Another month, another activity to try!
To any new readers, welcome to Trying New Things. Each month, I try a new fitness and wellness endeavor, so you don’t have to. The goal of this is to find activities that bring joy back into exercise. From cold plunges to pickleball to yoga, hopefully something I try will resonate enough to give it a go yourself.
This month, we’re going to a run club, something I was pretty hesitant about since I typically choose most other forms of exercise over running. Nonetheless, it’s important to branch out and try new things because we never know what may click!
What is it?
Run clubs are groups of people that get together on a regular basis to run – simple as that!
Within Forsyth County, there are plenty of run clubs to look into. They’re often associated with breweries or running stores, but by looking online or through Facebook groups, there are groups for women, different experience levels and distances.
The group I tried out was much more casual, the course we did was two miles to a brewery, we hung out for around 20 minutes and then ran the two miles back to where we started. The groups I looked into were twice a week, but there is no penalty for not showing up. Come when you can, run what you can, at whatever pace feels right.
Beginner friendly?
For me, someone who is certainly not a runner by nature, running already is not beginner friendly. I was pleasantly surprised by how much people split by pace, and there was never anyone alone. Even those who are clearly regular runners would hang back with others who were slower, so they weren’t alone.
The run club I went to was meant to be beginner friendly, so if you’re looking for an inclusive group, it’s out there! I would recommend doing a little bit of research before jumping in, but I had a very positive experience as a beginner.
Insight & Impression
I liked running clubs more than I expected. Everyone was friendly, welcoming and excited to have someone new join the group. I admit I was a bit judgmental – I assumed everyone would be faster than me and competitive with one another. It turned out to be quite the opposite – it was casual, chatty and about as fun as running has been for me.
Did I feel like I was working out?
Yes, after I finished the loop, I was exhausted. It’s been a while since I ran four miles. Was it easier, however, to run with a group of people than convincing myself independently? For sure. Of course, I felt like I was working out, but I did like the community, the accountability and that I just followed the people in front of me who knew the pre-designated loop.
I don’t think running clubs are my calling. I liked it more than I expected, but my dislike of running trumped the activity itself. Regardless, I encourage the Forsyth Woman readers to give it a try. You never know what might work for your body, and maybe a little socialization and a run might be what works!
