Why Join a Running club?

In early 2021, I moved to Forest Grove and found myself missing all of my old running buddies. I had a new baby and wasn’t able to get away to Portland as easily to train with friends as I had in the past. Marathon training in a town where I didn’t know many people, let alone runners, was lonely and to be honest, boring. While I do love the solitude of running alone at times, I found myself running the same loops over and over and didn’t feel all that inspired. Fast forward to 2023, one night while nursing my second baby, I decided that I wanted to start a running club. Our town didn’t have any running clubs or organized group runs that I had seen in the two years of living there, and I thought, if I didn’t have local running friends, I’d make them. 

Having previously led running clubs in Hillsboro and Portland, I had an idea of how to start a club, so I got to work. First, I found a location to meet and went in to see if they’d be in favor of hosting us. I chose a centrally located taphouse that had ample seating, a large outdoor area, allowed kids, and dogs, and was already really popular. They immediately said yes and were very supportive, offering a dollar off each item for runners. Then I got to marketing. I created an Instagram page and a Strava club to announce that a new run club was coming to town and set the start date a month out to generate interest. Each week, I did a countdown on the Instagram page and got more and more people interested in the group. While out running, I invited any runners I saw to join the club. 

On our first night there were eight of us, two weeks later, we had twelve, another two weeks later, we had eighteen– and it just kept growing! Running with this group has honestly changed my life in several ways. I have made lifelong friends, become faster and stronger than I would have on my own, and been propelled to set ambitious goals that, as a busy mom of two, wouldn’t have even been on my radar without my running friends. I’d like to share some reasons why I think running with a group may benefit you! 

Friendship

When you run with a group, you generally start out as strangers but quickly begin forming friendships. There is something about sharing miles together that draws people closer. Running weekly with a group transforms these friendships; the consistency of seeing the same people week in and week out and sharing a common goal strengthens those bonds. Some of the friendships I have made through my running club are my strongest. It is amazing how quickly nicknames and jokes form, along with plans for future running adventures and races.

Motivation and Accountability

Having a goal to run a race can be motivating, but what happens when there are no races on the calendar? Some people need goals to keep progressing, but running with a group can fill that gap. When you have people to run with, it’s easier to stay motivated throughout the week. You might start attending just once a week, and before you know it, you’re running more frequently to maintain your fitness for the group run. Knowing that your friends expect you to show up at that 6am Wednesday run makes it much easier to get out of bed when the alarm clock goes off. The community aspect is what keeps us moving forward. 

Get faster and run farther

Our club often meets for long runs on Saturdays. Over the summer, I noticed that more people joined us as time went on. Some were interested in longer mileage and wanted friends to make the runs more exciting, while others preferred shorter runs but enjoyed the group atmosphere, so they joined too! Sometimes people started with a shorter distance in mind and then just kept running!

Train and race together

Signing up for races and training for them together feels like a party, especially when cheering each other on and celebrating at the finish line. Watching friends set ambitious goals is inspiring and can ignite a desire to tackle new distances and paces. Sometimes you need to see someone else succeed to believe you can do it too. Seeing my friends conquer their goals– like running 50 miles or completing back to back races– has made me think, if they can do it, I can do it. 

Learn about the sport

Our group includes some people who have been running for their whole lives and others who have just started. It is inspiring to see newer runners gain insight from those with more experience. They may ask questions or seek advice, enriching everyone’s experience. 

Support the community 

Many running clubs share goals of supporting the local community. Making a difference alongside friends can be very fulfilling. For example, the Forest Grove Community Running Club organized an Earth Day trash pickup, where we ran around downtown picking up litter. We also raised money for the Virginia Garcia Memorial Foundation to provide healthcare for local residents and supported the Sam Day Foundation to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer research. When club members share causes that matter to them, it creates a sense of purpose that transcends running and brings us all closer together.

As you can see, there are many reasons why joining a running club is beneficial. If there isn’t one in your area, I encourage you to take the brave step of starting your own. You might just meet some of your new best friends!