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| Have you started a running club IRL? Can you tell me about your experience? (Read 177 times) |
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posted: 8/31/2008 at 12:46 PM |
Hi, I live in an area that needs a running club, but I have no idea how to go about starting a successful club. I would love to hear about your experience if you've started one or helped to start one up.
Thanks!
-Jill |
upcoming race:
Long Branch Half Marathon (May 2009) |
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posted: 8/31/2008 at 10:34 PM |
One of the things that helped us get the Wicked Running Club off the ground was to get support from the City of Salem Park and Rec Dept. They were thrilled to have a citizens group with this interest. The head of the dept has even been sponsoring races in our area (and he joined the club).
A web site is a good idea. So is club clothing with some nice artwork so members can easily find each other at races and so other non-members can see you all gathering together having fun.
Having said all of this, googling does seem to show clubs that might be in your area:
http://www.jsrc.org/
http://www.njrrc.org/
http://www.runningintheusa.com/ClubsByState.asp?State=NJ
Even if there is a club in your area, you may want to start a new club. There was another club in the Salem, MA area (and there still is) when we started Wicked. In a way, I think starting a new club generated more interest than simply having one club. In addition, two clubs give people a chance to discover which club fits their needs and personality better. Differences are good!
Good luck. Hope your efforts are successful! |
John
www.wickedrunningclub.com
I run to forget who the President was in 2008 and b/c I am happy with the President in 2009! |
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posted: 8/31/2008 at 11:02 PM |
I agree with what the others have said. when we started our running group, it was sponsored through the running store here. We made up fliers to put in the running store and then a website was created. The message board on our website allows runners to get together for runs throughout the week.
I think it would be hard, though, to start one up without the support of a running store.
Hard, but not impossible. 
Good luck! |
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posted: 9/1/2008 at 12:19 AM |
Thanks for the replies.
(Just as background - I don't live near a running store or any of those clubs - I'm way in south Jersey. There is a running store about 20 minutes away, but I think it's seasonal (it's near the beach, many of the businesses are only open in the late spring/summer/early fall). I guess I've got a lot of work cut out for me if I want to do this!) |
upcoming race:
Long Branch Half Marathon (May 2009) |
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posted: 9/1/2008 at 1:09 AM |
| Quote from Jill_B on 9/1/2008 at 12:19 AM: Thanks for the replies.
(Just as background - I don't live near a running store or any of those clubs - I'm way in south Jersey. There is a running store about 20 minutes away, but I think it's seasonal (it's near the beach, many of the businesses are only open in the late spring/summer/early fall). I guess I've got a lot of work cut out for me if I want to do this!)
All you really need is for some way for people with a similar interest to get together. I started the Mon Night Slow Runs with my club b/c one of my neighbor expressed an interest in starting to run. Make announcements looking for running partners in the local paper, in churches, where ever people go.
Once you do get a group together, you might want to communicate with everyone through a googlegroups list. We use this a lot in Wicked to see might be available for a run on an unusual day or to simply communicate with the entire group.
Even if your running stores are not close, find a good one (you all will need someone good to sell you shoes and other accessories). Strike up a conversation with the owner, explain what you are doing, they might have ideas and they will surely offer your club members a discount (at least they do in my area).
Aim at getting something started, set modest goals and go from there.
If you think of it, tell us how you are doing with this project. |
John
www.wickedrunningclub.com
I run to forget who the President was in 2008 and b/c I am happy with the President in 2009! |
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posted: 9/1/2008 at 2:01 AM
modified: 9/1/2008 at 2:03 AM |
| Quote from Jill_B on 9/1/2008 at 12:19 AM: Thanks for the replies.
(Just as background - I don't live near a running store or any of those clubs - I'm way in south Jersey. There is a running store about 20 minutes away, but I think it's seasonal (it's near the beach, many of the businesses are only open in the late spring/summer/early fall). I guess I've got a lot of work cut out for me if I want to do this!)
I haven't tried starting a group myself, but if you don't have a running store nearby to help you find interested people, another idea might be to start with local races. Pretty much every race I've gone to has at least a table of flyers for future races and for other running-related info (more-organized ones will even have pre-stuffed bags for the runners). It may cost a little in copy fees, but getting some flyers out there might help you get in touch with interested locals. You will need a way to communicate easily with them; as others have said, a website, Google or Yahoo group, or Meetup.com group is probably the easiest way to go for this.
Good Luck - hope it takes off for you!
MTA: I also like the idea of using the local Recreation Dept, and getting info out through them. How about local high schools & colleges, also? |
Michael
Revised 2008 Goals: 180#s | 1000K | 100 pushups challenge
Upcoming Races: | Manchester Thanksgiving Day Race | Newport RI 10K
2009 Goals: 160# | NJ Marathon | New Haven Labor Day 20K | NYC Marathon
"The race goes not always to the swift, but to those that keep running." * ~ Unknown |
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