Setting Myself Up for Success

Now that I know I’m working towards running the 122nd Boston Marathon, I’m getting into the habit of running and training regularly. I was starting to run more anyway since cancelling my gym membership earlier this month. Of course, a little motivation (aka peer pressure) couldn’t hurt either.

Midnight Runners

I joined the Midnight Runners last time out of convenience. Looking back, it does say on their website that runners usually run 6:30-9:30 minute miles. I guess that explains why I was behind the pack.

All I remember is warmups, a team huddle, some chants and shouting, someone running with a boom box on his back, one of the crew members having a hard time finding/trailing where the rest of the runners were, bootcamp stops, and high fives at the end, and lots of photo opportunities and videos along the way. Maybe it was the setup of the event itself — since it wasn’t a regular 10K bootcamp — but if I had run off on my own (maybe take a wrong turn), no one would’ve known. If you can keep up, it’s an energizing group to be a part of.

Life Time Run

This time I went with Life Time Run. Admittedly, I was a bit biased because of the shocking price tag of their monthly gym membership when they first opened (for loyalty membership requiring a 12-month commitment, it was $149/month with a $69 enrollment fee (already reduced from $129). That’s a sinkhole of $1788 a year without the initial enrollment. While I’m biased, I’m also open.

The running coach had left runners a box of some homemade chocolates filled with a motley mixture of peanut butter, toffee, cashews, and more — how sweet. There were a number of seasoned runners that I couldn’t keep up with eventually, and there was someone at the end who caught up to me in time to explain where the split was. She even offered me her flashlight since I wasn’t prepared to run in the dark — this had only occurred to me during the run. We also chatted a bit about prepping for the marathon. Maybe it was winter, but I didn’t really feel as if I connected with anyone. We took a picture at the very end, as I’m sure they want to promote on Facebook to recruit more members.

Marathon Sports Run Club

I ran with Marathon Sports’ run club because I had some free time and because I wanted to check out what it’d take to get some free swag. The quick and dirty version is 10 runs = $25.

When I signed in, I noticed that everyone wrote down how many miles they would run. Someone then kindly explained to me that they have specific routes for running  8.7, 8, 5.5, 4.5, and 3.5 miles, so it depends on how far I want to run that day. The club made sure that I was paired with someone, and my running partner John matched my pace and was kind to offer to walk with me if I needed to. I was never alone. What’s more, the store provided me the a reflective vest (bunch of straps?) so that I can be seen at night.

The people there certainly have a great sense of humor, and I happened to join on their santa/yankee swap night with food and festivities after the run. For first impressions, even without the post-run event, they seem to be a great bunch.

Peer Pressure — It Works

In both cases, I ran a lot more quickly than I would on my own. Compare less than 10 minutes to my usual 12+ minutes. For someone like me who’s a laid back casual runner, I’m grateful to be part of a group that can push my limits — and it’s all free(!).

In the Beginning Was

…the Greater Framingham Running Club. I’m finding that running clubs are social clubs with unspoken rules — that is, there’s such a thing as a running culture. One major difference with being a due-paying club member here is that we run on a track field or up a hill repeatedly. Because I don’t have to catch up to anyone, there isn’t much accountability beyond showing up (which is half the battle already). The club will help keep me running regularly, but I’ll also need to figure out how to bring my A-game. In any case, I have them to thank for my invitation. I’ll be sure to pay it forward—

In a Nutshell

Finding the right running club is like finding the right shrink. Do some research, have a test run, and stick with what feels right.

The more I want to get something done, the less I call it work.
— Richard Bach