Running Clubs for Mentoring and Socializing

Marathon Training and Track Intervals for Athletic Performance

May 20, 2009

High school cross-country and college track runners have coaches, maybe nutritionists and physical therapists. After graduation, join a running club for these benefits.

All runners, be they track meet enthusiasts, middle-distance racers (5K to half marathon), or long-distance runners (marathons and ultramarathons), have one thing in common. In order to keep improving their performances in the various aspects of the sport, they need experienced advice. Fellow members of a running club with more experience can provide this insight and help in designing a short- and long-term training plan.

Advice for Marathon Training

When a runner decides to take the step up to the 26.2 mile distance, it opens the door to a new world. Why? Because the human body just isn't designed to go that far, that fast. That's why it's generally acknowledged that “the wall” awaits at mile 20. For most first-timers, this is where the concept of running on willpower takes hold.

To deal with this, care must be taken with the marathon training program, including types of workouts, mileage build-up, when to peak, how long to taper, and proper nutrition. Most running clubs provide this mentoring, free of charge. It's also common to have organized group long runs on the weekend where the novice may be “pulled along” with the pack.

When there are a sufficient number of participants in the group run, the pack can split up into two or more groups after the warm-up period. This allows the faster runners to hit their pace without the slower ones trying to keep up, risking an overuse sports injury like plantar fasciitis or iliotibial band syndrome.

Club Track Workouts

Speedwork in the form of interval training is the only way to get faster and improve performance. Proper pacing is essential for optimal results. Running intervals with a pack is the best way to maintain a steady pace at target heart rate throughout the interval. It also keeps the individual runners honest when it comes to the length of rest intervals. Competitive running is very much a psychological game.

Another type of speedwork that clubs might organize is the tempo run. Again, the pack as a whole maintains the pace for the individuals. In any kind of group speedwork, it's a great benefit if there are enough runners to break the group into subgroups of different fitness and pace levels.

The Social Benefit of Running Clubs

By necessity, determined runners have a different social lifestyle than their sedentary counterparts. It's hard to go clubbing on Friday night until 1:00 AM when there's a 5:30 AM 12-mile group run on the schedule.

That's not to say running club members don't have fun; they do, but they do it on their own schedule.

Taking all these benefits into consideration, the annual cost of a running club membership is one of the best deals around.

The copyright of the article Running Clubs for Mentoring and Socializing in Running Training & Fitness is owned by Kelly Smith. Permission to republish Running Clubs for Mentoring and Socializing in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.