Any female running clubs?

HowDoI

I want to join a female running club but for complete beginners, I've never really ran I'm overweight but want to start exercising, gyms can be dear & don't know where to start so thought maybe a running club to see how I go?
I find gyms a bit intimidating as well so if it was a group of like minded girls it might be easier for me.
Preferably in the south Dublin area from 7pm onwards, anyone have any suggestions?

rom

HowDoI wrote: »

I want to join a female running club but for complete beginners, I've never really ran I'm overweight but want to start exercising, gyms can be dear & don't know where to start so thought maybe a running club to see how I go?
I find gyms a bit intimidating as well so if it was a group of like minded girls it might be easier for me.
Preferably in the south Dublin area from 7pm onwards, anyone have any suggestions?

Most fit4life clubs are more female than male. I know what you mean when starting off. I used to run at night so no one would see me when starting off.

RayCun

There are no female only clubs.
A lot of clubs will have more women than men in some training groups, more men than women in others.
You could try Brothers Pearse in Knocklyon. Come along to a session or two and see what you think.
(but when I reread your post I see you are only starting to run. Most clubs will expect you to be able to run a bit before you join, unless they have a group for absolute beginners)

KielyUnusual

Maybe not female only running clubs but I've certainly seen female only running groups running through Fairview Park and along Clontarf. A quick Google hasn't enlightened me to what the group is. I know its not the southside but its not too far north side. Perhaps someone else here will know where the group originates.

Fiona44

Look up 'forget the gym'. They might be what you're looking for. I've seen them training out along Sandymount strand They are an all women running group and seem to cater to complete beginners.

cailin_milis

There's a group called Run With Tina that meet in a few different locations. I think it's about €120 for the course. More of a business than a club, but it's aimed at complete beginners.

KielyUnusual

Here you go

http://forgetthegym.ie/what-we-do/beginners-running/

They run in Sandymount as well as Clontarf.

eoinín

Sloggers to Joggers is a women only running group, though they are based in Malahide

www.sloggerstojoggers.ie

pconn062

cailin_milis wrote: »

There's a group called Run With Tina that meet in a few different locations. I think it's about €120 for the course. More of a business than a club, but it's aimed at complete beginners.

I would advise against this personally. The great thing about running and running clubs is that it's typically a very cheap hobby. With most running clubs you could get a full years membership for the same price of one of these 8 week courses (our club for example is only €60 for the year). Plus some of the testimonials seem a little funny "learning to run has never been so much fun!!".

Who needs a class to teach them how to run?

Ososlo

pconn062 wrote: »

I would advise against this personally. The great thing about running and running clubs is that it's typically a very cheap hobby. With most running clubs you could get a full years membership for the same price of one of these 8 week courses (our club for example is only €60 for the year). Plus some of the testimonials seem a little funny "learning to run has never been so much fun!!".

Who needs a class to teach them how to run?

If I could thank this post twice then I would:)

rom

cailin_milis wrote: »

There's a group called Run With Tina that meet in a few different locations. I think it's about €120 for the course. More of a business than a club, but it's aimed at complete beginners.

must contain myself... must not rant....

Seriously though there are loads of free options to this.

cailin_milis

rom wrote: »

must contain myself... must not rant....

Seriously though there are loads of free options to this.

I agree. Was just thinking that this might have been the group that the OP saw so I posted the response. As I said, it's a business rather than a club so there are many options out there

rom

cailin_milis wrote: »

I agree. Was just thinking that this might have been the group that the OP saw so I posted the response. As I said, it's a business rather than a club so there are many options out there

It just annoys me that everyone knows about these companies and run5k with ray etc but no one would provide the following link

http://www.athleticsireland.ie/clubs/fit4life/find-a-fit4life-club

Peterx

Well maybe there is a lesson here for the athletic clubs and athletics Ireland.
Promotion and advertising works.

I can think of at least four clubs within the south Dublin area that would be able to advise a beginner as to oprions, unfortunately the beginner cannot easily find this information, as evidenced by the original post.

T runner

pconn062 wrote: »

I would advise against this personally. The great thing about running and running clubs is that it's typically a very cheap hobby. With most running clubs you could get a full years membership for the same price of one of these 8 week courses (our club for example is only €60 for the year). Plus some of the testimonials seem a little funny "learning to run has never been so much fun!!".

Who needs a class to teach them how to run?

I know where you're coming from but what the OP stipulated is most accurately met by some of these groups to be honest. I've seen similarly groups who have idenfified this niche at home in Sligo and elsewhere. I wouldn't be too cycnical about these groups just because people make a living from them.

Fit4life is orientated towards people trying to get fit and lose weight, and for that reason it may be less intimidating (than a club) for a beginner. As Peterx said they (and the hosting clubs) need to get that message out there.

For many women and possibly for the OP one of the women only groups might be a better option. She has all the info she needs here, and this is indeed quite a useful thread.

Lastly I wouldn't knock the "learning to run" slogan. Were all learning to run in a sense. You can do it on your own but it surely is more fun in a group setting.

Tom Joad

rom wrote: »

It just annoys me that everyone knows about these companies and run5k with ray etc but no one would provide the following link

http://www.athleticsireland.ie/clubs/fit4life/find-a-fit4life-club

And I just followed that link and the page doesn't display properly - you can't make out the email addresses or contact person. And I see then that there is no fit4life club anywhere near me but the page helpfully suggests you contact your local development team about setting up a new fit4life club - contact for my area - TBC ???.

nerraw1111

Given the OP's request, those running groups are ideal. There's a very good reason why such groups exist despite the abundance of running clubs.

I can't see how anyone can knock the run with Ray 5kms.

rom

nerraw1111 wrote: »

Given the OP's request, those running groups are ideal. There's a very good reason why such groups exist despite the abundance of running clubs.

I can't see how anyone can knock the run with Ray 5kms.

I ain't knocking it but more the lack of advertising of fit4life is my issue.

pconn062

T runner wrote: »

I know where you're coming from but what the OP stipulated is most accurately met by some of these groups to be honest. I've seen similarly groups who have idenfified this niche at home in Sligo and elsewhere. I wouldn't be too cycnical about these groups just because people make a living from them.

Fit4life is orientated towards people trying to get fit and lose weight, and for that reason it may be less intimidating (than a club) for a beginner. As Peterx said they (and the hosting clubs) need to get that message out there.

For many women and possibly for the OP one of the women only groups might be a better option. She has all the info she needs here, and this is indeed quite a useful thread.

Lastly I wouldn't knock the "learning to run" slogan. Were all learning to run in a sense. You can do it on your own but it surely is more fun in a group setting.

I have no issue with Fit4life groups, a lot of athletics clubs offer these for as little as €2 a week. It's the "learn to run" with us for €128 for eight weeks that I have an issue with. Personally, I learnt to run before I was two years old, I might still be learning to train, but no adult needs to be taught how to run. Also if the OP has a long term commitment to take up running then these groups aren't really an option unless you are happy to spend up to €800 a year on these courses.

Peterx

pconn062 wrote: »

I have no issue with Fit4life groups, a lot of athletics clubs offer these for as little as €2 a week. It's the "learn to run" with us for €128 for eight weeks that I have an issue with. Personally, I learnt to run before I was two years old, I might still be learning to train, but no adult needs to be taught how to run. Also if the OP has a long term commitment to take up running then these groups aren't really an option unless you are happy to spend up to €800 a year on these courses.

I think the €2 a week is the problem here.

Halfway between €2 and €128 it's clickety click, 66. Complete novices don't see the value of a €16 eight week course. If it costs €128 it must be good. If a running club can do it for half of that great stuff.

If your (not your club, any club) club charged €64 for the 8 week course and advertised it properly you would get a steady stream of both income and new clubmates.

At week 7 of the 8 weeks tell them they can have another 44 weeks of training for €65 and hey presto, new clubmates for a fairly standard €130 a year.

Sometimes it's all about how you wrap it up.

And you also need to wrap it up for the poor club volunteers who will be running these eight week courses.
Tell them one of two things depending on their needs;

A - the monies raised go directly to the juniors/clubhouse development
B - If the new runners pay the second €65 and join the club the volunteer gets the money.

HowDoI

Thanks for the replies, much appreciated.
I am not actually from Dublin so I didn't know what facilities were available only moved here in recent months.
Athletic clubs would be intimidating to get into and I was thinking some kind of a club as they would encourage you and keep you motivated, I've done things before alone and never stuck to them so my thought process was if I joined or paid money towards something I'd make sure I went and availed of it, it's a hard step to take and I want to do it now so wanted all the motivation I could get.
I do know how to run I know we all learned as toddlers it's the routine of a
Club and the encouragement within a group of like minded individuals is what I was looking for.
I'll look into a few more options now thank you for the advice, google wasn't a huge help for absolute beginners but now I have a few more links to try

groovyg

If you are lacking self esteem, motivation and not very fast a running club is going to be very intimidating for any beginner to join and those groups while expensive I think are ideal.
Its all good and well suggesting fit 4 life but running those programmes depend on volunteers within the clubs.

tHE vAGGABOND

When I started running first, I got a couch to 5k app for my phone and started from there. You play music and every so often app tells you to walk or run, and over 8-10 weeks it builds you up slowly to the point you can run for 30 mins/5k by the end.

Its brilliant and tried and tested by millions of people [literally at this point]

Personally, I only joined a club much much later...

Ososlo

+1 for the couch to 5k app. It's fantastic. You can do the workouts on days and times that suit yourself and you can repeat days to suit yourself or skip a session if you have a niggle etc.
Best of all is that it's completely free

Well now, I did run with tina, and I learned how to run. Yup. I did!

I learned how to breath, I learned about posture, foot placement, I learned how to pace myself. I learned a lot of things that the app wouldn't have taught me and I had tried it before.

I learned all of that less than six months ago (when I couldn't run 500 metres) and I'm doing the Dublin half marathon next weekend.

So yeh, I'd recommend run with tina or similar. Definitely

Ososlo

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Well now, I did run with tina, and I learned how to run. Yup. I did!

I learned how to breath, I learned about posture, foot placement, I learned how to pace myself. I learned a lot of things that the app wouldn't have taught me and I had tried it before.

I learned all of that less than six months ago (when I couldn't run 500 metres) and I'm doing the Dublin half marathon next weekend.

So yeh, I'd recommend run with tina or similar. Definitely

I learned all those things from the app and achieved the same result as yourself
Just saying. ..
but of course the op should do whatever helps most to motivate herself and if that means spending money on a course then so be it cause let's face it, everyone should run

eviltwin

Meetup.com might have a group in your area

rom

Deleted User wrote: »

Well now, I did run with tina, and I learned how to run. Yup. I did!

I learned how to breath, I learned about posture, foot placement, I learned how to pace myself. I learned a lot of things that the app wouldn't have taught me and I had tried it before.

I learned all of that less than six months ago (when I couldn't run 500 metres) and I'm doing the Dublin half marathon next weekend.

So yeh, I'd recommend run with tina or similar. Definitely

She knows her stuff alright.

Ososlo

Ososlo wrote: »

I learned all those things from the app and achieved the same result as yourself
Just saying. ..
but of course the op should do whatever helps most to motivate herself and if that means spending money on a course then so be it cause let's face it, everyone should run

You must have a much better app than the one I had as there was very little by way of "coaching" on mine. If there is all that info on them, that's brilliant.

Of course most people haven't gone to a class to learn how to run, but if the OP is looking for a class to help to help her get there, then I would recommend run with tina. I needed the extra push, as I had absolutely no belief that I could run any distance because any time I had tried, I had failed.

Honestly though, it was the best €120 I've ever spent.

RayCun

groovyg wrote: »

If you are lacking self esteem, motivation and not very fast a running club is going to be very intimidating for any beginner to join and those groups while expensive I think are ideal.
Its all good and well suggesting fit 4 life but running those programmes depend on volunteers within the clubs.

I completely disagree. There might be some clubs out there that only contain fast people, but a lot of clubs have a wide mix of people. Deciding to go to that first session is a big step, but that's true of a commercial running group too. The idea of a running club is more intimidating than the actuality.

Tar.Aldarion

Everybody is not the same, my friend is quite a good triathlete yet only was learning how to run better recently, and whose to say you are running well if it only hurts you a few years later?

Whatever works for you works, don't knock others peoples method. A class is also motivation and support. (I know there are free clubs but having somebody assess you an encourage you in particular is good)

Some Kind of Wizard

Tar.Aldarion wrote: »

Everybody is not the same, my friend is quite a good triathlete yet only was learning how to run better recently, and whose to say you are running well if it only hurts you a few years later?

Whatever works for you works, don't knock others peoples method. A class is also motivation and support. (I know there are free clubs but having somebody assess you an encourage you in particular is good)

A club will trump a class in pretty much any regard be it support and motivation, or from a technical standpoint on running technique.

Some Kind of Wizard

Some Kind of Wizard wrote: »

A club will trump a class in pretty much any regard be it support and motivation, or from a technical standpoint on running technique.

Why do you think that? Genuine question.

Ososlo

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Why do you think that? Genuine question.

I'd imagine that the technical information you'd receive from a club coach would be far superior.
The instructors in tina's classes aren't qualified running coaches and most of them don't have an awful lot of running experience.
To be an instructor you just have to hold any kind of fitness qualification and not a specifically running qualification. I would imagine coaches in clubs would be qualified running coaches.

pconn062

Deleted User wrote: »

Why do you think that? Genuine question.

Typically they will have qualifications from Athletics Ireland specifically in the area of running coaching (as opposed to fitness instruction). And in nearly every instance I know, they will have been involved in athletics at a high level for a long period of time. And as everybody is competing for the same club, motivation and support are high on the agenda at most clubs.

I'm not knocking these classes by the way, I'm sure they work for some people. I just find it slightly odd that these companies are charging pretty big money to do the same thing that an athletics club will do for a fraction of the cost. Also I find it slightly disconcerting that people with no qualifications are commenting on things like "posture and foot placement". But for complete beginner like the OP who wants to train exclusively with other beginner women, they might be the best place to start before moving to an athletics club or fit4life group.

pconn062

Maybe the instructor I had was an exception, but she is a qualified running coach, with a BS in Sports Science, and has been running for over 10 years.

pconn062 wrote: »

Also I find it slightly disconcerting that people with no qualifications are commenting on things like "posture and foot placement"..

Well I'm sorry that you find it disconcerting, I'm only commenting on what I learned from my instructor.

T runner

Some Kind of Wizard wrote: »

A club will trump a class in pretty much any regard be it support and motivation, or from a technical standpoint on running technique.

I don't agree with that from the point of view of a beginner. The fact that a club either fails to attract or is indifferent to attracting beginner athletes, points to a lack of expertise in the field of taking non-runners and getting them into fitness and exercise. Not blaming the clubs, but its the reality. The classes succeed here where the clubs fail.
Sure there is more expertise in technical matters in clubs. However, there is more expertise in providing a non-intimidating, fun, friendly experience (that will include getting fit) in the classes and that is the requirement.

They pretty much always trump the clubs in this regard for that demographic.

RayCun

Arguably the greater expertise is in advertising and presentation, rather than what happens at the session

pconn062

Deleted User wrote: »

Maybe the instructor I had was an exception, but she is a qualified running coach, with a BS in Sports Science, and has been running for over 10 years.



Well I'm sorry that you find it disconcerting, I'm only commenting on what I learned from my instructor.

I didn't mean I find it disconcerting that you were commenting on those things, but that the instructor was!

pconn062

pconn062 wrote: »

I didn't mean I find it disconcerting that you were commenting on those things, but that the instructor was!

Ah I see, but as I said, she is qualified.

ecoli

pconn062 wrote: »

I didn't mean I find it disconcerting that you were commenting on those things, but that the instructor was!

To be fair going from the posters comments it seems that the instructor in question does seem to have qualifications in the field and a bit of a background in running.

As an accredited Exercise Physiologist I have experience in postural analysis, injury prevention

However I do see the concern as there are a number of the instructors who would seem to be relatively new to running themselves.

You could argue that some clubs don't have the qualifications either as the AAI Coaching is a relatively new addition however this does not on its own discredit their coaching ability as I know a coach from my club who managed to produce a handful of Irish International athletes as well as Irish record holders without as much as an Athletics Leaders qualification.

The benefit of a club is that you have a pool of expertise and experience that transcends the volunteer instructors as you get input from other club members.

However, there is more expertise in providing a non-intimidating, fun, friendly experience (that will include getting fit) in the classes and that is the requirement.

I don't agree on this point. I think once an athlete makes the approach to a club the atmosphere meets all the criteria probably more than a business setting through the passion of the volunteer coaches. I think the problem comes down to the marketing of it to the general public in terms of external perception (before they ever get near the club or the group itself)

Ososlo

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Ah I see, but as I said, she is qualified.

At the end of the day it doesn't really matter if she is or isn't as the bottom line is that you don't need someone to teach you how to run or breath or pace yourself. If it was a lot cheaper or free then I'd have more time for it but it seems like a crazy amount of money.
But if it helps people get motivated and stick to it then what harm.
I wonder what percentage of graduates keep it up.
I know a few women who took up running and did it in a small group. They would only train with the group and never on their own. The group gradually faded onto oblivion and none of them kept it up as they were all afraid to run on their own. I think it's important to learn how to run on your own too in the beginning.

yaboya1

Ososlo wrote: »

They would only train with the group and never on their own.

Some women are the opposite. Not naming names or anything....:P

Ososlo

yaboya1 wrote: »

Some women are the opposite. Not naming names or anything....:P

Who's the only one who's still running?

yaboya1

Ososlo wrote: »

Who's the only one who's still running?

Maybe you should set up a thread on boards that helps out novice runners to run a marathon or something?

Oh hang on......

Ososlo

yaboya1 wrote: »

Maybe you should set up a thread on boards that helps out novice runners to run a marathon or something?

Oh hang on......

How about I start charging:D

yaboya1

Ososlo wrote: »

How about I start charging:D

I'd say around €128 for eight weeks to start

Sacksian

Would agree that clubs are a great place to start for beginners, whatever your age or standard. They're organisations full of people donating time to run or helping other people run; it's the most supportive environment you're going to find! Try out the Fit4Life group in your local club - it'll either be full of people who are themselves starting off or people who know what it's like to be starting off.

Separately, I don't see what's contentious about running being something you can teach. Surely, it's still a technical sport, especially for adult beginners. Maybe I wouldn't have to do this if I ran when I was younger, but I'm always working on my form and picking up drills/tips to correct posture - still loads to do but I've found attention to the technical detail of running has improved my times. Ironically, I've got most of that stuff from reading online rather than through club coaching!

Ososlo

Sacksian wrote: »

Would agree that clubs are a great place to start for beginners, whatever your age or standard. They're organisations full of people donating time to run or helping other people run; it's the most supportive environment you're going to find! Try out the Fit4Life group in your local club - it'll either be full of people who are themselves starting off or people who know what it's like to be starting off.

Separately, I don't see what's contentious about running being something you can teach. Surely, it's still a technical sport, especially for adult beginners. Maybe I wouldn't have to do this if I ran when I was younger, but I'm always working on my form and picking up drills/tips to correct posture - still loads to do but I've found attention to the technical detail of running has improved my times. Ironically, I've got most of that stuff from reading online rather than through club coaching!

re the teaching thing, yes I agree in that people can teach you to improve your running form on a running course but I'm fairly sure these courses like chi courses would be run by people who are professionally qualified in the areas. In the website under discussion, to be an instructor, you don't need a running/coaching qualification. It's more about passion and enthusiasm for fitness and you have to posess some kind of fitness qualification but not necessarily a running one and the instructors are all not that experienced. Some obviously are as a poster above has stated through personal experience.

Ososlo

Ososlo wrote: »

At the end of the day it doesn't really matter if she is or isn't as the bottom line is that you don't need someone to teach you how to run or breath or pace yourself. If it was a lot cheaper or free then I'd have more time for it but it seems like a crazy amount of money.

Well it was suggested that it did matter, if there's nothing to learn about running, then why would one become a running coach? Perhaps I'm picking you up wrong, but to go from saying that you don't need someone to teach you to run, to saying that someone isn't qualified enough to teach you to run, seems odd.

I did need someone to teach me breathing and to pace myself, it's exactly what I needed in fact.

But if it helps people get motivated and stick to it then what harm.

Exactly

I wonder what percentage of graduates keep it up.
I know a few women who took up running and did it in a small group. They would only train with the group and never on their own. The group gradually faded onto oblivion and none of them kept it up as they were all afraid to run on their own. I think it's important to learn how to run on your own too in the beginning.

I've genuinely no idea whatsoever, I didn't keep in touch with anyone in my class. The reason I did Run with tina was because a girl I worked with recommended it, she went from hating the thoughts of running, to loving it and I figured if she could do it, I could. She still runs 3 times a week and did the Dun Laoghaire 10km a few weeks ago, so there's no doubt it has worked for us at least.

Part of the course is running one day a week on your own, and my instructor recommended that you do exactly that, for the reasons you outline.

Look, I wasn't trying to start an argument about the rights and wrongs of a group like run with tina. My experience has been extremely positive and going by the OP's details she may benefit from similar.

I recently started a thread about whether or not I'm ready to join a club, and that's even taking into account the fact that I run around 40km a week, so I still think clubs are a little intimidating, and there isn't a hope I'd have joined one 6 months ago. I do understand how, if you're part of a club, you would find it a bit difficult to understand that - I really do - but at the end of the day, if it gets people to love running then as you said, what harm.

frogstar

I'm part of one of the bigger running clubs that cater for all levels.

While it is a great club, the Fit4life gets neglected with no real plan. As mentioned previously, it is dependent on volunteers and they come and go but mainly the girls (mainly female) are left to fend for themselves

I did a couch to 5k course. It was v cheap and great motivation. Now I'm in in the club. Not sure I would have stuck with running had I went directly to club as when I did join they had me running 10k on first week when 5k was the longest run before.

So while run with Tina may sound expensive (I paid 50 euro for my couch to 5k) I do think it's worth it . I tried the app but I'm the type of person where group running motivates me.