Out of shape and joining a running club? (Drogheda)

Howdy folks,


Pretty much wondering does anyone here know anything of Drogheda & District Athletics/Running Club? I've been out jogging a little over the summer months but haven't really been at it at all lately. Was using it as part of an exercise regime and proper diet, etc. to lose weight, but over the last month i've practically given up on it. So was considering joining the Drogheda club to use as a bit of a motivational aid to keep me interested and force myself to go out more often.


But I'm not at all fit (at my best I could do 5k jogging, but even then felt like falling over and dying) so I'm not sure if I'd even really be welcomed at such a club or not.. so was wondering if anyone here had any real info or advice at all?

(I'd presume the attitude/mentality of all running clubs in the country is fairly similar?)


Cheers for anyone with any insight into it at all. Wouldn't know where to start at all.

RJM85

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Howdy folks,


Pretty much wondering does anyone here know anything of Drogheda & District Athletics/Running Club? I've been out jogging a little over the summer months but haven't really been at it at all lately. Was using it as part of an exercise regime and proper diet, etc. to lose weight, but over the last month i've practically given up on it. So was considering joining the Drogheda club to use as a bit of a motivational aid to keep me interested and force myself to go out more often.


But I'm not at all fit (at my best I could do 5k jogging, but even then felt like falling over and dying) so I'm not sure if I'd even really be welcomed at such a club or not.. so was wondering if anyone here had any real info or advice at all?

(I'd presume the attitude/mentality of all running clubs in the country is fairly similar?)


Cheers for anyone with any insight into it at all. Wouldn't know where to start at all.

I'd say you'd be more than welcome.

Peckham

Don't know anything about them, but judging by the sheer volume of Drogheda & District club members, posters and banners lining the marathon route yesterday I'd say they're a fine club to join.

Like most good clubs, they will cater for all abilities and ages.

pconn062

The only advice I can give you about Drogheda and District AC is that you should join Dunleer AC instead!

Seriously, they are a big club and have lots of slow runners so you would fit right in. Your current fitness wouldn't matter as they accept all levels. I'm not sure where you get the opinion that running clubs wouldn't be welcoming to people who aren't fit. I can tell you the exact opposite is true, clubs are always glad to get new members, no matter their current fitness/weight.

But seriously, join Dunleer AC, we train in Drogheda too!

pconn062

Cheers for the replies, guys I appreciate it

Glad to hear that the clubs are generally quite welcoming to people of all ability levels. That's good news, so, anyway.

pconn062 wrote: »

But seriously, join Dunleer AC, we train in Drogheda too!

I wouldn't necessarily say no to Dunleer. It's only around the corner. Is there any real benefit to it over Drogheda though?

pconn062

Deleted User wrote: »

Cheers for the replies, guys I appreciate it

Glad to hear that the clubs are generally quite welcoming to people of all ability levels. That's good news, so, anyway.





I wouldn't necessarily say no to Dunleer. It's only around the corner. Is there any real benefit to it over Drogheda though?

To be honest, I would actually say you would be better going to Drogheda for a while. They have a better Fit4life setup than we do and would have lots of runners at the slower end of the spectrum. We are considering starting a new Fit4life programme but it will probably January before we get it off the ground. Good luck either way, if you want more info on Dunleer AC just PM me!

Timelesszone

Hi there, I'm a member of Drogheda District Ac and we cater for all levels from beginners, fit for life, sprinters, marathon groups and more.

There are various paced groups within the club and you will be made feel very welcome.

I myself had never ran at all until I joined the club and I completed
my second marathon yesterday :-)

Training is on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, so why don't you come along.

Cheers for that, pconn062. I appreciate it. I've no idea what Fit4Life is (the fatties club, I'll presume :P ) but who knows. I might end up out your way before you know it (especially if Dunleer is smaller.. not a fan of crowds.. and from what I gather the Drogheda one is quite bustly )


Timelesszone, the training on tuesdays and thursdays, are both at running tracks as far as i am aware. How do they gauge your fitness level (or do you, yourself, decide where you'd like to start?) and do you actually run on the tracks and such (i see a lot of them out and about on the town and on roads and stuff (or at least I assume its the drogheda club) so is a choice thing or..?)


And is there any idea on how they are with headphones? My experience is that I can't go anything faster than a walking pace without them, but i get the feeling that they would be frowned upon in a club (as its supposed to be sociable or such?).


Sorry for the silly questions just trying to get my head around what to expect if i do walk in..

Timelesszone

Pm sent Kkv

hf4z6sqo7vjngi

DDAC will look after you, a great club to be in.

frogstar

pconn062 wrote: »

To be honest, I would actually say you would be better going to Drogheda for a while. They have a better Fit4life setup than we do and would have lots of runners at the slower end of the spectrum. We are considering starting a new Fit4life programme but it will probably January before we get it off the ground. Good luck either way, if you want more info on Dunleer AC just PM me!

I think this partly answers why some people (mainly slower runners ) are of the opinion running clubs may not be welcoming. I know DDAC well and yes they cater for all levels so are a great club for beginners.

But you even say yourself pconn that the poster will be better with DDAC as your club is not fully set up for fit 4 life (til new year at least)

From my own experience this is true for most clubs out there and is off putting for newbies. I started in fit for life and moved up the groups but I don't think I could have done this with other clubs

I have friends join clubs in Dublin only to be left behind on a run (and get lost) as they were unable to keep up.
That's not welcoming.

This is veering off topic but AAI could do a lot more to encourage newbies at the slower level. Parkruns are great but I can see a lot of clubs discouraging them. I also see why couch 2 5k really took off but people need something to keep them still motivated and joining a club is one way if they are welcoming. To be clear it's not just being welcoming but having a proper plan in place for the runner. I'm sure all clubs are welcoming but may not cater very well for all runners

Anyway to the original poster, yes give DDAC a go.

pconn062

frogstar wrote: »

I think this partly answers why some people (mainly slower runners ) are of the opinion running clubs may not be welcoming. I know DDAC well and yes they cater for all levels so are a great club for beginners.

But you even say yourself pconn that the poster will be better with DDAC as your club is not fully set up for fit 4 life (til new year at least)

From my own experience this is true for most clubs out there and is off putting for newbies. I started in fit for life and moved up the groups but I don't think I could have done this with other clubs

I have friends join clubs in Dublin only to be left behind on a run (and get lost) as they were unable to keep up.
That's not welcoming.

This is veering off topic but AAI could do a lot more to encourage newbies at the slower level. Parkruns are great but I can see a lot of clubs discouraging them. I also see why couch 2 5k really took off but people need something to keep them still motivated and joining a club is one way if they are welcoming. To be clear it's not just being welcoming but having a proper plan in place for the runner. I'm sure all clubs are welcoming but may not cater very well for all runners

Anyway to the original poster, yes give DDAC a go.

That's a fair point but you have to remember that clubs are only having to adapt to dealing with fit4life runners (runners with no history of running who mainly take up running for weight loss reasons) for the last few years since this latest running boom. I know my own club never would have had fit4life runners 10 year ago so adapting to this new demand is not easy. But I don't think that is to say clubs are unwelcoming. We've had complete beginners come to us and we just get them started and tell them what to do, we don't dump them straight in with the seasoned runners!

frogstar

Didn't realise fit4life was only a recent phenomenon. I'm only running myself for just over a year.

But this is what bugs me, there is a huge market out there for fit4life and slower runners. You only need to look at park run and the bigger races (grant Thornton springs to mind). There are lots of runners out there and for whatever reason they are not joining clubs, some will have genuine reasons but I'm sure a lot of reasons are that they may not feel the club is for them. Clubs and AAI need to challenge this and find out why and change to ensure the message gets out there that they are welcome. I don't have the answer but at times I feel clubs (mine included) are very narrow focused and not open to change or new ideas.

Some Kind of Wizard

frogstar wrote: »

But this is what bugs me, there is a huge market out there for fit4life and slower runners. You only need to look at park run and the bigger races (grant Thornton springs to mind). There are lots of runners out there and for whatever reason they are not joining clubs, some will have genuine reasons but I'm sure a lot of reasons are that they may not feel the club is for them. Clubs and AAI need to challenge this and find out why and change to ensure the message gets out there that they are welcome. I don't have the answer but at times I feel clubs (mine included) are very narrow focused and not open to change or new ideas.

Why should AAI be interested in fat and slow runners??.....You don't see the FAI or GAA encouraging heavy and old men/women to play their sport. Being frank I don't think there is any true incentive to get old/heavy runners involved in the sport. AAI's aim is to get talent coming up through the ranks to have a high level of competition nationally and internationally and the way to do that is to focus on young athletes.
Also this is generalising, but the majority of slow runners I have seen joining clubs aren't interested in athletics whatsoever. They just see running as a social thing where they can meet up for a jog on a Sunday morning. That's fine. Some clubs go in for that sort of thing. But I don't think all clubs should be begging them to join.

RayCun

Fit4life is an AAI initiative, they encourage clubs to set up a section.
There are clubs that don't seem to be interested in "fat and slow" runners. I think its an extremely shortsighted attitude to take. We want to get as many people as possible involved in running and athletics, whatever their current standard.

Darren 83

I'm with DDAC over two years now, they will be more than welcoming to you, will be more than happy to answer any questions you might have

frogstar

Well some kind of wizard, you've just answered the question as to why some people would think clubs are not welcoming

Tigerandahalf

Some Kind of Wizard wrote: »

Why should AAI be interested in fat and slow runners??.....You don't see the FAI or GAA encouraging heavy and old men/women to play their sport. Being frank I don't think there is any true incentive to get old/heavy runners involved in the sport. AAI's aim is to get talent coming up through the ranks to have a high level of competition nationally and internationally and the way to do that is to focus on young athletes.
Also this is generalising, but the majority of slow runners I have seen joining clubs aren't interested in athletics whatsoever. They just see running as a social thing where they can meet up for a jog on a Sunday morning. That's fine. Some clubs go in for that sort of thing. But I don't think all clubs should be begging them to join.

That is a terrible attitude to have. I hope clubs don't think along those lines. With the current running boom clubs should be doing everything to get members on board and should be supporting parkruns as these are likely to be the first attraction for many newbies. Athletics Ireland and its members often complain about a lack of funding. It comes down to a numbers game. The GAA has been very successful because it has catered for everyone from the county star to the junior c player. The junior c player might not be great but he or she could turn out to be a great volunteer, fundraiser or administrator. The more people that are involved in clubs the more funding they are likely to get from central funds. Huge opportunity at present for running/athletics and the good thing is that a lot of it is based on the community upwards. Given that the elite level is tainted with drug cheating like many other sports identifying talent and trying to win olympic medals should not be the only goal.

frogstar

Exactly it comes down to numbers. Every member has to pay an annual fee. If clubs increased their membership, their revenue would also increase. It's a no brainer, welcome as many as you can

Not only will they pay membership, they are encouraged to enter club races and they will also volunteer at club races/fundraisers again increasing revenue.

No wonder some of the more commercial races and Parkruns get great numbers. They are perceived to be more open to the masses and not just seasoned runners. Everyone has to start somewhere.

I'd like to know what the definition of slow actually is. I'm sure I'm in that category as I'm not breaking doing under 20min for a 5k.

frogstar

Just to update this (as it was myself who started the thread); it turns out I know someone in the Drogheda running club, and they aren't taking any new members until January, so looks like they wouldn't be an option to me, anyway.

frogstar wrote: »

I'd like to know what the definition of slow actually is. I'm sure I'm in that category as I'm not breaking doing under 20min for a 5k.

... maybe I should run more on my own before going near a club then! It'd probably take me twice that! :eek:

kit3

Some Kind of Wizard wrote: »

.You don't see the FAI or GAA encouraging heavy and old men/women to play their sport. .

Couldn't tell you about the FAI but my local GAA club has a GAA for mother team (think a lot of club have this) and a GAA for dads team to get parents involved. They train regularly and play matches against other clubs - all ages & fitness levels welcome.

caseyjones1

Deleted User wrote: »

Just to update this (as it was myself who started the thread); it turns out I know someone in the Drogheda running club, and they aren't taking any new members until January, so looks like they wouldn't be an option to me, anyway.




... maybe I should run more on my own before going near a club then! It'd probably take me twice that! :eek:

KKV did you get sorted with a club? I am involved with DDAC and we were at no point not taking members (not sure who told you that), you are more than welcome to join us any Tuesday at 8pm at the Lourdes Stadium to try out and see where you fit in. We have a huge Fit4Life program and equally have groups at every level and a structure that ensures nobody should be left behind. Give me a shout if you are still interested and I can make sure you are met and looked after if you choose to come along :-D