Comments on: How do you find people to run with?

By: Can You Become a Runner, or Are You Genetically Doomed? @ Run to Win

Can You Become a Runner, or Are You Genetically Doomed? @ Run to Win — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:08:35 +0000

[...] you usually run alone, join a club and find some running partners (just make sure they aren’t too fast for you if you are trying to slow [...]

By: Blaine Moore

Blaine Moore — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:49:44 +0000

Great tip, I’d never even thought of that. Added it into the list.

By: thefightgeek

thefightgeek — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 03:35:13 +0000

This might sound like a bit of a strange way to get a running partner, but bear with me . . .

The best running partners I’ve ever had are combat athletes. All the fighters I know run a lot. They tend to be committed, enthusiastic and punctual.

There’s usually a range fighters at different fitness levels in every club, so finding a partner who can run at your pace shouldn’t be too difficult

I’m not suggesting you have to join a kickboxing or boxing club. Just call up the coach or drop by before a workout session. If the club’s decent they’ll be pleaaed to help you out. (It benefits them as much as you!)

By: Blaine Moore

Blaine Moore — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:48:08 +0000

For my area, the Maine Track Club is the driving force behind most of the running events in Southern Maine. Supporting them is supporting running, and even though they do compete as a team in USATF events I joined them but never actually race for them (as I belong to another team that I do race for.)

The nice thing about belonging to the MTC is that there are a lot of members, they make it easy to find others to run with (and even provide free coaching services in a few different places across the State), they have an award winning newsletter, and it makes it easy to find ways to support the sport. I’m made aware of different races I can run or volunteer at, different events such as lectures that are coming up, and I get to contribute to the newsletter each issue.

By: crossn81

crossn81 — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:37:14 +0000

I would agree it looks like a pretty complete list now. The 3 times I’ve moved and looked for clubs I did the Google search or RRCA listings.

It was a little difficult moving to Minneapolis because there are so many different clubs in the metro area. It was hard to know which one to join – so I chose the largest which had the most benefits for the buck! It also looked like the most comprehensive too.

By: JoLynn Braley

JoLynn Braley — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 06:24:56 +0000

I’m not a runner (a walker ) so I don’t have any tips to add, but I wanted to say that this looks like a very complete list – I honestly didn’t know that there were so many resources out there to help you find a running partner.

By: Joan C

Joan C — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 03:02:48 +0000

The way I found my running partners–by enjoying running so-o-o-o much and being so enthusiastic about my running, the feeling I got from it, the shape I was getting in, the fun I was having–that all of a sudden people I worked with, my sister, niece, patients I cared for–so many different people in different areas of my life, started to run!!! It was amazing–a positive and fun attitude will draw people in and want what you have–then you have people to run with! I have so many friends that became running partners and so many running partners that became friends. There is nothing like it!

By: Straight to the Bar

Straight to the Bar — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 02:58:12 +0000

Close to Home : Finding a Running Club…

Blaine continues this month’s series on fitness-related things you can do locally with a look at several ways to find local running partners. A good read…….

By: Blaine Moore

Blaine Moore — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 01:52:49 +0000

I meant to add Running Ahead groups and it totally slipped through! Thanks for the heads up, Perry, I’ve added it to the list.

By: Perry

Perry — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 01:42:05 +0000

Our local running club recently starting experimenting with using some free web forums, and one of the biggest uses so far is for people to announce intent to run or to offer to meet for runs — i.e., specifically to help people get together & join for group runs.

Our local triathlon club is still just using a single mailing list, and that doesn’t work as well for this purpose, I think — forums are more inviting to post discussions about group runs, than a single mailing list, because with forums you don’t feel like you’re cluttering up everyone’s inbox.

Also, #5, check the community area at runningahead.com to see if it has any local training groups (there is a list of geographic training groups)