Boston area running clubs, what's the point?

You mad, bro?

When you find yourself writing a thread like this, you should lace em up and put in add'l miles. It's as much a sign of under training as bonking w/a lap to go.

The point is team competition.

Just stay away from USATF-NE and you'll be fine

On the contrary, the BAA, GBTC, and NBB organizations are quite different. The BAA is a program not really a club and fields teams only at select events, NBB has performance standards and focuses on certain distances, while GBTC is membership driven and (attempts) to support all events.

Because Boston is the center of stuck-up blowhards - you know, the types who need to qualify for Boston Marathon and proceed to spend hundreds on the full jumpsuit of John Hancock Adidas BAA Boston Marathon XXXXXXX apparel and let everyone at work and around the city of Boston know they're doing it because it's so important and feels so good to show everyone how much better you are. Life is all about it. It's important to look down upon everyone else around you who doesn't run and feel superior to them inside.

It fits in pretty well with Typical new englander I'm better than you mentality.

By joining a usatf New England club, it's an extension of this. It's to show everyone around you you're not some hobby jogger and that you're a real (competitive, run for time) runner (I.e. Super serious hobby jogger)

It's like SNL in that you have a pretty large cast. Not everyone will be active on it everyday. And when I see one of the cast members is dedicated, talented, and has their own network of funny friends, they can get their own show. Repeat. My site is a network.

Those buying and wearing what you call "jumpsuits" are predominantly out-of-towners who feel wearing that stuff makes them more like us. What they don't realize is that those outfits advertise the wearer as a wannabe.

I disagree. I see plenty of runners prancing around in club designated gear. Baa is the worst offender with those shorts but this applies more broadly. I personally like to go running in my Lebron jerseys only.

The comments were about Boston Marathon clothing, not club gear. Try to keep up.

I'm not clear on what you're asking here. There're a lot of clubs because there're a lot of runners in Boston; people join clubs for coaching, to have people to run with, for camaraderie. If you're decent, you'll also get some free race entries and gear. This is all pretty obvious.

There's very little overlap between the club runners and the marathon gear wearers. For one thing, the gear is all very BAA-centric, which would be a bit odd to wear to a non-BAA group. Beyond that, it seems pretty turdy to sit around and invent reasons why people wear what they do.

Doubist wrote:

beaner wrote:

Those buying and wearing what you call "jumpsuits" are predominantly out-of-towners who feel wearing that stuff makes them more like us. What they don't realize is that those outfits advertise the wearer as a wannabe.

I disagree. I see plenty of runners prancing around in club designated gear. Baa is the worst offender with those shorts but this applies more broadly. I personally like to go running in my Lebron jerseys only.

my point was more to this:

"By joining a usatf New England club, it's an extension of this. It's to show everyone around you you're not some hobby jogger and that you're a real (competitive, run for time) runner (I.e. Super serious hobby jogger)"

Which why you'll see kids running on the river in their club racing kits.

I don't need a club to go for a run with other people. I also don't need a club to have someone coach me. In fact, if I join a club, then suddenly I'm excluded from running with people of the same clubs, no? Doesn't that in fact limit the camaraderie as a whole? I"m just trying to see the forest here. You guys are lost in the trees. HAVE FUN WITH YOUR CLUBS!

Doubtist wrote:

In fact, if I join a club, then suddenly I'm excluded from running with people of the same clubs, no?

In general it's not the policy of clubs to prevent their members from running with people of the same club.

I'm glad you're confident enough in yourself not to need a coach.

Is it harder to get into elite events as a unaffiliated runner?

So are the clubs actually cross pollinating on runs or are you simply just pointing this out as within the realm of possibilities? I'm more interested in what actuality happens. I live in the world, not in the land of policies.

I have no idea what "elite" events you are speaking of but as a general rule in running if you are fast enough you can get in. That's how running works. Ever heard of the term, Qualifying Time? That applies for every single fast heat at all the track meets in the new england area that let post collegiate runners enter. Same thing applies for the Stanford meets but I have no idea why a runner would travel from Boston to one those unless your chasing a worlds qualifier. Is there ANYONE in any Boston area running club that is chasing a worlds qualifier?

A just to ward this off, the New Balance Elite team of Abby D and followers are not a running club. There are boston area based runners chasing worlds qualifiers BUT they dont appear to be a part of any club.

Keep on, keeping on Clubs. Defend your existence.

-People don't join clubs to show that they're good. They join clubs because they are good, and want some structure to their training. I trained here solo for a couple of years, but as my old running buddies got less serious I decided to join a club. Nobody cares about being seen as a hobbyjogger.

-I don't really see people running in their racing kits. Anyway, this isn't some podunk town; nobody in public cares about you or your running.

-Yes, people run together fairly frequently. No, there is no rule about running with other clubs. You seem awfully upset about clubs for someone who apparently knows nothing about them.

-Why do you think clubs need to defend their existence? They exist because people want to join them. Welcome to the world, guy.

Team camaraderie is great for running. Some of my fondest memories are of my time spent with my high school and college teams. If one of these clubs can help recreate that feeling, then that's good enough for me.

I have no problem with anyone who wants to train alone. Nor should any of them have any issues with those who prefer a team/club environment. In the end, who gives a shit?

HAHA, I don't think they need to, but they clearly are. See, defensive posts above. Keep it up!

Also some might argue that Boston is a podunk town:

Huh? You just said a bunch of dumb stuff, and were told you're wrong. Work on your trolling game.

http://i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/738/025/db0.jpg

Although I am not part of any of those clubs, I am for it. The NE grand prix races are great. There are not too many road 5ks nowadays where you need to break 17 to be in the top 100.