Do running clubs accept / support slow (crap) runners?

[Pipsquiggle]

Hi just wondering whether I should join a beginners running course at a local running club - it's just that I know I will be really slow. I want to go for fun, do a bit of exercise, have a chat, that sort of thing.

I am peri-menopausal, overweight, slow and just don't want to be made fun of / be a burden - I think that is my main fear.

Has anyone done this kind of thing? How did it turn out?

@Pipsquiggle at the club I went to, they definitely focused more on the people who were slower and stayed with them. Like I say, the quicker ones were told to go off ahead and come back, so don't worry at all. Their advertising of the group seems to show that they will be supportive of people at all levels.

Thought I would let you know that I went to my first session tonight and I really enjoyed it!

Yay - when are you next going?

Mine does. We have a whole range of runners from "so slow that you could probably walk quicker" to "lightning fast". Everyone is supported equally; it's fab!

Next Monday

I'm interested in this. What constitutes slow? I can run 5k in between 32-34 minutes. Constantly overtaken so assume this would make me slow and would need to find a club that accepts slow runners?

My experience was very negative. They said they did but I was slower than everyone else and was always just running on my own so a bit pointless!

Don't know where you live but in Scotland Jog Scotland groups are actually designed for joggers not runners and have beginners groups. They're brilliant 🤩

My club only accept females that can run parkrun in under 28 minutes. Men have to do 25 minutes. Neither of those times are particularly fast but that works for the club.

I can do parkrun in 55 minutes if I run and 40 if I walk 😂. I was told not to join the running clubs as local ones are aimed at people who can do it in under 35 (including beginners). But I have joined beginner nordic walking and jogging clubs to try and get my time up.

@Paperexcelandpens your running club is clearly exclusive not inclusive. Not great for the likes of me.

The club I went to last night we were told to 'shuffle' and there was great emphasis on running slowly. This was a beginners group geared up for people who had never run before. I was extremely nervous but I coped and felt great after.

That is fairly fast! I’ve been running for 10 years, so half marathons trail and road and can’t manage sub 28!

I don't think it's that fast. We never used to have that joining clause and people were always up to that speed in a decent time frame with proper training.

Glad you had a good time OP.

For others, I'd say look at local race results and parkrun results, because they give runners' times and clubs. If someone from Scarfolk Scamperers is doing your local parkrun at about your pace every week, go along and ask them about the club.

Our local club was, like many, set up in the aftermath of the first London marathon, and the club offers awards that you can win through hard work even if you're always last across the line.

A lot of the local clubs here I"d recommend to the less fast, but there are a couple whose focus is different. TBH what's as much a problem is new runners, having done one of our c25k courses, signing up to an unsuitable race - either poorly organised, or a small field where everyone is going to be noticeably faster. I do try to steer our c25K grads towards the well-run, FLAT, races with a big field so they'll have fun and not be last.

Those are average to faster than average times depending on age. As a VW40-45, that is faster than average (which is roughly a 30 min 5k).

I've been marathon training so keeping down to 30 min parkruns recently. 28 is my course best kind of zone. I'm clearly not a beginner, but wouldn't fit that criteria without focused training which half-defeats the point of joining a club.

Cutting off at those times, it's a club that is looking for runners who are already faster than average before participating in structured club run (unless they're benefiting from youth). That's fine, there's different clubs with different intentions, but that's definitely a club focused on athletic performance rather than inclusion across the running community.

Parkrun and local races are good places to suss out the range that a club covers and how inclusive their membership is. Names also often give a clue. Joggers are less likely to be performance driven than Athletics Club.

Glad you've found one that works for you OP.

I would add though - don't take the names thing as a hard and fast rule. My club is an "AC" but is still very much not only whizzy young stick people but also plodding grannies (occasionally the proud grannies of the stick people)! You can do short stuff, long stuff, track, road, off road, all sorts of other athletic stuff ... a slow but strong over 70 might be snapped up by the vets team to grab a few shot put points, for example, and anyone who can perform any valid triple jump is sought after LOL.

@Pipsquiggle Are you still running?

It depends on the club - it's better to look for a club that has "Joggers" in the title - if you go for an athletics club the standard is likely to be higher/faster.

Womens only groups can be good, and there are couch to 5k groups which cater for beginners and then you can join the main club once you can run 5k.

parkruns are good as there is no time limit to finish and they welcome walkers.

Some clubs are better than others at catering for all abilities - for example, my club is very good at catering for the speedy crew and the bit faster than walking crew but has historically been less good at making sure the middle paced runners are looked after. It also depends on the sessions they offer. It sounds counter-intuitive but the speed sessions can be better because they are often around a track or a loop and you can't get left behind, whereas a "social" run might be six to eight miles and not looped.

I see you've contacted one club but if you let us know where you are we might be able to suggest clubs.

Update - I am doing my first 10k since pre-children on Saturday!

I will be slow but should be able to get round.

Wish me luck

That's fantastic news!

Well done on continuing to run 6 months after your op.

You must be very excited to do your first 10k race.

Good luck!

Also, try posting in the Exercise section.
It's full of posters like yo, progressing from beginner and those who are more experienced, but it is a very supportive board. Plus, your threads won't get lost in the hundreds that come and go here everyday.