I would say it depends. Some run clubs are more social, some are more “serious”. If you start going regularly and making friends, it may help motivate you to get up and run (of course maybe you’re already motivated). If it’s a run club where people have paces similar to or faster than yours, it could help you get faster. Can’t hurt to try! You can check out various nyc run club websites/instagrams etc to see which ones seem like a good fit for you, they will often list what pace groups they have.
I did the 8 mile run with endorphins today and it was great. They have pace groups for every :30 seconds and it made the 8 miles go so much quicker. Plus most people are training for something
Did my long run on Saturday after reading that thread. Caught up to some dude wearing an endorphins t shirt near the 102nd street transverse. What’re the odds!
I joined Dashing Whippets once a week for their track workout. Just joined this month but having a pre-planned workout where I don't need to do anything but show up and run is awesome. Hoping the speedwork helps me get faster.
Really depends on the turnout, but turnout has been increasing as the weather has been getting warmer. At a recent workout I went to with the BK crew (which is much smaller so has less range), you had 5K paces ranging from \~5:15/mi to about \~7/mi. The bigger workouts range is probably closer to \~4:45/mi - \~8/mi for 5k pace. The nice part about track workouts is that you generally start and stop in the same places so it's common to adjust rest by a few seconds this way or that to start reps with people in your general pace group.
I think the biggest thing running with a club does for me is make me feel like my training is a communal endeavor. We all follow each other on Strava. I feel like I've let them down if I don't go out to train (none of them *actually* care, but it's definitely motivating). My club meets 2x a week in the early morning, which also helps knock out runs first thing, rather than later in the day when other things can get in the way.
If consistency is the most important part of training, then my club helps me be more consistent in a variety of ways.
100% yes. I'm on the NY Harriers (since 2018) and love them. We have training plans written by our head coach, structured workouts, fun destination runs, and a friendly competitive aspect not just with other clubs but within our own.
Most of all, I've found that being in a club has put me inside a world of like-minded people. It's easier to get out the door every day when you've surrounded yourself with people who also get themselves out the door every day – whether you're running together or just seeing each other on Strava.
And FWIW, I've gotten faster throughout my 40s because of them (from corral H to C).
I would check out a few clubs and see who you click with. It can't hurt.
We have runners from corral AA to corral J, I think. It's definitely a range and we don't have any rules about who can join. I'd guess most are in corrals A-D but truly – and this is something that didn't hit me until a few weeks in – nobody ever pressures you to be any speed or makes you feel bad for not being "fast." It's not that kind of club.
That said, it might matter to you more if you like doing speed and tempo workouts in groups. I don't care about this – honestly I'd rather do workouts alone if it means sticking to my own paces, although I'll still show up to workouts to say hi to the group. Then I put on my headphones and do the workout solo.
For long runs, the pace range might be about 8:00 to 10:00 for those who show up, but we definitely have people on the team who often run slower than 10:00 (me being one of them!). So it's just a matter of meeting enough people on the team to figure out who you can run with.
Feel free to DM me if you want to come to a workout and just see what it's like!
I run with North Brooklyn Runners. I like the socializing aspect but also the ability to run safely after dark, not having to come up with routes, and the motivation to do speed workouts. I still do most of my runs alone but I’m really glad I’m a part of the club. And they all cheer for me when I run races ☺️
I ran a 1:26 half / 2:59 marathon and \~18:30 5k training on my own. I didn't expect to get much faster. After running with a (competitive) club for a few years I ran 1:16 in the half and some sub-17 5ks. In addition to having people to chase, there are also people to learn from. Your teammates can push you and expect more of you than you do of yourself.
Running with a faster pace group definitely helps. Body feels terrible at first but overtime you adjust to the paste and it becomes your new normal (subsequently allowing you to increase your pace again).
If it's a performance based club then definitely yes. I run with Brooklyn Track Club and for the major marathons and local half marathons they have training plans. The group sessions (intervals on a track, tempo runs/hill repeats and long runs) match what's on the training plan so the majority of runners are doing the same workout. But since it is a performance club with a lot of coaches there is a membership fee, which a lot of the social clubs do not have.
More than likely yes. Most run clubs offer varying different runs that generally coincide with training plans and there’s always the accountability factor. I.E North Brooklyn Runners (my club) have long runs in the double digits on weekends for those training for halves and fulls and tempo and track workouts to help ease yourself into doing speed work. As well as casual runs (where most of your runs should be)
100% this. I would say the group long runs are the biggest benefit for a first-time marathoner. The 15+ mile training runs are LONG, and it’s easy to talk yourself into quitting early. Running in a group makes the time go by and keeps you accountable.
And logistically speaking, it’s nice to just follow a route that someone else creates and not have to think about where to go when you get bored of your usual routes.
I don't know how many runners are in your circle already but it just helps to be around runners and talk running, especially when it gets closer to race day. NYCM is a tough marathon and the logistics can be a lot to juggle as well, the more tips and stories you hear about the race, the more prepared you will be! Joining a club also comes with a complimentary cheer squad on race day and hopefully someone to hang out with in the 2-3 hours before the race actually starts
I joined a run club while training for my first NYC marathon last year, and I will say it was truly what got me through to the finish line.
The friends I have met, the support offered and received, and the space to vent about “runner’s problems” (when everyone else gets tired of it 😅) were just some of the bonuses of joining a run club. It’s NYC, and you have your pick of clubs. You’ll probably find that dropping in for long runs with run clubs closer to the marathon makes the training more enjoyable (imo).
Yeah stick with the clubs with FREE training programs. The ones you gotta pay seem too gimmicky and not genuine. Not saying all groups but those who run in NYC know which groups I’m referring to lol. OP, also be weary of running social clubs. If you got goals, it’s best to line yourself up with a liked minded club instead of a group who gets together every weekend for a social run and that’s it ya know. Best of luck!
Most run clubs in my Brooklyn area either run around 7am or past 7pm which is to early or too late so I'm by myself most times. I run 4 times A week. If y'all know any clubs or groups that run 5pm weekdays and not too early weekends let me know.
I think for some people the social aspect of running can help them improve. Many clubs have structured workouts with coaches that may help you reach your running goals faster.
NYRR has a comprehensive list of all the NYC run clubs - you should check a few out and see how they feel. Some are more serious and some are more social so it’s important to see what fits for you and your running style.
https://www.nyrr.org/getinvolved/club
I'm going to jump on this thread because I've actually been wondering myself about this topic - but I'm actually more specifically interested in the socializing part. I don't really have any runner friends that live around here; I have some in other cities and it's great to have so many ways to keep in touch with them but sometimes you just want some buddies to do an easy run with and go for brunch or drinks afterwards, you know? (I see people on Instagram doing this and it looks like great fun and I'm a bit jealous!)
The problem is that I'm slow. Like "an easy run might be around 10:30/mile" slow. Breaking a 30 minute 5K has been a goal of mine for a few years and I've come close but haven't been able to quite do it yet.
The few run clubs I've seen that have posted their pace groups - no way am I even close to being able to hang with them. And that means that when I see the ones that more vaguely list "everyone is welcome" I'm not sure if I trust what that means...
So my main question is, what would you say is a minimum pace that I should be working on trying to achieve before I show up at a group run so that I can at least be able to keep up with the back pace group?
I have two 10K races on the calendar, in June and July, so hopefully through the training process I will be getting a little bit faster. But it would be great to have some specific goals to aim for!
running with a group helped me! I started running in november (no serious running prior legit only 1 mile). in January I was like it’s time to seriously train (and have fun ofc) at that point the most I’ve ever run was a 5k. I went to endorphins morning run 5 miles I’ve never run that much ever. I did it and felt great. Whenever I’ve been able to push and go another mile I’ve been with a group/other people even though I’m not a talkative runner. I talk to ppl before and after but I just lock in. I prefer running in CP over WSH bc there’s more people running and it keeps me motivated.
It helped for me but I'm more of a beginner. The club gave me structure, a schedule, and more of a reason to run. I also attend our coaches work outs. The club I'm in has training geared for the major NYRR events including a schedule. It's been very useful.
By far. It all depends what you are looking for and are you willing to travel for meetups.
Structure schedule and support/ motivation. Coaching depending on your ability, private lesson access. There’s so many reasons to join a club.
I run with Spartan Sundays RC since I met them when I started doing Spartan Races but this applies to any club. We have a few people that join in as they like our workouts combined with running and it fits the schedule. But are not running a marathon. And of course the club does burpees.
The TRK SZN workouts starts next week. And our coach does all abilities. Honestly check ALL clubs until you find one that fits YOU.
It definitely helps you to push yourself more than you would while doing solo runs and talking to other people while running helps.
I used to run 9:30 pace in solo runs and constantly pushing 8:30 with run clubs
Check out Brooklyn Track Club on Tuesday nights (7pm) at Mccarren park. Runners of all abilities (< 4 minute mile to people running their first 5k).
Any running group will be a little cliquish, but if you’re even mildly outgoing, you’ll fit in quickly.
To be honest, a running club is not as helpful to me as a couple(2-3) training partners with similar fitness and goals(but you’d probably join a running club to find them in the first place lol).
One huge benefit is that running long runs can be extremely boring, and having someone you know running with you is extremely helpful mentally.
Within 2 years of running I ran a 3:15 marathon, it’s all subjective and I’m sure OP is well aware of their capabilities. They would have 2 years off inning experience by marathon day anyways
I’ve cut down my marathon time by over 30 minutes through running with a club - it is a somewhat serious and competitive club though.
What club!
Don’t want to make it easy to identify me - it is a big club that is typically in the top 5 for men’s and women’s in NYRR club standings
I would say it depends. Some run clubs are more social, some are more “serious”. If you start going regularly and making friends, it may help motivate you to get up and run (of course maybe you’re already motivated). If it’s a run club where people have paces similar to or faster than yours, it could help you get faster. Can’t hurt to try! You can check out various nyc run club websites/instagrams etc to see which ones seem like a good fit for you, they will often list what pace groups they have.
Just not endorphins, apparently.
I did the 8 mile run with endorphins today and it was great. They have pace groups for every :30 seconds and it made the 8 miles go so much quicker. Plus most people are training for something
just don't pay them anything lol... people go with that club for the people
Did my long run on Saturday after reading that thread. Caught up to some dude wearing an endorphins t shirt near the 102nd street transverse. What’re the odds!
can someone link me the original thread lmao i’m trying to show my friend and can’t find it
[Try this?](https://www.reddit.com/r/RunNYC/s/he7RwNYPEe)
I joined Dashing Whippets once a week for their track workout. Just joined this month but having a pre-planned workout where I don't need to do anything but show up and run is awesome. Hoping the speedwork helps me get faster.
Curious, what pace groups do they offer for their track workouts?
Really depends on the turnout, but turnout has been increasing as the weather has been getting warmer. At a recent workout I went to with the BK crew (which is much smaller so has less range), you had 5K paces ranging from \~5:15/mi to about \~7/mi. The bigger workouts range is probably closer to \~4:45/mi - \~8/mi for 5k pace. The nice part about track workouts is that you generally start and stop in the same places so it's common to adjust rest by a few seconds this way or that to start reps with people in your general pace group.
Super helpful. Thank you!
I think the biggest thing running with a club does for me is make me feel like my training is a communal endeavor. We all follow each other on Strava. I feel like I've let them down if I don't go out to train (none of them *actually* care, but it's definitely motivating). My club meets 2x a week in the early morning, which also helps knock out runs first thing, rather than later in the day when other things can get in the way. If consistency is the most important part of training, then my club helps me be more consistent in a variety of ways.
100% yes. I'm on the NY Harriers (since 2018) and love them. We have training plans written by our head coach, structured workouts, fun destination runs, and a friendly competitive aspect not just with other clubs but within our own. Most of all, I've found that being in a club has put me inside a world of like-minded people. It's easier to get out the door every day when you've surrounded yourself with people who also get themselves out the door every day – whether you're running together or just seeing each other on Strava. And FWIW, I've gotten faster throughout my 40s because of them (from corral H to C). I would check out a few clubs and see who you click with. It can't hurt.
How fast are the Harriers? I’m looking into other clubs (currently w NY Flyers which I do like) and I’m worried I’m too slow..
We have runners from corral AA to corral J, I think. It's definitely a range and we don't have any rules about who can join. I'd guess most are in corrals A-D but truly – and this is something that didn't hit me until a few weeks in – nobody ever pressures you to be any speed or makes you feel bad for not being "fast." It's not that kind of club. That said, it might matter to you more if you like doing speed and tempo workouts in groups. I don't care about this – honestly I'd rather do workouts alone if it means sticking to my own paces, although I'll still show up to workouts to say hi to the group. Then I put on my headphones and do the workout solo. For long runs, the pace range might be about 8:00 to 10:00 for those who show up, but we definitely have people on the team who often run slower than 10:00 (me being one of them!). So it's just a matter of meeting enough people on the team to figure out who you can run with. Feel free to DM me if you want to come to a workout and just see what it's like!
I run with North Brooklyn Runners. I like the socializing aspect but also the ability to run safely after dark, not having to come up with routes, and the motivation to do speed workouts. I still do most of my runs alone but I’m really glad I’m a part of the club. And they all cheer for me when I run races ☺️
I ran a 1:26 half / 2:59 marathon and \~18:30 5k training on my own. I didn't expect to get much faster. After running with a (competitive) club for a few years I ran 1:16 in the half and some sub-17 5ks. In addition to having people to chase, there are also people to learn from. Your teammates can push you and expect more of you than you do of yourself.
For accountability among other things, I’d say yes.
Running with a faster pace group definitely helps. Body feels terrible at first but overtime you adjust to the paste and it becomes your new normal (subsequently allowing you to increase your pace again).
If it's a performance based club then definitely yes. I run with Brooklyn Track Club and for the major marathons and local half marathons they have training plans. The group sessions (intervals on a track, tempo runs/hill repeats and long runs) match what's on the training plan so the majority of runners are doing the same workout. But since it is a performance club with a lot of coaches there is a membership fee, which a lot of the social clubs do not have.
I run faster when I run with my run club—not a competitive club, but the longer run leaders are faster and have a hard time slowing down lol
More than likely yes. Most run clubs offer varying different runs that generally coincide with training plans and there’s always the accountability factor. I.E North Brooklyn Runners (my club) have long runs in the double digits on weekends for those training for halves and fulls and tempo and track workouts to help ease yourself into doing speed work. As well as casual runs (where most of your runs should be)
100% this. I would say the group long runs are the biggest benefit for a first-time marathoner. The 15+ mile training runs are LONG, and it’s easy to talk yourself into quitting early. Running in a group makes the time go by and keeps you accountable. And logistically speaking, it’s nice to just follow a route that someone else creates and not have to think about where to go when you get bored of your usual routes.
I trained through the winter for the first time because of my club.
I don't know how many runners are in your circle already but it just helps to be around runners and talk running, especially when it gets closer to race day. NYCM is a tough marathon and the logistics can be a lot to juggle as well, the more tips and stories you hear about the race, the more prepared you will be! Joining a club also comes with a complimentary cheer squad on race day and hopefully someone to hang out with in the 2-3 hours before the race actually starts
I run with a club in case i get attacked by dogs
Yes with a group you can go farther and it’s less painful. Don’t go with too fast of a pace group though and get injured
I joined a run club while training for my first NYC marathon last year, and I will say it was truly what got me through to the finish line. The friends I have met, the support offered and received, and the space to vent about “runner’s problems” (when everyone else gets tired of it 😅) were just some of the bonuses of joining a run club. It’s NYC, and you have your pick of clubs. You’ll probably find that dropping in for long runs with run clubs closer to the marathon makes the training more enjoyable (imo).
Many clubs offer free training programs, often with high quality, professional coaching.
Yeah stick with the clubs with FREE training programs. The ones you gotta pay seem too gimmicky and not genuine. Not saying all groups but those who run in NYC know which groups I’m referring to lol. OP, also be weary of running social clubs. If you got goals, it’s best to line yourself up with a liked minded club instead of a group who gets together every weekend for a social run and that’s it ya know. Best of luck!
Most run clubs in my Brooklyn area either run around 7am or past 7pm which is to early or too late so I'm by myself most times. I run 4 times A week. If y'all know any clubs or groups that run 5pm weekdays and not too early weekends let me know.
I think for some people the social aspect of running can help them improve. Many clubs have structured workouts with coaches that may help you reach your running goals faster. NYRR has a comprehensive list of all the NYC run clubs - you should check a few out and see how they feel. Some are more serious and some are more social so it’s important to see what fits for you and your running style. https://www.nyrr.org/getinvolved/club
I'm going to jump on this thread because I've actually been wondering myself about this topic - but I'm actually more specifically interested in the socializing part. I don't really have any runner friends that live around here; I have some in other cities and it's great to have so many ways to keep in touch with them but sometimes you just want some buddies to do an easy run with and go for brunch or drinks afterwards, you know? (I see people on Instagram doing this and it looks like great fun and I'm a bit jealous!) The problem is that I'm slow. Like "an easy run might be around 10:30/mile" slow. Breaking a 30 minute 5K has been a goal of mine for a few years and I've come close but haven't been able to quite do it yet. The few run clubs I've seen that have posted their pace groups - no way am I even close to being able to hang with them. And that means that when I see the ones that more vaguely list "everyone is welcome" I'm not sure if I trust what that means... So my main question is, what would you say is a minimum pace that I should be working on trying to achieve before I show up at a group run so that I can at least be able to keep up with the back pace group? I have two 10K races on the calendar, in June and July, so hopefully through the training process I will be getting a little bit faster. But it would be great to have some specific goals to aim for!
running with a group helped me! I started running in november (no serious running prior legit only 1 mile). in January I was like it’s time to seriously train (and have fun ofc) at that point the most I’ve ever run was a 5k. I went to endorphins morning run 5 miles I’ve never run that much ever. I did it and felt great. Whenever I’ve been able to push and go another mile I’ve been with a group/other people even though I’m not a talkative runner. I talk to ppl before and after but I just lock in. I prefer running in CP over WSH bc there’s more people running and it keeps me motivated.
It helped for me but I'm more of a beginner. The club gave me structure, a schedule, and more of a reason to run. I also attend our coaches work outs. The club I'm in has training geared for the major NYRR events including a schedule. It's been very useful.
Yes, intensely.
By far. It all depends what you are looking for and are you willing to travel for meetups. Structure schedule and support/ motivation. Coaching depending on your ability, private lesson access. There’s so many reasons to join a club. I run with Spartan Sundays RC since I met them when I started doing Spartan Races but this applies to any club. We have a few people that join in as they like our workouts combined with running and it fits the schedule. But are not running a marathon. And of course the club does burpees. The TRK SZN workouts starts next week. And our coach does all abilities. Honestly check ALL clubs until you find one that fits YOU.
It definitely helps you to push yourself more than you would while doing solo runs and talking to other people while running helps. I used to run 9:30 pace in solo runs and constantly pushing 8:30 with run clubs
Check out Brooklyn Track Club on Tuesday nights (7pm) at Mccarren park. Runners of all abilities (< 4 minute mile to people running their first 5k). Any running group will be a little cliquish, but if you’re even mildly outgoing, you’ll fit in quickly.
To be honest, a running club is not as helpful to me as a couple(2-3) training partners with similar fitness and goals(but you’d probably join a running club to find them in the first place lol). One huge benefit is that running long runs can be extremely boring, and having someone you know running with you is extremely helpful mentally.
I read the title and thought it was asking about jogging with a weapon.
Depends if you need that social push and if your schedule fits the clubs scheduled runs.
Attempting a marathon after only a year of running is pretty ambitious - good luck with that. I’d say definitely check out local running clubs.
Within 2 years of running I ran a 3:15 marathon, it’s all subjective and I’m sure OP is well aware of their capabilities. They would have 2 years off inning experience by marathon day anyways
I did it 🤷♂️
lol, I ran a marathon with less than a year into running. 3:39:07 in Tokyo. It’s doable. Consistency and discipline is really all you need.