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Run to achieve your fitness goal.

New to running? Pick a goal and start a group! A running club could help you reach your fitness goals while having fun and working towards a cause.

I’m going to start by making a bold statement: running will make you fit. I’m smiling as I type because you can’t get away with making such bold statements very often! All smiles aside, I do sincerely believe that your fitness level will improve if you start running or walking more often.

Grab a buddy and get fit by starting a running club

If you’ve read any of my previous posts, you’ll know that running is something I’m passionate about. It can be done anywhere, and it’s an activity almost everyone can do. Running requires very little skill and it doesn’t require any equipment. I’ve noticed that once most people start incorporating running into their fitness routines, they truly fall in love with it.

If getting fit or losing weight is one of your goals this year, then what are you waiting for? Today is the perfect day to start running! If you don’t want to do it alone, you can start your own running club in your community by following a few simple steps. It’s a simple way to help you reach your own goals while inspiring others to do the same.

How to create a successful running club

Pick a local race

It will be much easier to get people to come and train with you if you have a specific goal with a date. Go online or look in a local newspaper to find an event to sign up for. Sometimes it helps to choose a race that benefits a cause you truly care for. You will be even more motivated to train and do your best on race day.

Pick your training days and meeting location

Prepare a schedule of training runs at various locations before asking people to join you. Pick locations that will suit you and the people you intend to invite. There are beaches and hills in my neighborhood that are ideal for walks and runs. This means I can switch up a potential training schedule to include weekend beach runs and perhaps an evening walk on hilly terrain if it’s light enough. Take into consideration your group’s busy schedules and plan training runs accordingly.

Create a list of things people need to bring with them

Being clear about expectations is important. Stating what is needed is better than having someone show up without the essentials. Let your group know that people should wear appropriate attire and bring some athletic gear. This is also a good step to take if you are the running group organizer. Important things to note on the essentials list are:

• Water bottle
• Running shoes
• Lightweight jacket (or clothing to accommodate weather)
• Watch or stopwatch
• Electronic gadgets (heart rate monitor, music player with headphones, or pedometer)

If you or your group is up for it, think about ordering custom gear with your group name, such as custom t-shirts.

Pick a running route and try it out

If you want this to be a fun experience for your friends, always plan ahead and test out your route.

Invite people

Give your contacts (family, friends, coworkers) all of the information they need to join and explain why the race you picked is awesome. If your new running group seems to have a slow start on gaining members, make your running group seem like it will be a fun social activity. People tend to join new groups for social reasons, so plan additional activities such as a power lunch or a shake party after some of your training runs. Make sure to take some group pictures to post on social media. This will spread the word about your running group, the cause, and could possibly attract some new members.

Show up to ALL your events

If you decide not to show up to your own running club, how can you expect others to trust that you are serious? Even if no one initially signs up to participate in your running group with you, you should still be accountable to your own plan. Once you start sharing your success and accomplishments with your friends, they may decide to join you. Leading by example is always the most successful approach to inspiring others. 

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I hope I’ve motivated you to start your own walking or running group. It’s simple to do and it can help make your fitness goals a reality. I have a feeling that once you get started on a healthy running path, you won’t be able to stop.