When I first moved back home, after I had made a life for myself in another town, I was scared. I had no friends who still lived in the area and only my family to hang out with. Granted, my family rules but there is only so many activities one can do with one’s mom. Drinking is out. Picking up men is out. Running 20 milers is out. At least all of these things are off limits with my mom. If yours is a drinking, flirting, running machine then more power to you both.
So here I am back in my hometown. Friendless. Running partner-less. What did I decide to do about it?
I joined a running group. I found them online and was out with them the first chance I got.
I know that most of you who swing by this blog are runners or triathletes. Some of you belong to groups. But for the random person who stops by D.R. I want to say this – if you have any inclination to run a race of any kind or are looking for some like-minded healthy (slightly goofy, but fun) friends then a running group is for you.
Out of all the blogs I have read I have seen only a couple mention bad experiences with a running group. If it weren’t for these dynamic people I really don’t know if I’d be logging 40+ miles a week. And I would have no clue about a lot of the training techniques I talk about. I also would not have made so many great friends so quickly.
Within each group there will always be smaller sub-groups of friends. And that’s OK. But come race time everyone is out there supporting each other and helping each other get through those last miles that seem unbearable.
Maybe I got lucky. Maybe I am in the best running group in America. But then again, maybe there is a group out there waiting for you.
UPDATE: Some of you posted that you weren’t sure how to find a running group, well I found this little gem on about.com and hope it helps. Happy hunting.
Thanks for the suggestion. I live in my hometown too where few high school friends still remain. I honestly have ZERO friends who are interested in running. My husband is my only running partner. I definitely think that we need to join a runner's group. Our fear is that we're just starting out and would be too much of a beginner for such a group. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Good for you for joining up with a running group! I have been tempted to try, but the times never seem to work out. However, I do get in runs with some of the guys in my neighborhood which switches things up nicely.
I love running groups! Our half marathon running group meets up next Tuesday and I'm estatic! I'm so excited to be running with them again!
YAY running groups!!! It is SO awesome to have a bunch of people to run with – makes it easier to get out the door and I have learned SO MUCH! Awesome that you've found a great group of your own! 🙂
We moved back to my husband's hometown and it's kind of the same scenario: my MIL was my best (pretty much only) friend for months. I've met some great friends since then, but I still don't have anybody to run with. It's such a small, rural town in an isolated area, that I'm pretty sure there's not a running club in a 50 mile radius.
You are VERY lucky! (so am I) great post 🙂
Thanks for the info…I want to run a 1/2 marathon and just joined Atlanta Track Club. Have yet to join them for an actual run yet but feel better after reading your post.
I bit the bullet and joined two different running groups a few weeks ago – a trail running one and a regular, road-running one. LOVE it. One of the best decisions I've ever made when it comes to running!!
You speak the truth B! The BRA is amazing and I am so excited I finally got to meet and run with them! They are a fantastic bunch and I am regularly jealous of you and your great find! 🙂
I WISH there was a running group close to where I live. I think the support would be so great. At least I have a great couple of friends to run with. But I will remember this in case I ever move. HA! Glad you found a great group of friends to run with!
Good luck finding a partner! I have bad knees otherwise I would totally run.
Thanks for stopping by my blog and the kind words!
-John
I have been wanting to join a running group for a while now . . . but things get a little overwhelming in NYC, where there are like 95 billion of them! But this post has inspired me to give some of them a chance. Thanks for the tip 🙂
also, sometimes people in your running group go get you food after you run 26 miles in cold, windy, rainy weather.
You and I would get along great with all of that drinking, flirting and running. I joined a group too but they are very hard core and have been together for years. I am finding it hard to break in, but little by little that is happeneing. I just have to keep showing up. I also recently found a really nice group of moms who run together and they have been incredibly fun and welcoming. I keep searching!!
I LOVE my running groups. What's fun is to be a part of a few and see how different they are. One of mine has lots of fast tri ladies who I can never keep up with but they are kind and friendly and keep pushing me! Another running group has lots of high school kids and they crack me up with their "nipple"stories and other anecdotes. My marathon training groups have been more serious but I like that two. My suggestion: don't just try one if you don't feel comfortable, keep looking!
Glad you found such a great group to run with. My first group I joined… 10 of us girls are going to San Fran for a week in Oct for the Nike Women's HM, they're definitely awesome if I'm willing to spend a week with them in a house 🙂 I'm now in another group that I met recently for triathlon… so far I've been lucky to meet so many wonderful people. 🙂
I'm lucky. A friend convinced me to start running, then we convinced a few more friends to join us, and thus we formed our own running group, but we all joined a track club anyway (because a few of us were training for a marathon…and casual runs w/friends are one thing…a marathon is quite another)…
At first, I was really shy (yeah, me) and barely talked to anyone at the club who wasn't already a person I know, but I soon discovered that these track club peeps are some of the greatest people in the world!
You're right! Running groups are THE BEST!
I'm glad you were able to find such a great group of people to run with. I have a question; how did you find a running group? I've googled my town, but nothing is coming up. I even went to Lululemon and asked them, but they said they MIGHT have one later on. Where should I look for a group? Im interested in joining one
I love that you all are posting such positive comments about running groups. For those in small towns I lament the fact that you don't have a running group. But you could always start one like Alice did!
I'm so glad you were able to find a great running group. We don't have any running groups around here, but I would be LOST without my running partner Jim and the other couple of people I run with on occasion.
I'm so sorry to hear that, and I'm sorry that my post made you miss him – I will take what you said to heart, though 🙂 my thoughts are with you today.
DO you happen to know any running groups in Germany as well??;) preferably English speakers???
cause i found none so far:P
Anyway… Happy Wednesday!
visiting form SITS
Running groups are great! If it weren't for the group of people I run with regularly, I wouldn't stay motivated!
great idea! i'm sure my area doesn't have one either…but i'm thinking if i want one, i should start one, like you mentioned. thanks!
Running groups are fun. We have met some really good friends through running groups. I still like to run on my own as well from time to time.
Someone mentioned that it can be hard to break into the "inner circle" of a new group, running or otherwise. Yes, that is true, even in the BRA. Just keep a positive attitude, and keep showing up, and eventually you'll join the crowd. After all, we are all runners, regardless of pace.
I am proud and humbled to be a part of (in my opinion) one of the best running groups out there, the (infamous) BRA.
See you on the roads, or trails, or hills, or track, or…
Beth- does your running group meet in Tampa? I need to find one here in Clearwater. I have been waiting to join a group until I could get my mileage up a bit! Some of the triathletes that I met early on when I first started training were so friendly and nice and yet they were inviting me out to go run 10 to 15 miles! Yikes!! So yeah….would love to find a group with some beginners or SLOOOOWER OLDER people in it! lol
I think you just have the best running group ever. and yes. I'm jealous. I will continue to run alone and look like a loser. THANKS. ha ha
I have THOUGHT about a running group, but I'm not sure how I feel yet about spending that time away from the fam. I guess if I joined one that only met for an hour or two on Saturdays…
…speaking of running, I've been out of it for a couple of years with baby having and nursing and whatnot laziness. A lady at work is trying to talk to me about training for a half-mara. I'm considering it…much to my own surprise. I'll definitely be checking in here for tips since it's been so long since I actually ran any type of distance whatsoever.
I love running groups, and we have several great ones here in Lansing. it makes sense that people love running groups, runners are the coolest. that 'lil gem' you found is awesome, a good fyi.
I just joined a running group too and love them! It's great to be able to get together with a different group of friends who all share the love of running or as my other friends woudl say who are just crazy!
Very cool Beth! I have a friend I go running with from time to time… I've thought about joining a running group and this has made me think about it again 🙂 time to start searching!
That's so awesome! It always seems like making friends as an adult is so much harder than when you're, say, 11 years old.
running groups are awesome! i had one… but then they all quit on me. then i had another, but it was too inconvenient to get all the way across town to meet up with them. then i got another and was relocated for work. sigh. i can't win! but they are so much fun running or not-running. i totally suck at making friends otherwise.
Great advice about the running group. My husband joined one when we moved 5 years ago and now they are some of our best friends. So glad you found a great one.
Well damn! I am so sad that you found a running group. Now I can't chant, "You have no friends, you have no friends, you have no friends…" until your ears bleed.
Emile is sad too…
it's a good suggestion. My running group isn't working out for me, but it doesn't change my opinion that running groups are a good thing. I just need a different one… 🙂
Very cool! I belong to a group of old farts here in Southern California, so I know the camaraderie that they can provide. But starting a group? That's too much like work. Congrats for taking the initiative!
My Tri group is the best. I don't think I would have gone past my first race without them and I know I wouldn't have gotten into running the way I did. Congrats on finding a great one near you!!
I am envious you have a running group.
Do most people's running group's friends see running as priority or chatting as top priority?
I sometimes see a pair of ladies meeting up to to work out/walk/run, but instead of really going at it, they were strolling and talking about other people in the neighborhood.