Glasnevin Area - running club options

harry999

what are the best clubs to join in this area ? Thanks

Chivito550

harry999 wrote: »

what are the best clubs to join in this area ? Thanks

Clonliffe Harriers are in Santry, which is not far from Glasnevin. I'm sure there's some small club nearer to you, but if you are going to join a club, do it right.

demfad

Here's a LINK to all Dublin clubs from Athletics Ireland website.

There are a few based in the Phoenix park which may be handy for you if youre doing some of your runs there anyway.

Chivito550

demfad wrote: »

Here's a LINK to all Dublin clubs from Athletics Ireland website.

There are a few based in the Phoenix park which may be handy for you if youre doing some of your runs there anyway.

This link isn't great to be honest. They seem to be locating each club where the prime contact is living rather than where the club is actually based. They have both Clonliffe and Raheny based in Glasnevin which is completely inaccurate.

demfad

Chivito550 wrote: »

This link isn't great to be honest. They seem to be locating each club where the prime contact is living rather than where the club is actually based. They have both Clonliffe and Raheny based in Glasnevin which is completely inaccurate.

That's just the official address registered with the AAI which they are obliged to add I guess. (OP note that this address is not the club training headquarters)

The important information is the contacts (both email and phone) and of-course the website addresses where presumably all club information is available.

wowzer

Chivito550 wrote: »

Clonliffe Harriers are in Santry, which is not far from Glasnevin. I'm sure there's some small club nearer to you, but if you are going to join a club, do it right.

What do you mean by "do it right"?

Chivito550

wowzer wrote: »

What do you mean by "do it right"?

- 400m Mondo track (the best track in Ireland)
- 60m Mondo indoor track, with indoor high jump, long jump, gymnastic rings facilities
- Fully equipped gym
- Changing room facilities under the grandstand, and in the club house
- Clubhouse containing a fully licenced bar
- Over 125 years of history and traditions
- Excellent coaches with a proven track record
- Easily reached by several buses
- Santry Demense right behind the track for the cross-country heads

I have no affiliation with Clonliffe Harriers and I do not run for them, nor have I ever ran for them. But for anybody living on the Northside of Dublin, reasonably close to Santry, as the OP is, this would be a no-brainer.

If you're going to join a club, you may aswell join the best one available to you.

Sacksian

The best club for you is the one that suits you most - even if it's a bit further to travel.

If you already run in the Phoenix Park, there are loads of clubs that use that as a training base throughout the year. Have a look at a few club websites and see if they have any recent results from members, you'll get a sense of where someone of your ability will fit in - it really helps having people around your level/age/distance/etc to train with.

The atmosphere and club environment can also be pretty important to your enjoyment of training, and subsequent motivation to improve, so it's worth trying out a session or two to see if you like the club. No one minds people turning up for a few weeks to try it out.

Tombo2001

Chivito550 wrote: »

- 400m Mondo track (the best track in Ireland)
- 60m Mondo indoor track, with indoor high jump, long jump, gymnastic rings facilities
- Fully equipped gym
- Changing room facilities under the grandstand, and in the club house
- Clubhouse containing a fully licenced bar
- Over 125 years of history and traditions
- Excellent coaches with a proven track record
- Easily reached by several buses
- Santry Demense right behind the track for the cross-country heads

I have no affiliation with Clonliffe Harriers and I do not run for them, nor have I ever ran for them. But for anybody living on the Northside of Dublin, reasonably close to Santry, as the OP is, this would be a no-brainer.

If you're going to join a club, you may aswell join the best one available to you.

A no-brainer ?

I live in Glasnevin and am in a club that is not Clonliffe.

In my view, the primary running resource close to Glasnevin is not a 400m track in Santry.

Its the Phoenix Park. There a number of 400m tracks in the city, but there is only one Phoenix Park - and Clonliffe is not close to it.

No disrespect to Clonliffe, a great club with lots of tradition, but each club has its own strengths - they wouldn't survive if they didn't.

There are five clubs within access of Glasnevin - Fingallians AC, Clonliffe Harriers AC, Liffey Valley AC, Donore Harriers AC, Raheny Shamrocks AC.

My final comment in this little tirade....

It would be great if there were a club in Glasnevin; there are some fantastic running resources / spaces such as Albert College, All Hallows, ChildVision, Mater Dei where I train myself and really don't see many other runners. The local GAA and soccer clubs are cleaning up - it would be nice to see a local athletics club for kids in particular.

JosDel

Civil Service Harriers is based in Phoenix Park, club house & bar, they train 4 days a week including a speed session in ALSAA.

Chivito550

JosDel wrote: »

Civil Service Harriers is based in Phoenix Park, club house & bar, they train 4 days a week including a speed session in ALSAA.

I know nothing about Civil Service Harriers, but I'd strongly advise against anybody training at ALSAA, unless absolutely necessary (like if other tracks are booked up). It is a truly horrible horrible track, in the most dire condition imaginable!

Tombo2001 wrote: »

A no-brainer ?

I live in Glasnevin and am in a club that is not Clonliffe.

In my view, the primary running resource close to Glasnevin is not a 400m track in Santry.

Its the Phoenix Park. There a number of 400m tracks in the city, but there is only one Phoenix Park - and Clonliffe is not close to it.

No disrespect to Clonliffe, a great club with lots of tradition, but each club has its own strengths - they wouldn't survive if they didn't.

There are five clubs within access of Glasnevin - Fingallians AC, Clonliffe Harriers AC, Liffey Valley AC, Donore Harriers AC, Raheny Shamrocks AC.

My final comment in this little tirade....

It would be great if there were a club in Glasnevin; there are some fantastic running resources / spaces such as Albert College, All Hallows, ChildVision, Mater Dei where I train myself and really don't see many other runners. The local GAA and soccer clubs are cleaning up - it would be nice to see a local athletics club for kids in particular.

True, Clonliffe aren't close to the PP. I have no idea if Clonliffe use the PP or not, but if they do, then being in Glasnevin is handy enough as you are roughly equal distances from the PP and from Santry. Best of both worlds.

Raheny and Donore are great clubs too.

To be fair though, there aren't all that many tracks in Dublin either. Santry, Irishtown, Tallaght are the only 400m tracks worth talking about!

Tombo2001

Apologies for leaving Civil Service off the list I put up earlier. Great to see the progress their athletes have made in Cross Country this winter.

Also, Dublin Front Runners AC are based out of Phoenix Park, no club house but they meet at Visitor Centre afaik.

Tombo2001

Chivito550 wrote: »

I know nothing about Civil Service Harriers, but I'd strongly advise against anybody training at ALSAA, unless absolutely necessary (like if other tracks are booked up). It is a truly horrible horrible track, in the most dire condition imaginable!



True, Clonliffe aren't close to the PP. I have no idea if Clonliffe use the PP or not, but if they do, then being in Glasnevin is handy enough as you are roughly equal distances from the PP and from Santry. Best of both worlds.

Raheny and Donore are great clubs too.

To be fair though, there aren't all that many tracks in Dublin either. Santry, Irishtown, Tallaght are the only 400m tracks worth talking about!

They are all great clubs.

Chivito550

Tombo2001 wrote: »

They are all great clubs.

Yes. But some are better than others. No point pretending otherwise.

Fingallians AC are a good club, but they are based out in Swords. Hardly close to where the OP is.

http://www.fingalliansathletics.com/training.html

Anyway, I guess it all depends what the OP is looking for. He/she didn't exactly give much info.

Tombo2001

Chivito550 wrote: »

Yes. But some are better than others. No point pretending otherwise.

Fingallians AC are a good club, but they are based out in Swords. Hardly close to where the OP is.

http://www.fingalliansathletics.com/training.html

Anyway, I guess it all depends what the OP is looking for. He/she didn't exactly give much info.

Fingallians AC trains from Santry on Tuesday and Thursday; and is the only club in the area serving kids under 10. (Neither Raheny nor Clonliffe do this). Not saying this makes it a better club, or makes it relevant to OP; but clearly shows Fingallians AC have a large cohort of people who care enough to give up their time to volunteer for the club, so it must be doing something right.

terminator74

Chivito550 wrote: »

Yes. But some are better than others. No point pretending otherwise.

You need to overlay a qualitative judgement on what constitutes a great club. All the clubs you mention do indeed have many titles and medals that will signify a great club. But there are differences in how clubs deal with those who are pure novices, improvers or natural speedsters, and what suits one will not suit another. Smaller clubs can offer closer, more supportive environments.

Ultimately it will come down to what a potential club seeker wants out of their running. Best advice for the OP is to do a bit of research & ask existing members or those of a similar standard in the club what their experience was.

Chivito550

terminator74 wrote: »

Chivito550 wrote: »

Yes. But some are better than others. No point pretending otherwise.

You need to overlay a qualitative judgement on what constitutes a great club. All the clubs you mention do indeed have many titles and medals that will signify a great club. But there are differences in how clubs deal with those who are pure novices, improvers or natural speedsters, and what suits one will not suit another. Smaller clubs can offer closer, more supportive environments.

Ultimately it will come down to what a potential club seeker wants out of their running. Best advice for the OP is to do a bit of research & ask existing members or those of a similar standard in the club what their experience was.

What are you basing this on? I’m in a very large club, and while I don’t know very many people in other disciplines such as cross-country, middle distance, and long distance, and I struggle to identify with them, when it comes to my own running I have had great coaches and training partners, who are all very supportive, which is the most important thing.

Big clubs in a way are just a big umbrella club with lots of fractured sub-groups. If social interaction is a priority, I would agree that small clubs might be the way to go. I was in a pretty small club (around 120 members) in Melbourne, and I knew a lot of people in the club, and most of them knew me. This isn’t the case with my club here. But you’d still have a good social scene with the actual group you train with.

terminator74

Chivito550 wrote: »

terminator74 wrote: »

What are you basing this on? I’m in a very large club, and while I don’t know very many people in other disciplines such as cross-country, middle distance, and long distance, and I struggle to identify with them, when it comes to my own running I have had great coaches and training partners, who are all very supportive, which is the most important thing.

Big clubs in a way are just a big umbrella club with lots of fractured sub-groups. If social interaction is a priority, I would agree that small clubs might be the way to go. I was in a pretty small club (around 120 members) in Melbourne, and I knew a lot of people in the club, and most of them knew me. This isn’t the case with my club here. But you’d still have a good social scene with the actual group you train with.

I'm basing this on experience and as I mentioned it is a qualitative view. With smaller clubs - where you do get to know, train & socialise with all members it does foster an environment where fellow club members DO identify with you. This tighter club environments can channel a lot of energy and support into improving the athlete or achieving success where winning medals or titles isn't an every race experience.

My point was not in conflict or to challenge the valid points you have made rather to offer an alternative viewpoint on what can also create a 'great club'.

Dub13

Tombo2001 wrote: »

Fingallians AC trains from Santry on Tuesday and Thursday; and is the only club in the area serving kids under 10. (Neither Raheny nor Clonliffe do this). Not saying this makes it a better club, or makes it relevant to OP; but clearly shows Fingallians AC have a large cohort of people who care enough to give up their time to volunteer for the club, so it must be doing something right.

From the Raheny site...

Juvenile Training

Ages 5-8 years Wednesday 5.30- 6.30pm Manor House School Gym

Ages 9-12 years Wednesday 6.30-7.30pm Manor House School Gym

Tombo2001

Dub13 wrote: »

From the Raheny site...

Sincere apologies for the misinformation; when I was researching running clubs for my kids, I hadn't spotted the Raheny classes. Just to point out; I am not in Fingallians AC, and wasn't trying to promote that club over the others. More to point out that all clubs have their merits.