Running club/ group for slow recreational runner?

stick_figure

Background

So I'm a 28 y/o girl living near Dublin city centre who has messed about doing 10k's and the like in the past few years. This year I've signed up for the Dublin half-marathon, and since I don't know anybody else doing it, I thought a training club might be useful and fun. I'd love to get faster - I currently run 9-10 min/miles - and have a tough time following a program of speed drills, tempo runs etc alone. It's just easier to lace up the shoes and bang out a few slow miles!

Advice needed!

Do running clubs REALLY cater for all level of runner? I was at the finish line of the MM this year and all the girls coming through in club gear were really, really fast. Tell me everybody in the clubs aren't going to be that amazing!?! I suffer from a horrible fear of being awful at things, and would probably drop out if this was the case

Maybe somebody could suggest some more informal running groups in Dublin? I haven't had any success googling for them so any info would be really appreciated!

Thanks everybody

HardyEustace

Maybe fit4life would be a good way to start?

I don't really know about running clubs in Dublin.

Stupid_Private

I've mentioned on here before that my club, Liffey Valley, have a fairly large female section that REALLY caters for all levels. They train out of the Phoenix Park on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The club house is in Islandbridge - it'd be a good bet to jump along there some evening and see what you think. If you need any more details just send me a PM.

Found my old post there...

During my warm down the last day in Phoenix Park I saw the women's group from Liffey Valley on their warm up run. Couldn't get over how many there was in the group - Easily over 50. Must be the bright evenings or the women's mini marathon that's encouraging so many down. Or maybe it's like that year round and I just haven't noticed as it'd been dark every evening since I joined! If you're looking for a good group to train with you'll definitely find someone of the same standard down there.

--amadeus--

*cough*BoardsAC; PM Woddle for details*cough*

Stupid_Private

--amadeus-- wrote: »

*cough*BoardsAC; PM Woddle for details*cough*

While I'm fully behind the whole Boards AC thing and think it has huge potential, what does it offer at the moment for a new club member? For example the poster has mentioned about not being motivated enough to do speed sessions alone and is therefore looking for a group to train with. As yet there doesn't seem to be any fixed group training sessions with Boards AC and what it comes across as, to me anyway, is a banner for likeminded people who train alone to race under. If someone is looking for group training then Boards AC in its current start up format wouldn't be the place to go.

--amadeus--

Yeah good point. AFAIK there are plans to get coordinated sessions pulled together but if its group sessions then a traditional club is probably a better idea.

hunnymonster

also worth having a look at the map
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=60259841
to see if there is anyone near you. Good luck with the half marathon.

copacetic

sportsworld in terenure seems to have a large number of 'meet and train' runners which may suit you OP.

meathcountysec

You will find contact details for Fit4Life groups here:

http://www.athleticsireland.ie/content/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/Fit4Life%20Meet%20n%20Train%20clubs%2008.pdf

Your friendly neighbourhood athletics club may offer something similar

http://www.athleticsireland.ie/content/?page_id=6239

Keep it fun and keep up the good work. Not all club runners are super svelte specimens of man/womanhood. I carry some excess tonnage myself and regularly feature at the nether end of race results:p. As has been said here before just ENJOY YOURSELF:cool:

stick_figure

Thanks everybody My friendly local club appears to be Crusaders, which is terrifyingly hardcore from the outside. Don't they have minimum race times as a qualifier to join? Anybody know anything firsthand about them?

The Liffey Valley one sounds a bit more inviting but I lack personal transport (apart from my getaway sticks ) so Islandbridge is too far - thank you though!

And the whole have fun thing- I wish I could!! Everybody I know tells me to get over it, but in 28 years I've never been able to. I can't even tell my friends I'm doing the half marathon as the fear of "losing" to them will suck all enjoyment out of it. I know, I know, I'm nuts!

meathcountysec

stick_figure wrote: »

I can't even tell my friends I'm doing the half marathon as the fear of "losing" to them will suck all enjoyment out of it. I know, I know, I'm nuts!

But now you have us to talk to about it;) Some find putting up a training log gives them some encouragement. I'd still push the Fit4Life angle to you myself. Any groups local?

stick_figure

Crusaders is my closest Fit4Life so I'll drop the contact guy an email

thirtyfoot

RoyMcC is a Cru' and he should be able to help, they are very open to all.

RoyMcC

stick_figure wrote: »

Crusaders is my closest Fit4Life so I'll drop the contact guy an email

PM-ing you, thanks Mr Tingle

littlebug

+1 on fit4life. The group I go to has people of all abilities - the super fast runners/ fast joggers/ slower joggers/ jogger walkers and walkers. It's great as you can move up a group as you feel able or back if you're having a slow week. The encouragement and advice is great and I've found it really motivating to have something to aim for. They're great for encouraging everyone to take part in the local races too.

tunguska

stick_figure wrote: »

And the whole have fun thing- I wish I could!! Everybody I know tells me to get over it, but in 28 years I've never been able to. I can't even tell my friends I'm doing the half marathon as the fear of "losing" to them will suck all enjoyment out of it. I know, I know, I'm nuts!

Fun is overrated...........Im joking(well half joking). You obviously like running races so theres your fun straight away and thats all you need. You're not nuts, its perfectly natural to fear being beaten in a race by people you know. Its a healthy fear (up to a point anyway) it'll keep you honest in your training and on race day. But be mindful of what youre saying to yourself aswell. I mean if youre constantly telling yourself youre gonna get beat then you'll get beat.
And dont be afraid of joining that running club for fear of everybody being elite or so much better than you. Appearnces can be very deceptive. You can see groups out running from clubs and everybody looks super fit or whatever but in reality thats not the case. I did a triathlon last week and when I went down to the starting area everybody looked the part: They had the bikes and all the gear but when it actually came to racing(and I mean no disrespect here) a lot of people werent what they appeared to be in terms of race performance.
So like I said, appearances can be deceptive. Join that club, you'll be so glad you did because when you train in a group you're fitness and race performance take a big leap in the right direction.

Racing Flat

In the southside, Sportsworld appear to cater very well for all levels of women.

ecoli

Over the last while there has been a large increase in women joining the club i am a member of Tallaght Ac. Alot of these women see the MM as there targets and have flourished with the help of the large group
Hope this helps