Athletics clubs...why join?

Cheers!

This is a bit of a stupid question but I don't really understand what an athletic club actually does?!

I've gotten in to running in the past year or two and I'm just wondering if I should join an athletics club..basically I'm just wondering what the benefits are?

Tnx

baza1976

Cheers! wrote: »

This is a bit of a stupid question but I don't really understand what an athletic club actually does?!
I've gotten in to running in the past year or two and I'm just wondering if I should join an athletics club..basically I'm just wondering what the benefits are?

Tnx

The words "Worms" and "Can" come to mind:rolleyes:

happy_73

For me it was getting to run in a group. When I started I was fairly heavy and it helped that I had arrangements made to run with other - made it harder for me to blow off a run.

Also I found that I got a huge amount of encouragement and advice from other runners in the club and it's brought on my running. I find the long runs go a lot quicker in a group myself.

S

doctorchick

Cheers! wrote: »

This is a bit of a stupid question but I don't really understand what an athletic club actually does?!

I've gotten in to running in the past year or two and I'm just wondering if I should join an athletics club..basically I'm just wondering what the benefits are?

Tnx

Well probably one of the biggest things that MAY benefit you as you say you have only got into running in the past year or two is getting to know a group of people who share a common obsession. You should be able to glean advice of the more experienced club runners, and quite often get access to contacts that may be useful that you may not have had before, eg physios.

Quite often clubs will have internal meets which might be a low-key/pressure introduction to racing which you may not of had access to as a 'solo' runner.

But as baza said, this could be a can or worms as with everything in running if you take 100 runners you will probably get 100 opinions, and some of them quite extreme.

ecoli

Some things which can benefits of a club:

Facilities - track etc

Training groups - Man clubs have a wide range of training groups from beginners to elite so you will always have people to train with

Coaching - Many clubs possess qualified coaches who can steer you in the right direction on how to get the best out of your training

Races - Many races become more available such as National championships , Novice - Senior , Cross Country, Road Relays and many more

Again can of worms which people are most likely going to bring up both sides of the argument quite soon after this comment

gerard65

I think your better off in a club if you want to improve your running. Until Boards AC came along I looked at the clubs in my area but their training times just did'nt suit. Most clubs cater for all levels now and you will improve, also the social aspect is worth it.

Oisin11178

Clubs are for some but not for me. I enquired with a couple and got no reply from 1 and lackluster replys from the rest. Not to say all clubs are like this but i like the freedom of running when and where i want. Beware of blanket advise in this subject by the way. For example stuff like ."if you wanna get your times down you should join a club" for some its excellent and for others its not. Maybe go along and try it out for a couple of sessions.

8ofSpades

Oisin11178 wrote: »

got no reply from 1

+1

emailed the contacts of my local club months ago and never heard even a whimper

trotter_inc

You get to wear a club singlet, which makes you look like you know what you're doing

Have seriously thought about this myself. Started running early last year, ran Cork Marathon 2009 and 2010, both times were under 3:14. I love running and thought about joining a club but still haven't done anything about it. Why? Probably because I love running when "I" feel like it, I'm afraid that if I knew I had to be at training at a particular time each week that it would take some of the enjoyment out of it.

But, hey, I can't say for sure as I've never bothered going to even talk to a club What I do miss and would like more of is to talk to other runners about their experiences and I this is probably one of the biggest pros of joining a club.

--amadeus--

Some people are "joiners". They like being with like minded people and being part of a group.

Some people aren't. They like freedom and flexibility and prefer to work or train to thier own schedule.

Clubs are full of good advice. But so are books and internet forums. Your times will come down if you join a club. But they will if you read up and learn how to train smart off your own bat. Some clubs are brilliant - friendly and welcoming and open to runners of all levels. Others aren't - they are cliquey and stand offish and want only the quick guys.

Talk to a couple of clubs in your area, do a few sessions and see how you get on, it's not a one size fits all.

thirtyfoot

If you have ambition to maximise your ability, join a club. If you are happy with your lot, go solo. Depends what you want to get out of the sport and what your ambition is regardless of ability.

The model used by the best distance runners worldwise whether east Africa or even the States is to train in a group with like minded individuals and guided by coaches and athletes who have done it all before. This works for elite and works for runners of all abilities in high performance centres and clubs all around the world.

You can't get experience on the net or in a book and that is the key. Context is crucial. Clyde Hart is a top sprints coach. He abhors people taking his programs off the net and trying to apply them in their environment as he believes it probably won't work as you will have different athlete types, different weather, different facilities, different abilities, different mental makeup etc etc . In a club you will have experience all around you and its face to face when the guys around you will see your form, give you a tap on the back when you are bent over after an interval, lead you out and drag you through when you are struggling on a tempo.

I heard Paul Tergat say last year that the best way to train is train in a group. A club will facilitate this. You will also see in person those who are giving you advice and know whether they are a spoofer or a bluffer. The internet is full of bluffers or spoofers who know diddly squat and think they know this and that because they have read a few books and have a few acronyms and a bit of jargon. At least when you see someone in person you will know or get a sense and see the proof in the pudding. Join a club, test yourself, its a no brainer.

ocnoc

Clubs are great to structure into training. During the winter I dragged myself down to my local club for a track session once a week. Everything else is done by myself

Having someone who's raced at a very high level, its great to be able to throw ideas past them - such as 10 x reps up Lug for leg strength is probably a bit too much. Stick to 5 etc. They know what sessions can be used to develop speed/ strength/ endurance/ whatever so your not wasting time experimenting on stuff that won't work

Where clubs come into play are in competitions - be it XC, Road or Mountain.
It can be an extra driving force to pass that one person in front of you to get a better placing for your clubs overall result.

shels4ever

Tingle wrote: »

If you have ambition to maximise your ability, join a club. If you are happy with your lot, go solo. Depends what you want to get out of the sport and what your ambition is regardless of ability.

The model used by the best distance runners worldwise whether east Africa or even the States is to train in a group with like minded individuals and guided by coaches and athletes who have done it all before. This works for elite and works for runners of all abilities in high performance centres and clubs all around the world.

You can't get experience on the net or in a book and that is the key. Context is crucial. Clyde Hart is a top sprints coach. He abhors people taking his programs off the net and trying to apply them in their environment as he believes it probably won't work as you will have different athlete types, different weather, different facilities, different abilities, different mental makeup etc etc . In a club you will have experience all around you and its face to face when the guys around you will see your form, give you a tap on the back when you are bent over after an interval, lead you out and drag you through when you are struggling on a tempo.

I heard Paul Tergat say last year that the best way to train is train in a group. A club will facilitate this. You will also see in person those who are giving you advice and know whether they are a spoofer or a bluffer. The internet is full of bluffers or spoofers who know diddly squat and think they know this and that because they have read a few books and have a few acronyms and a bit of jargon. At least when you see someone in person you will know or get a sense and see the proof in the pudding. Join a club, test yourself, its a no brainer.

+1
Where do i sign up

hunnymonster

as a Boards AC member you get to say things like
"I'm in the same club as the winners of the Wicklow Way Relay 2010"
and
"I'm in the club that organises the pace groups for the Dublin/Limerick/Cork marathons"
and various other statements that allow you to glow in the reflected glory of your clubmates.


I also have a special affection for Athenry AC and you would not believe the eye strain I've gotten from starting down roads looking to catch a glimpse of the next blue (boards ac) or purple (athenry) singlet. I've gone hoarse from cheering people on. Somehow, it's just not the same yelling "com'on Nike spring/summer 2010, looking good" as it is yelling "Come on Athenry, you're not trying hard enough"

Other advantages of club membership is the option (and it's not an obligation!) to train with similar runners which WILL improve your performances. It will also get you out the door on that raining november night when you'd rather go to the pub. You also get membership of AAI with most (all?) club membership. If your club has a juvenile section you can contribute to the next generation of young athletes. I wasn't a member of a club for years but I've gotten so much fun and pride out of running with club runners that I'm very glad to be a member of Boards AC these days.

kennyb3

Having joined a cycling club and come on a bundle since, id say definitely join a club. Reasons for me include:

1. You learn loads from other more experienced members

2. Great to chat with others about running, and obviously there is a social side to it. You ll no doubt make more friends away from your pub going friends.

3. As said already - good facilities, particularly useful for intervals.

4. You get to run with others of a similar or even slightly better pace which will bring you on further.

Only reason i havent joined a club myself is im always bloody injured!

Puck

I hope I'm not dragging the thread off topic here but how does Boards AC stack up against a more traditional/local club? I've been thinking about joining a club for a while. My local club has a fairly good reputation and the email I got back from them was friendly and helpful, unfortunately their training times don't suit me. This thread makes clubs sound great so it's got me interested again, but how many of the benefits of a local club could an online based club provide? Also there seem to be some amazing runners in BAC and I'm... not. I'm pretty slow (like really slooow) but enjoying building up my milage in preparation for DCM this year.

I know this isn't a BAC thread but I'm interested in joining a club and BAC seems like the only one that might possibly suit me.

Cheers!

Tingle wrote: »

test yourself

Those two words have just made me decide to join!!

Thanx for all the input everyone!

thirtyfoot

Where you based as people could make suggestions!

RayCun

Puck wrote: »

I hope I'm not dragging the thread off topic here but how does Boards AC stack up against a more traditional/local club?

If you want to do group training sessions and use facilities, Boards wouldn't suit.
If you're more interested in AAI membership and meeting up at/running teams in races, Boards could be for you.

RoyMcC

I'm a member of two excellent clubs but, in 12 years, I've never trained with the running groups. Despite what Mr Tingle says (and I value his opinions) my particular performance wouldn't improve in a million years by so doing. As Amadeus says, there are those who will maximise their performances by solo training - albeit these probably aren't in the elite category

Being part of a club has a wider meaning, if you allow it. I'm proud to pull on one of my club vests when racing, for example. Falling across the line in Cork I'd felt that I'd done it for Jersey Spartan as well as for me. It makes you feel part of the athletics community and the healthy inter-club rivalry that exists. There is always a need for administrators, officials and (above all) coaches who want to continue to learn and to assist others where they can.

Most rewarding (though not for everybody) is the involvement in juvenile/junior athletics and helping as many youngsters as possible learn new skills and learn how to compete hard and win and lose with equal grace.

So yes, join a club and you will get a huge amount out of it in return - maybe not just the obvious things.