Survey: what are some things that you would look for in a running club?

So just have the two together but let them run separately, and in the end have everyone together for a beer or meal at the end?

There is no need to separate the two types of groups. they’ll naturally separate based on pace and fitness. But it would be cooler if those who compete would just join the others for a shakeout or some fun.

I’ve met many great guys and fast runners who do their own thing before the run club, join people like me who are far from their caliber, and still enjoy just being genuinely cool and respectful people.

People who aren’t competitive or fast won’t run fast workouts, but those who are and can run fast workouts have the ability to and can a low it down for a few easy peasy miles with others for fun. They don’t have to, but why not just have a club where that intermingling is possible?

People who run the same paces as me. That’s it

A pack of pit bulls to train with and a pack of females to sleep with.

You'll simply lose a critical mass of one or the other. I was part of a club that did a monthly social run on Tuesday evenings. When I was able to show up for that, it was my second run for the day after a morning workout and the entire pack went out at 7:00 for the first mile while I was barely holding onto the back for a 4-mile run. If I hadn't run a workout under 6:00/mile in the morning I probably would have kept up comfortably but that obscures the point. I didn't wonder long why runners going my pace or slower weren't showing up to this thing as there was no real intention to slow it down to include others, it implicitly became an exclusive affair. And basically a sausage fest, at that.

The OP wrote:

AverageForFun wrote:

relaxing atmosphere

I don't want a team, I want a club. I want cool people to run between 10-8 minute pace with and enjoy a conversation during and after. I don't want structure, I want a new route and a new beer at the end of every meet.

Teams are exclusive, Clubs are for fun and building families

This articulates what I want to capture, I'm just adding in the idea of a light workout a week because some people enjoy that.

You are truly looking for just a club whether it's called a running club, jogging club, or whatever. It wasn't until after I read these responses that I understood what you meant. Before that I was thinking "track club" in my mind. Obviously a lot of the other responses that you elicited were people who were thinking about a track club as well.

I always considered clubs to be more open opportunity less exclusivity.

Track clubs have a team they send for competitions, track clubs would probably want points at those competitions, they'd probably make cuts.

Clubs don't make cuts, they're for everyone. They don't tell someone they're too slow to do X or Y.

If I'm looking for a track club/team I'd ask my local fleet feet or colleges about those that already exist. If I want a club, I'm going to find fun and relaxing people to enjoy the outside with. Perhaps my answers aren't the right ones for the type of club that OP is trying to make.

elvid32 wrote:

The OP wrote:

This articulates what I want to capture, I'm just adding in the idea of a light workout a week because some people enjoy that.

You are truly looking for just a club whether it's called a running club, jogging club, or whatever. It wasn't until after I read these responses that I understood what you meant. Before that I was thinking "track club" in my mind. Obviously a lot of the other responses that you elicited were people who were thinking about a track club as well.

Yes. I think there is a healthy and fun way to balance those who wish to get a little more out of the group and those who simply want companionship. I'm certainly not opposed to track athletes, but I just generally want a community that can bond in a loose setting.

My plan right now is two days a week, one workout, one regular run, and a long run once a month. On workout days, I'd probably split two groups as whatever my default workout was supposed to be, then a slightly more challenging workout for the "go-getters."

I appreciate all of the great responses and they've helped be shape my plan immensely.