One of the great things about this wonderful sport of ours is that you can do it alone!! Many people enjoy running precisely because it gives them a little time to themselves. However, there are also great benefits from being a member of a running club. You don't have to be a fast runner, or spend all your spare time running, to get a lot out of being a club member.
There are a number of benefits from joining a running club:
• you'll get free advice from experienced runners (possibly qualified UKA coaches) on how to start running, how to avoid injury, how to improve, good routes to run, how to enter events, how to run at different speeds and over different distances, and so on;
• you will get motivation and enjoyment from running with other people; you will almost certainly find other people in a club who are about the same standard as you (even if you think you are slow);
• you may get discounts at local running and triathlon shops (on production of your current membership card) and on race entries.
Some clubs do have a few megastars that run fast, but there are plenty of runners who do it to control stress, keep fit, lose weight, or just as a way to socialise. Don't be daunted about joining a club. We have all been beginners at some time. All club members love running (that is why they do it!) and they are excited to welcome new people into the sport. So don't be shy of going along – they all want you to get as much fun out of running as they do.
Running clubs typically organise regular club runs, often with a social element, organise track training sessions and coaching, liaise with Athletics UK, inform members about events and races, enter teams in team events such as relays, provide information to members, organise social events, and organise races. Most of all, they link runners with other runners
Look around to find a club that suits you. You can look at a comprehensive list of running clubs here on Fetch or elsewhere such as the UKA website.
Joining A Club
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SummaryAll about what it's like to run with a club - for those who are thinking of it, but maybe a bit scared, or for those that have no idea what benefits it can bring.This article is owned by fetcheveryone |
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| Jul 2007 | fetcheveryone | Article created |