Sould I join a club..and if so which one?

fungirl1

Let me begin by apologising because I am sure this have been covered a 1000 times already..running a bit more than a year. Training went to pot last winter - I hate the treadmill, think its not safe to run alone in the dark as a woman = very little running done last winter...so have had to build it up from scratch this spring/summer.
Also I am very poor at varying my running - I just run..and if I think i can run faster then I try..if I feel like I am going to die..I slow down. At the moment my best pace is about 6m per km ...but that tapers off rapidly over longer distances - 10m is 1:50...My immediate training goal is the Dublin HM in September. I have no ambitions for a full marathon - but would like to be faster / more comfortable on distances up to HM.
Anyway I got to thinking that joining a club for the winter might be a good idea..but I am afraid I am too slow / inexperienced. Am I?
I live on the north side of Dublin - anyone care to recommend a club that would be open to v amateurish beginners like myself?

Thanks in advance for the suggestions

thirtyfoot

Clonliffe have a growing ladies section that has loads of absolute beginners and would be perfect for you. I'll PM you details if you want.

christeb

Just sent you a PM on Raheny Shamrocks - I would join whichever is closer to you, both are great clubs.

tunney

Tingle wrote: »

Clonliffe have a growing ladies section that has loads of absolute beginners and would be perfect for you. I'll PM you details if you want.

Could you send these to me too please. I leave right beside Clonliffe and herself is trying to get back into running.

El Director

I run with Liffey Valley and love it. New comers are made feel very welcome indeed. Great coaches too, training is Tues and Thurs in The Phoenix Park. There are 4/5 groups so you would be slotted into a group with runners of the same pace as you. Right now we are doing long(ish) slow runs, about 1 hour at a 8/9 min/mile pace, doing this for another month or so and then it will be into interval stuff, 4x800m, 6x600m, 10x300m etc..... There is usually one or two that decide of a night just to jog and thats fine too as you will have a partner for that too. My GF is about the same pace you yourself and she will be joining soon too so you won't be the only newbie

http://www.liffeyvalleyac.com/home.html

fungirl1

Tingle wrote: »

Clonliffe have a growing ladies section that has loads of absolute beginners and would be perfect for you. I'll PM you details if you want.

Tingle - please pm me the details! Thanks a million.

maria74

Hi, Just tagging on here also and wondering are there any clubs North Co Dublin anyone knows off. Only running few months and I too am worried about running alone in winter and I know once I get out of routine it will be hard to get back into. Thanks

ntlbell

El Director wrote: »

I run with Liffey Valley and love it. New comers are made feel very welcome indeed. Great coaches too, training is Tues and Thurs in The Phoenix Park. There are 4/5 groups so you would be slotted into a group with runners of the same pace as you. Right now we are doing long(ish) slow runs, about 1 hour at a 8/9 min/mile pace, doing this for another month or so and then it will be into interval stuff, 4x800m, 6x600m, 10x300m etc..... There is usually one or two that decide of a night just to jog and thats fine too as you will have a partner for that too. My GF is about the same pace you yourself and she will be joining soon too so you won't be the only newbie

http://www.liffeyvalleyac.com/home.html

what costs are involved running with a club like this?

El Director

Well I was running with them for 6 months before I paid anything. They don't pressure you at all, they prefer you try it for a while to make sure you like it first. I will say this it is important to give it a good chance, 3/4 weeks at least before you make up your mind. Hope this helps.

fungirl1

more stupid questions - where are Raheny Shamrocks based? - am I right in thinking Clonliffe are based in Santry? I think Liffey Valley is probably too far away for me- I am in Drumcondra.

TheRoadRunner

fungirl1 wrote: »

more stupid questions - where are Raheny Shamrocks based? - am I right in thinking Clonliffe are based in Santry? I think Liffey Valley is probably too far away for me- I am in Drumcondra.

Liffey valley are beside the Phoenix park. Clonliffe are based in Santry (Morton stadium) and are probably the closest club to you.

Oisin11178

What nights do clonliffe and raheny train?
im surfing on a phone at the moment so cant get the info myself.

christeb

Oisin11178 wrote: »

What nights do clonliffe and raheny train?
im surfing on a phone at the moment so cant get the info myself.

Raheny train every night at 630, 6pm on Weds though for hill intervals in Howth. 8am for the Marathoners LSR on Sunday and 10am intervals session on Sat.

Oisin11178

christeb wrote: »

Raheny train every night at 630, 6pm on Weds though for hill intervals in Howth. 8am for the Marathoners LSR on Sunday and 10am intervals session on Sat.

Was thinking about dropping down tomorrow night with a mate. Where does the training start and is it ok just to drop by?
Also what sort of training and milage do they do on weeknights?

gowayuwilya

Im gonna try get in on this thread...moving to dublin in the next week or two and dont want my training to go to pot...any clubs around ranelagh,rathmines,donnybrook area?

meathcountysec

gowayuwilya wrote: »

Im gonna try get in on this thread...moving to dublin in the next week or two and dont want my training to go to pot...any clubs around ranelagh,rathmines,donnybrook area?

In Donnybrook you wouldn't be a million miles from Crusaders in Ringsend.

smmoore79

gowayuwilya wrote: »

Im gonna try get in on this thread...moving to dublin in the next week or two and dont want my training to go to pot...any clubs around ranelagh,rathmines,donnybrook area?

Yep, Crusaders would be about 30 min walk/15 min cycle from Ranelagh. Im thinking of joining them too, so turned up yesterday, was made very welcome and got a good training session done with the guys there. Main training is Tuesday at 6.30..

gowayuwilya

cheers for dat lads

Oisin11178

Myself and a mate went down to have a look at raheny shamrocks last night. For love nor money we could not find the clubhouse. Kept getting directed to some really old building at the back of a scout den. Finally rang one of the numbers of the website and got no answer.

ecoli

Oisin11178 wrote: »

Myself and a mate went down to have a look at raheny shamrocks last night. For love nor money we could not find the clubhouse. Kept getting directed to some really old building at the back of a scout den. Finally rang one of the numbers of the website and got no answer.

Its beside the Garda station AFAIK

MisterDrak

Oisin11178 wrote: »

Myself and a mate went down to have a look at raheny shamrocks last night. For love nor money we could not find the clubhouse. Kept getting directed to some really old building at the back of a scout den. Finally rang one of the numbers of the website and got no answer.

Thats the place alright... The lads were probably out on a run being Thursdays. Drop christeb a PM, and he will sort you out. He is one of the shamrocks. Im down there a bit, but not a member at the moment, just support most of their 2 mile races.

christeb

Oisin11178 wrote: »

Myself and a mate went down to have a look at raheny shamrocks last night. For love nor money we could not find the clubhouse. Kept getting directed to some really old building at the back of a scout den. Finally rang one of the numbers of the website and got no answer.

Sorry to hear that. The scout den is across the rd from the church, and the clubhouse is down the side of this, tricky to find. It's not near the Garda station.

Come down to intervals on Sat morning from 10am, main sesh starts at 1030. Meet on the grass beside the kids playground, PM me if you want my number.

Oisin11178

christeb wrote: »

Sorry to hear that. The scout den is across the rd from the church, and the clubhouse is down the side of this, tricky to find. It's not near the Garda station.

Come down to intervals on Sat morning from 10am, main sesh starts at 1030. Meet on the grass beside the kids playground, PM me if you want my number.

Yeah we found it. Its in a strange spot alright. Im down in longford this weekend. Ill pop down next week or the week after.

ecoli

christeb wrote: »

It's not near the Garda station.

My bad was trying to remember from the Raheny 5, getting forgetful in my old age:o

Stark

Oisin11178 wrote: »

Myself and a mate went down to have a look at raheny shamrocks last night. For love nor money we could not find the clubhouse. Kept getting directed to some really old building at the back of a scout den.

That is the clubhouse from the sounds of it.

Oisin11178

Stark wrote: »

That is the clubhouse from the sounds of it.

Yeah its in rough nick to say the least:D

BTH

Sorry for the thread hijack, but I was wondering what type of midweek training do athletic clubs do from now till Xmas. I started tri's this year and am doing 10k in 41min and 5k in 19:30. Need some serious work over the winter as I think I can go much quicker. Would i benefit from a tuesday night with a club. If its only track work i don't think this is what I need for the winter.

Macanri

Oisin11178 wrote: »

Yeah its in rough nick to say the least:D

I agree, it is in bad shape - but - when i was in the club house before a winter race series I was looking at the plans for their proposed new club house which would be located around the corner. It looked great, and it will be great to see it getting built. The club is a great amenity and the new building would be fronting on to the street. It will be great to see it.