What To Ask Before Joining A Group Run For The First Time
For so many runners, the idea of a group run is either TERRIFYING or totally out of the question. One of our Badass Lady Gang team members gave me permission to share her post from our online community here because this happens far more than it should.
The truth is, for a lot of runners, group runs and races aren’t as inclusive, and “all athletic levels welcome” as they claim to be. It’s been a problem with races for a really, really long time and there have been lots of people working to shine a light on the runners who have to finish on sidewalks, without support, and without the safety of closed roads or crowd support. THESE PEOPLE are the true MVPs working to make running more inclusive for all athletes. I think the problem truly is that more people run than they did two decades ago! AND THAT’S NOT A PROBLEM. With more people comes a more diverse pace range and it’s time our race organizers change their ways to support our back of the pack runners.
But for group runs, it’s another story. It’s important to note that it’s challenging to organize group runs. The inherent nature of a group run puts runners of all paces and experience levels into one group. And when we get into the nuance of the paces we’re comfortable running conversational pace at, it’s just really tricky. A 9-minute miler isn’t the same as a 9:30 minute miler or even a 9:15 minute miler. Add in the variation of all the different paces runners run at and well, it’s complicated!
The problem isn’t that runners may run alone at a group run. It’s that group-run organizers say that they’re open to all athletic levels but don’t take the steps to make sure that their back of the pack runners get the support they need to be a part of the group. While all group runs aren’t created equal, I wanted to provide a list of questions to ask before showing up to a group run because for a vast majority of runners, they stay home out of fear that they won’t be able to keep up.
And running is SO MUCH MORE FUN when you do it with friends! I know how embarassing and discouraging it can feel when you show up to a group run, don’t feel welcome, get lost, and have to find your own way home. It happened to me when I went to my first group run. I Googled a group run to join because I was nervous about running in Central Park at night by myself. I mustered every ounce of courage to show up and immediately regretted my decision. They were doing a pretty intense speed session and I had never done speed work in my life. I didn’t know what my 5K pace was because I’d never raced a 5K. The leader asked a girl if she’d run with me and the girl could not have looked more annoyed. She ended up dropping me after the second rep. I got lost in Central Park and ended up taking the subway home.
I didn’t run with another person for another year.
So I get it. I know how scary it is. I know how bad it hurts to get dropped or lost or stuck with someone who doesn’t want to be running with you.
But that’s not the norm. YES, it happens but there are groups out there filled with people you’ll LOVE running with. KEEP GOING.
Here is a list of questions to ask the group run organizers before joining:
How far does the group run?
How many people attend meetups?
What is the pace range of the group?
How many people in the group run (insert your 15/30 seconds slower than average pace here)?
Will there be pacers?
Do they have support for the back of the pack?
Should you prepare to run alone?
Do runners tend to slow down so that they can run with other participants who are a little slower?
Is the route well lit?
Is the route marked?
Is there parking where you meet? (If you drive)
Do you provide hydration stops/are there places to stop and fill up a water bottle? (For longer runs)
Will there be people when you finish if you finish later than the group?
How does the group communicate? (Instagram? Facebook? An online group? Email? Text message? Etc.)
One of the reasons our Badass Lady Gang chapters are structured the way they are was because I wanted to create a group that was always together. Which, if you have 8-minute milers to 20-minute milers, that’s impossible during a 5K or 6-mile group run. So, we stay together and do a fun speed play workout that keeps you within yelling distance from everyone the entire time. Sometimes you have a buddy during your speed play, other times, you do an interval solo. But you almost always have someone to walk your recovery with because we encourage everyone to interact.
We also spend the first 15-20 minutes of our meetups doing introductions. That means every single runner circles up, sports a name tag, says their name, what part of town they’re in, and then answers our question of the day (things like is ice cream cake, cake if it doesn’t have cake in it? Or, an unpopular opinion. Etc.) A fun way for us to get to know you so that you always have something to talk about.
Not all group runs are created equal. Some are strictly long runs. Others are out and backs so that you will at least see each other along the way.
I wish the running world were as inclusive as it likes to claim it is. BUT, there are great groups and crews out there. Running with people is really, really rewarding and fun. If you’ve been burned, brush it off and keep going. Find a group that wants you there and makes you feel welcome. They’re out there.
Or join a Badass Lady Gang near you! You’ll never get dropped at one of our group runs because we’re community first, and a fun workout second. Or start a Badass Lady Gang and create your own community! We’ll be opening up applications in Spring 2022. Learn more here. And last but not least, join our online community! It’s a free, special corner of the internet where we want you to show up as you are. A place where you can make new friends, share your running journey, crowdsource advice, swap or sell clothing or gear, or just find women who share your love (or love to hate relationship) with running. CLICK HERE to join.
Kick ass and take names gang.
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