back every so often (usually before turns/junctions) thus keeping the group more or less together. We do occasionally do 'training' sessions but those are clearly advertised as such and separate from the social run.

 

The "you can run" was advertised as a training group for beginners , sort of a couch to 5k but with guidance. They have a membership fee, but I didn't have to pay that, and non members pay a couple of pounds to run with them on their normal days. I didn't get anything for my money - apart from the company of other new runners. I don't think they are registered, but I'm not sure.

 

A membership fee - for what ?

I formed a running club about 14 or 15 years ago - which was based at the pub my family used to own - indeed, the running club was named after the pub and it was a fully affiliated running club. Non members were certainly not asked to pay a couple of pounds to run with us; indeed, on Sunday mornings when we did our longer runs, we were happy to see any runners turn up - they certainly didn't have to pay !

I can't see why they should have expected you to run on 'normal days'; my advice, would be to look for another club. I'd consider getting involved with Park Runs - they are an admirable concept.

 

I'm not surprised !

If you haven't done so already, try a Park Run.

 

Yep I do the local park run.

 

It's not for me - the whole point of running, for me at least, is the solitary time focused on just putting one foot in front of the other.