Should I join my local running group?

Check out the talent first

You could join them and use their runs as your recovery runs.

Start a faster running group.

not to be an ass wrote:

I don't really see how I'm going to be able to do many runs or workouts with the group if their 5k race pace is slower than what I run on an easy day when I'm feeling good. I would enjoy some of the social activity, I just don't think I can bear to trudge along at 8:00 pace.

Anyone been there?

They are 25 minute 5k runners?

Anyways, I'm about the same as you as far as fitness goes. I run with a group like that once a week, just for something social. A recovery day at 7:30-8:00 pace isn't going to ruin your training, in fact it could help as it forces you to recover. There is this guy, you may have heard of him. Weldon Johnson. He did pretty well for himself running some easy days at 8 minute pace.

Do it. All of the mid 20's chicks will dig you.

I'm in somewhat of the same boat; I'm a little under 15:30 for the 5K (and 25:30 for 8K cross, so I think my best fitness was probably at least 15:10-15:15 for 5K), and I can't really see myself joining one of the nearby teams where my easy pace for 7+ miles (usually around 7:40, so relatively slow for my ability) is faster than half the team's 5K race pace. See if there's another racing team nearby; the local running store is a good place to ask, since they often have racing teams with faster people.

GB Packers wrote:

Start a faster running group.

he'd rather run alone than make new friends.

It's not a very big town; there is no running store, nor are there any other faster young guys/girls around. And the group is mostly people age 35 and up, though there are a few around 30. For the results I saw, there's one guy who's run under 19:00 in the last year, one or two guys around 19:00-20:30, and the rest are slower than 21:00 for 5k. They do 8-10 miles for their long run. I generally do 8-12 miles at 6:30-6:50 pace for my easy days. It seems like it's mostly about socializing with other runners, which is fine and understandable since it's not like it's a training group full of recent college grads. My point is that I don't think my training regimen, age, and intent fit in with the groups'. I almost feel like it'd be "showing off" if I came and did a workout with them.

Eh, I think I might show up to a run/workout now and then but mostly keep training solo.

I went 21times under 15 and tell you honestly that sometimes it´s even useful for motivation - and I never regretted to join them because the capillaries benefit

Try it, if not content it will be the last time:-)

If you want to be social, or are interested in making friends, you should just go once a week, or every other week and use it as a recovery jog.

Make a point during the group run to tell everybody how hard it is for you to run that slow, and how fast you normally do your runs.

Give them a mile or so head start, then run like hell to catch up. Then turn around and run backwards for five minutes, then run like hell again to catch up. Repeat until finished.

I'm in a very similar situation. Fresh out of college, in good running shape and moved to a small city. Local races won around 19:00. I run with the running club. Most of the runs are at 8:00/mile. But it is nice to talk to the older guys, meet some local community leaders and learn the local trails. To run socially once a week or so won't kill your training.