A photo just popped up on my kitchen digital frame that made me realize I’ve only run with my running club once this year. And that was in *cough* January.
Oops?
Not really oops. In December I contemplated whether I’d rejoin the club or not. I’d been a member since very late 2010, but hadn’t done much with them for the past year and a half. Not for any bad reason. It’s just that I joined, originally, got/learned what I needed, then cut back.
The running club was a fantastic way for me to meet new people. And then meet people through those people. Like, Brian, at Essential Fitness, which is where I work as a personal trainer now. I first met him in very early 2011, never thinking I’d be working for him some day!
And also, through those people, I learned a lot about the area I live in – places to run I didn’t know about, which schools are the best (not that this knowledge affects me, but it’s interesting), new shops, best roads to take to avoid traffic, and so on.
The thing is, I don’t use the club anymore to support those relationships (and haven’t for a long time). I’ve taken them outside of the club. They’re good enough that they sustain on their own. I don’t go to club events, or join club runs (I’ve learned I prefer to run solo or one-on-one (group runs are not my thing)).
I’ve noticed other people are like this too – they got what they needed (and it was good) – and now they are cutting back. Or have completely cut back.
Again, no malice. It’s just the cycle of life.
I don’t plan on rejoining in 2015, since my interaction this year so far, has been ONE run, and liking posts on Facebook.
But hey, thankfully Facebook is around. I won’t be on the club page anymore, but I can still see what everyone is up to on their personal pages (and all the time I see them in person)!
Are you a member of a running club? Have you ever left a club, because you felt like you got what you needed out of it?
Ha! That last question makes me sound like I don’t know what a club is – a group of people organized around a similar interest/purpose. People who mostly don’t just come and go. Oops. Again.
That is actually kind of how I feel about blogging! I still miss my blog sometimes, and think about it, but I feel like I don’t need it right now. (I only blogged once in 2014!) However, I have kept my strongest relationships and moved them to Facebook, and even a few to face-to-face meetings!
I actually think clubs often do have members who join for a particular reason and then move on. Like I did Toastmasters for a year or two to get better at public speaking, and I really enjoyed it, but I didn’t feel it necessary to continue paying the dues and attending the meetings.
That is a great example – you got what you needed out of it too. And social media, thankfully, makes it easy to keep in touch!
Isn’t it nuts how much blogging has changed from back when we started? Man (totally off topic) but I miss the story telling. Sick of the product pushing/posing/fakeness.
That’s so cool you did Toastmasters! I would like to try that some day. I’d probably only do it for awhile, too.
I really enjoy our running group, as soon as my stupid foot will allow, and the weather too, we plan on getting back out there.
it’s hard but you do what is good for your needs. yes as a teenager I changed swim clubs, it was very hard to do. I needed to move on so I could get better as a swimmer. I kept in touch with my coach and even worked for her in years to come. your still friends and could run with club members your just not part of the group. you haven’t been for a year, you found other interests and groups. you now help others! you rock!!
Thanks, Barb! And good point – you gotta move to the groups that keep helping you, like you did with swimming! It’s obviously worked cause you are such a great swimmer!
I’m a member of a local moms on the run club. I randomly found it searching for mom groups in my town and it has been a perfect fit. The best part!? It’s free!
I’ve considered joining the county running club but just haven’t done so. I worry that I’ll pay the membership fee and then not use it. They do have low-key races that are free to members and just $10 for non-members. I’ve done a few in the past but I feel like I’d need to do 4 of them each year to ‘pay’ for the membership.
I’m a member of the track club but we get discounts to races and one of the local running stores. Oh, and a newsletter! The membership fee is pretty affordable so I don’t mind.
We get a few discounts through this club too, and I found I was only using the one to the local coffee shop. LOL. Our membership price is really low, too, which is nice (since I am not using it at all, ha ha).
I just joined the running club here a few months ago, and I really like it so far. But I totally get what you mean, that people get out of it what they need and don’t need to continue. (And that goes for other activities, too!) It’s not like you can’t go back if you decide you want/”need” to again!
I keep meaning to ask you how it’s going! Have you joined any long runs lately or has it not worked with your schedule? Maybe more in the new year? 🙂