We welcome all runners. However we often get asked: how fast a runner do you need to be to run with us?
As a very rough guide, to get the most from our sessions, we suggest that you can run at least 5-6 miles fairly comfortably, you are running at least a couple of times a week, and – pace wise – you can run a 10k in about 55 minutes, or a flat parkrun in about 27 mins.
These are not cut off times. The closer you are to being able to run these distances and times, the more you will enjoy training with us. If you struggle to run this far/often, or speeds you may find some – but not all – of our sessions hard work.
However please don’t be put off. Remember running with a club will improve your running quite quickly. If you think you can get up to these times and distances with in a few weeks or so then come along, try out a session, and discuss your running with one of our coaches and we can advise you further.
While some sessions are 8 mile routes around Glasgow which you may find hard work, other sessions are run in short loops, near our base, for example on our track. You will find these much more manageable as you can do them at your own pace and effort.
Also bear in mind that many of our longer sessions include 10 minute warm up, 10 minute warm down as part of the session. The ‘tough bit’ may only be 20 to 25 minutes in the middle.
In our experience, if you give us a try you will usually know pretty quickly if Bellahouston Roadrunners is for you.
So we would say, if you are reading this and think my running is good enough, what are you waiting for? Get along as soon as you can.
If you think this is too much for you at the moment then we suggest you join a jogging group. These groups have an excellent reputation. Indeed, we’d encourage perhaps visiting our friends at Bellahouston Jog Scotland, who meet just up the road from us on Wednesday evenings: We’ve started working closely with this group, and are delighted to recommend them. Perhaps use our club as a goal to motivate you to get your running to the next level. And when you are ready come and give us a try.
We realise that there is a group of people who are in between – you are a bit faster than joggers and perhaps running between 55 and 60 mins for a 10k. Or can run 27:30 for a 5k parkrun, but that’s on a good day. All we can say is please come along and we will do everything we can to help you improve your running. You may find the first few weeks hard work or some of the session tough going, but you will hopefully find people to run with and it will only improve your running and do you good.
So if in doubt come and give us a try. We would much rather you came to the club and give it a go and work something out than not come at all. Why not check our our website to see what training session we are doing, come along, speak to a coach, meet other runners, do a few sessions and then you can decide if you want to stay with us.
If you love running we hope you stay. As we will improve how far, often and fast you can run. You will find a very welcoming club with a wide range of people who are brought together by a simple thing. They love to run. And running is not a lone sport, its best done with friends.
Hope to see you soon!