How to join a running club (and not be last)
The short answer
Pick a club whose runs fit your week and that says beginners are welcome, with pace groups. At your first session, arrive early, tell the leader it's your first time, run in the slowest group at a pace where you can talk, and say thanks after. Tap Join on the club's page when it feels right.
The hardest part of joining a running club is the first session, and most of that worry is about being slow. This guide is about that first run: picking the group, what to bring, what to say, and how not to be last. To find a club near you first, see how to find a running club near you. It's one of livedot's guides to finding a club or race.
Pick a club that fits your week
The best club is the one you'll actually turn up to. Look at when and where it meets before anything else: a Tuesday and Thursday evening run near your work is worth more than a famous club an hour away. Each club's page on RunFast shows its weekly runs, start times and meeting points.
Look for two things: beginners and pace groups
Clubs that want new runners say so. Look for Beginners welcome on the club's page, and for its pace groups, such as "5:30–7:00 /km". Pace groups are the secret to never being left behind: everyone runs with people at their own speed and meets up at the end.
If you've never timed yourself, a pace of 7:00 per km or slower is a comfortable jog for most new runners. Start in the slowest group. You can always move up.
Your first session
What to bring: shoes you've run in before, water if it's hot, your phone, and a light or bright top if it starts in the dark. Check the run's weather on the club's page the evening before.
- Arrive ten minutes early and tell whoever's leading that it's your first time. They'll point you to the right group.
- Run at a pace where you can talk. If you can't finish a sentence, slow down. Nobody minds.
- Don't race the warm-up. The people sprinting at the start are often the ones walking at the end.
- Say thanks to the group leader afterwards. That's how you become a regular.
Join, and get the next run in your list
When it feels right, tap Join on the club's page on RunFast. If you don't have an account yet, you make a free one in the same step and come straight back to the club. The club's next runs are then in your list, with the weather for your pace.
Not last, and if you are
Somebody is always last, and in a good club the group waits. Most clubs run a loop or an out-and-back so slower runners cut it short and finish together. If you find the slowest group too fast, tell the leader: it's useful for them to know, and some clubs run a walk-run group for exactly this reason.
Questions
Am I too slow for a running club?
Almost certainly not. Clubs that welcome beginners usually have a slow group, and the leader of that group expects new people. Look for 'Beginners welcome' and the pace groups on the club's page before you go.
Do I have to pay to join a running club?
Joining a club's page on RunFast is free. Some clubs charge a yearly fee for race entries or kit; ask the club. Your first session is usually free.
What should I bring to my first club run?
Shoes you've run in before, water if it's hot, your phone, and a light top for the start. Arrive ten minutes early so you can find the group and say hello.
What if the slowest group is too fast?
Tell the leader. Most groups wait at turns or loop back for the last runner, and some clubs run a walk-run group for new runners. Running at a pace where you can talk is the right pace.
