Running Group Question

[Carrotinmumshair]

Hi

I'm just doing a bit of research and I was wondering if any of you fit and healthy people could help me out.

1. If you're a member of a running group how much do you pay per session. If not how much would you be prepared to pay
   
   
2. On top of the session cost would you be prepared to pay a one off membership fee which would give you a free tshirt, access to support groups, newsletters, incentives, meal plans to support your running etc. If so what would you consider a reasonable amount to pay
   
   
3. Lastly can I ask if you're not a member of a running group what would put you off joining and what things would make it more likely you would join?
   
   Thanks for your help

[beginnerrunner]

I used to be in one and paid £25 for 10 weeks. Not sûre id do it again. Im too slow. Thé leader was very positive with me at first but then soon left me so I ended up running completely alone, a long way behind everyone. I wouldnt pay for tshirt etc.

[fredfredgeorgejnr]

A running club, maybe 20-30 quid a year, which includes a club t-shirt in the first year, and UK Athletics membership.

I wouldn't pay per session, I can't imagine what scenario I would outside of access to a track for track sessions - running doesn't have a particular coaching or other benefit from being in a group, the group benefits of being in a group is fine for mutual support etc. from the other group members.

[PoppyShakespeare]

pay about £30 a year which gives me:

two official club training nights a week plus many informal sessions
UKA membership
cheaper British Triathlon Federation membership
discounted physiotherap, osteopathy, local health club membership
free access to UKA qualified coaches
discount at sweatshop and local sports shops
obviously cheaper race entry fees - the main reason most people join a running club I think

[PoppyShakespeare]

I wouldn't pay per session never heard of such a thing

[loveableshoulder]

For parents of young kids a 6.30 meeting time is impossible. That's the only thing that has stopped me until now.

[CMOTDibbler]

I don't run with a group - my local club run at 6.30 which doesn't work for me. Cycle club costs about 50p a week

If I was paying more than that for a group, I'd be expecting proper coaching, track nights etc. Not interested in a newsletter (though these days I'd expect a fb group) or meal plans unless the person was a proper, qualified, sports nutritionist

[Unescorted]

10 for an annual family membership.

Weekly training followed beer session
Weekly newsletter
FRA membership (gives reduced race entry cost)
Free navigation courses
Use of flags / orienteering checks for kids parties & school events
Free kids handicap races over the winter

[whimsicalname]

It sounds like you're trying to set one up. Is that the case? (not that I mind!)

I'm a member of a US group called Moms Run This Town (MRTT). It's a national organisation with local 'chapters'. It's free, and run as a FB group. Initially I thought it was a cult, but I love it now. I have joined other chapters when I've travelled to get info about local running routes, and know that other women do when they come here for work etc. They do raise money through selling gear, tshirts, water bottles etc which goes back into the chapter.

They're just setting one up in Brighton, called (less irritatingly) Mums Run This Town. It would be a great model to follow elsewhere!

We don't have sessions as such. The group admins post regular weekly runs as events you can rsvp to, or you can just post in the group that you're going out from x destination at what time / pace to see if people want to join you. We have had coached sessions where someone got a coach in, and we paid for those, but mostly it's just a group of ladies out running with all paces from 7 min milers to 15 min plus run / walkers.

[Box5883284322679964228]

I'm not a member of a running club but I do run with some old uni friends and on my own. What would put me off? Having no say on routes. It's taken me years to perfect various routes of various lengths and i would find other routes possibly disappointing. Also i run at times which fit round my kids. 7.30 or 7.45 is a regular start time.

I would be tempted by technique training, some short sprints and whacky cross country routes but I'm also short of cash. Wouldn't spend a lot as the beauty of running is that it's free. I would rather not wear a team top however if it was particularly attractive I might. I already have my own uni friendship based running support group and already know about nutrition.

[thanksamillion]

I pay £25 for 8 sessions. It's run by a PT and she organises it and has coached me from beginner to 6km in 9 weeks. We now do additional things like sprints/hills etc. She has several runs a week with different groups and is happy for you to join a different one if you can't make your normal group. Sometimes there are only a couple of people, sometimes a bigger group.

She's great at encouraging the beginners but also incorporating them into the general group. I can't see that she makes much money out of it though.

[ImBrian]

I've just done a 12 week beginners course with my local club which is £1 a session. Once that's finished and we can do 6 miles we can join the main club which is £20 a year.

For that we get our athletics membership, one training night a week which includes track nights and various other training. Plus there's runs of different lengths/paces organised 4 other times a week. Club hosts races and organises cheap transport to others. We have socials etc and everyone's very friendly.

We run in packs depending on pace and regroup so no one gets left behind.

If they didn't do the beginners group I would never have thought to join a running club. I always thought they were for proper runners who did races and were super fit/fast. I'm glad I was wrong .

[ImBrian]

Nearly forgot, we get discount at sports shops and off races.
I'm not sure what I'd pay per session the £1 a session is great but the £20 a year even better. Part of the reason I run instead of gym is it's free (till you enter races/buy posh trainers!). I've been offered the chance to do some trail running training (not run by my club) but at £6 a session I think I'll be giving it a miss.

The only other group I know in the area is £2.50 a session but it's very small about 10 people. Ours has over 300 mbers.

[emsyj]

I would only consider joining a club that catered for horribly unfit total beginners. Even pre-DC when I was quite into exercise I've never been much good at running and would be too scared to join a running club (there is one near me that is covered in my monthly council gym membership but I've never been as I would be too worried they'd run off and leave me behind - as a PP has mentioned happened to her).

[ImBrian]

Our club caters for very unfit, after our first 2 mile walk/run we split into 3 groups depending on ability. All groups regularly regroup back together so no ones ever left behind. Some of our ladies struggled walking 2 miles initially and now they're running 3

[TheBeanpole]

My club is £25 a year without UKA/£37 with. It meets twice a week (if you want to!). We have the option of a track session which we pay track entry for. Plus people tend to meet up at the Parkrun locally too.

For that, per year, the club trains run leaders (we usually have 4 groups going out, including a walk-run group), coaches track sessions, and organises coaches etc for races. They also work out routes. There are monthly socials. Also discounts in a few local running shops. I'm not sure I'd pay weekly subs- or only something nominal, like 50p. Unless you're actually organising a course or run it like personal training, it's not really a model people use. We meet at 7.30 which seems to work for people with kids and allows for people getting home from work etc.