How do Clubs Work?

**Portia**

May seem like an obvious question but haven't really a clue how they are run. Have many questions such as; Do people train together all the time? How do the teams work? Do they require a lot of commitment? How good do you have to be to join them? Would be interested in joining one but have reservations as no.1 I am not v.fast and No. 2 Work quite long hours Mon- Fri and so may not always fit my schedule. Any advice would be appreciated thanks.

Portia

RoyMcC

You'll find clubs operate in different ways Portia. You need to find one that suits you. However most clubs these days are happy to have anyone join and - assuming you are a distance runner (i.e. not a track & field athlete), will usually offer group runs and training for all levels of ability.

You don't have to put yourself forward for team races and no one will force you to. However if you were good enough you'd probably want to. But you would be expected to wear your club singlet in any races you enter, and most of us plodders do so with pride.

If you tell us which part of the world you are the guys/gals on here will make some suggestions.

ecoli

I will try to answer your questions categorically from my own experiences

Do people train together all the time?with college commitments and work i often was training on my own and have only recently started training with one main partner How do the teams work?Usually teams are selected uniquely for each event based on recent performances or general observations in training(sometimes even called up to make the numbers but no obligation Do they require a lot of commitment?Like i said before i would be lucky to make an appearance once every two weeks How good do you have to be to join them?Clubs welcome all levels mostly and usually they try to introduce you to groups around the similar level to yourself
Would be interested in joining one but have reservations as no.1 I am not v.fast and No. 2 Work quite long hours Mon- Fri and so may not always fit my schedule. What area would you be looking to join a club in. AAI website contain list of clubs

Condo131

Hi Portia, These are questions that *LOTS* of people ask themselves and many are afraid/reluctant to approach clubs/club members, so I welcome your post and will try to answer quickly.

**Portia** wrote: »

Do people train together all the time?

Short answer is no. The way my club works is that we have two formal sessions on the track each week. On any given night between 5 and 15% of our active members turn up. I suspect that some members don't even know where the track is.
At weekends we have semi-formal long(er) runs, some on grass (where people can drop in/out), and some on road. On other days, some members make their own arrangements to meet. We post about informal runs on the club's closed (to non-members) email newsgroup.

**Portia** wrote: »

How do the teams work?

That depends on the club and how many people are running. If its BHAA, then everyone counts and its first X past the post, subject to M/F constraints.

IF its AAI Championships, then the club enters its nominated team(s). My Club enters everyone interested in running. My Club (and every other as far as I know) doesn't compel anyone to run in a championship. That doesn't mean that we won't try to *cajole* or otherwise get someone to run in championships.

If its just an ordinary open race, then everyone counts and winning teams comprise those fast enough to get in the first x past the post.

**Portia** wrote: »

Do they require a lot of commitment?

In short, as much as you are prepared/want to give.

**Portia** wrote: »

How good do you have to be to join them?

Without being smart, you need to be able to run! Seriously though, you just need to be able to run. Having said that though, there are a small number of [imho, elitist] clubs that plainly aren't interested in 'average' [whatever that may be] runners - you'll suss them out quickly enough. The majority of clubs welcome runners of any standards.

If you're concerned about being too slow/'not good enough', then I suggest looking up some race results and checking for your prospective clubs [I presume that you already have a club or two in mind]. if everyone is up there at the very top, it can be an indicator of the level of athlete in the club. On the other hand, if there is a spread throughout the field [a healthy sign, imho], then you can be pretty sure that everyone is welcome.

Actually to qualify my answer, you don't have to run at all - most clubs are *crying out* for coaches and administrators!

Most clubs operate a 'try before you' buy policy, so you can check them out for a few weeks before laying your money down.

I regularly approach unattached (club-wise ) runners and suggest that they check out my club. The most frequent answer I get, even from someone who may have just absolutely *kicked my ass*, is "I wouldn't be good enough!" Absolute nonsense! As I said, most clubs welcome everyone, no matter what standard.

**Portia** wrote: »

Would be interested in joining one but have reservations as no.1 I am not v.fast and No. 2 Work quite long hours Mon- Fri and so may not always fit my schedule.

1. We were all there once ( I'm getting there again ). Running with others is absolutely outstanding for bringing you on, between long runs, speedwork and simply getting you out. Rome wasn't built in a day.

2. Lots of people have constraints like that, particularly including shift-workers.

Hope that goes some way towards answering your concerns. My advice: Go for it!:)

tunney

**Portia** wrote: »

May seem like an obvious question but haven't really a clue how they are run. Have many questions such as; Do people train together all the time? How do the teams work? Do they require a lot of commitment? How good do you have to be to join them? Would be interested in joining one but have reservations as no.1 I am not v.fast and No. 2 Work quite long hours Mon- Fri and so may not always fit my schedule. Any advice would be appreciated thanks.

Portia

What sport? Triathlon or running?

Peterx

To the OP,

I found that the club worked

By that I mean I know that there is always a session on every Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday that I can attend without feeling pressure to attend.
In a busy lifestyle that's a great certainty to have.
Most clubs are very happy to have people show for a few weeks to see does it suit them and most clubs have runners of all standards so you will find a group to run with.

I found the regular training with better AND also more dedicated runners then me really brought my running on. If you get involved with the cross country side of things the team aspect can be very rewarding, running for a team can also really bring out the bes tin your running - depending on your approach obviously..

GOOD LUCK

Pherekydes

tunney wrote: »

What sport? Triathlon or running?

Or Athletics?


Another point about clubs is that they usually have club races and championships, so you can gauge where you stand within the club. There's never any compulsion to take part in these races, at least in the clubs I've been associated with.

**Portia**

Thans for all the info, lots of food for thought, i'm based in malahide so not sure if there is a club near enough for it to be convenient. Either way might try and get my times at a more respectable level (it's long distance running btw as opposed to tri/athletics) before I put myself out there!

shaungil

Hi Portia,
You might want to contact the new Fingal Tri club. Just started late this season and looking for any triathletes in the north dublin area. They train in Alsaa Malahide and Swords http://www.fingaltri.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46:training-sessions&catid=35:training-sessions&Itemid=59.

Dave Russell from Lusk is involved and very helpful and nice fellow. Seems to be a lot of newbies as well so might be a good time to join up. www.fingaltri.ie

Shaun