First rule of run club? Tell everyone about run club. Whether it's finding true friendship on the trails, pounding pavements with new pals or recruiting a post-run cafe crew.
Something I was always told when I was younger, was how difficult it was to make friends as an adult. Stories like this meant that whilst I was an impressionable 18–23-year-old at university, I often clung onto friends who may not have been best suited for me. I would go on the nights out that I did not enjoy, and partake in activities that did not interest me, all for the purpose of wanting to fit in. The fear was that if I lost these friends, that I may not ever have a community again. Because like everyone says, it is so hard to make friends as an adult.
Finding your tribe
I feel that this statement could be even truer during the winter months. The dark nights and no-so-nice weather comes rolling in and suddenly people seem a little less inclined to be out and about or meeting people in a sunny pub garden. However, for me, rain or shine, winter or summer, there is one sure way that I have found to be able to make friends. And this, is via running and run clubs. It appears there is something so powerful about a group of random strangers coming together on a Saturday morning and running together in a group each week. Suddenly, friendships are formed.
I went to my first run club a year ago, aged 27. And as someone who never quite felt like they fitted in, I suddenly felt like I had found my people. People who week in, week out, no matter the weather, wanted to spend their weekends being outside and moving their bodies, all for their mental and physical health. Individuals who also value meeting new people, and of course, a bonus, finding those who also appreciate an almond croissant and an oat latte after a long run (other post run treats are available).
Shoulder to shoulder
And although communities can be formed through other sports, there is something about running which leads to forming friendships and community building that little bit easier. I am not sure why this is, but I like to think that this is because we are shoulder to shoulder. I read somewhere that when we are talking shoulder to shoulder, it symbolises that individuals have a shared goal, as well as making it easier to open-up to people, as it is less intense than face to face. This means that after running next to people for approximately an hour at a run club each week, sharing a goal and being open, friendships and communities are easily formed. I have even gone as far as creating my own run club, The Healthcare Club, to bring together healthcare professionals as a community and I have never made so many like-minded friends.
And as well as run clubs being a great way to meet new people, it’s an even better way to keep our mental and physical health improved whilst our immune systems could be a little lower and we may need that little extra support in the winter months too. So, in this era where digital connections seem a priority and forming genuine face to face connections can be harder than ever, and in a world where health truly is wealth, take this as your sign to start running, sign up to that run club and show up for yourself consistently, even through the winter.