Road Runners?

[thismightbejess.livejournal.com]

Dear DSLJ,

Are any of you members of the Somerville Road Runners? I have been seriously considering joining this running club, but I have concerns...

A few years ago, I joined the Cambridge Community Runners for a season. They were incredibly nice, supportive, attentive and motivating! All the things a running club should be! But they were all vastly superior runners--even their slowest runner could lap me. So despite their vigilant efforts to make me feel welcome and to help me achieve my goals, I left every track practice feeling demoralized.

On their website, the Road Runners say that all skill levels are welcome. They say that there are probably plenty of members who are comparable in out-of-shape-ness. But is this really true?

Right now I run 13-minute miles in a 5k. If I join the Road Runners on Monday for the Bur-run, will I be left in the dust?

Thanks :)

Comments

[pakoo.livejournal.com]

No, I will be behind you.

[ron_newman]

There are two Somerville running clubs, with some confused discussion about them in the comments here.

This post may also be useful.

[enhf94.livejournal.com]

I dream of a meetup/whatever called "exercise for schlubby guys."

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

First, definitely join up for a few of the weekly runs to get a feel for how you like any group before you join. You don't have to be a member to do the run, after all, so you really have nothing to lose by just showing up.

In my experience both the Road Runners and Striders are welcoming to people who run slowly. Yes, it may be that you don't have anyone to run with, but that could be the case if you were doing 7-minute miles, too. The weekly groups aren't that big, so most people are on their own, really.

Let me know if you ever want to do the SSAC run from Olde Magoun's and DD and I can plan to be there as well. :) (Plus, Olde Magoun's!)

[lyonesse.livejournal.com]

...there's always starting one to suit? a couple years ago i took up running, got a few people to join me, and created the "no-pukin' running club". i started about where you are -- might or might not be able to keep up now! -- and ended my season doing 10-minute miles. we didn't always run together -- the no-pukin' rule was such that we all stayed together with the person who had to go slowest to be comfortable (i.e. keep up a conversation, a great way to make sure you're not overstressing your bod :)

[somerfriend.livejournal.com]

They can be a little intense and like many afionados, sometimes can't relate to casual interest in running (they wouldn't even *think* of running in cotton and everyone is wearing fancy running gear while I was taught that you run in old t shirts) but that is only natural, after all what other outlet do they have? Overall nice people.

For SRR, there is a wider variation in skills in the Monday Davis run than the Thursday East Somerville run, so if being last place causes you fear, stick with the Davis run for awhile.

Also don't overthink it, it is not baseball, not a team sport so no one is going to care if you are in last place. It is just a great way to keep you from stopping and to push yourself to a faster pace.

[pearlythebunny.livejournal.com]

Another option you might want to consider, especially if the running thing doesn’t work out, is to participate in the Somerville’s Fitness Challenge, which happens in April and May:
http://www.somervillema.gov/alert.cfm?alert_id=341

I assume people of all ability levels will participate, it might be a good way to meet your neighbors, and it sounds fun.

There’s also a 2.7-mile walking or running race the following week:
http://www.somervillema.gov/newsDetail.cfm?instance_id=1728

[borgin.livejournal.com]

I love that you asked this question! I've been thinking about checking out the Monday night runs and I'm a little worried about being left behind! (My 5k PR is about 33 minutes, but I usually run a 11:30-12:00 minute mile).

Thanks to the answers, I now know that I need to go, and hopefully I'll be able to make it next week.

[buckturgidsen.livejournal.com]

One of the many wonderful things about SRR is that it welcomes people of all ability levels. The Monday runs are pretty casual and I doubt you'd be left behind. It's a great way to connect with people who are casual runners but also people who are beginning to get more serious and train for marathons, run track workouts, etc. As someone said, just come on a Monday night and check it out. I think you'll find it's a really nice group.

Getting dropped is great training!

[lldald.livejournal.com]

I would definitely encourage anyone to join a group run. Even if you do get dropped, that's a great training opportunity. Hang on for as long as you can and then finish at your pace. The next time out, you'll hang on for a bit longer. Before you know it, you'll be hanging with the group the whole time. And you'll feel great! It's a fantastic way to improve quickly.