Eastern Suburbs run club The Run Squad encourages new members to give it a crack

Despite the ongoing popularity of running clubs, some newbies have admitted they are too intimidated to join. However a growing Eastern Suburbs club of 150 members says it caters for everyone.

Run clubs continue to rise in popularity, but many newbies wanting to join have admitted to being too intimidated.

However an Eastern Suburbs run club, called The Run Squad, says they encourage members from all walks of life and has runners aged 6 to 78.

New research by Allen’s found that over half (54 per cent) of NSW residents surveyed said their friends had taken running very seriously over the past few months, while 34 per cent admitted that they wouldn’t join a club as they feel “you already need to be a good runner”.

This mirrors the 41 per cent who agreed they wouldn’t join a club as they feel running club members “are very serious about running”.

The Run Squad in action. Picture: Tileah Dobson

Meanwhile 45 per cent said they loved running because it gets them outside, while almost half said running gave them a sense of accomplishment.

The Run Squad’s head coach Warren Williams said his club was structured to tailor for everyone.

“The Squad grew fairly rapidly as it offered a structured program that could cater not only for beginner and recreational runners but also for people who wanted to get into some serious racing and improve their personal bests,” Mr Williams said.

Warren Williams is the head coach of the Run Squad. Picture: Tileah Dobson

Members of the Run Squad meet up in Centennial Park as early as 6am. Picture: Tileah Dobson

“It’s a very hands-on group with structured timed intervals sessions on marked out and measured courses, unlike a lot of groups that just go out for an easy 5km run a couple of times per week. We have around 150 registered members ranging from teenagers to runners in their 70s.

“It’s a very inclusive, respectful and supportive community and several people have made strong friendships through participating in the group. The most pleasing thing from my perspective is seeing runners achieve their goals and doing what they never thought possible.”

The Run Squad member Brad Sharpe, 63, has been running track for the last 15 years and said he wasn’t slowing down “any time soon”.

Brad Sharpe has been running for years and says nothing is going to stop him anytime soon. Picture: Tileah Dobson

Larissa Williams was a newbie to running a few years ago and enjoys the social and health benefits from running. Picture: Tileah Dobson

“I can’t see myself stopping any time soon,” Mr Sharpe, an architect and master’s track athlete, said.

“I like the training, I like everything about it. It’s a good structure for me. And it doesn’t matter how fast you are, you just need to get out there and do it.”

Larissa Williams, 34, loves not just the physical side of running in a club but the social aspect.

“I have a lot of girlfriends and friends in The Run Squad which is really great. We go for coffees after and it’s a real social aspect of my life,” Ms Williams said.

The Run Squad has participated in various charities and will be participating in the annual City2Surf in August this year.

Popular places to run include beaches and parks. Picture: David Swift

Accredited running coach Andrea Doney. Picture: Supplied

Accredited running coach Andrea Doney advises those wishing to start running to “approach the process with a lot of patience” and to take a “slow and incremental approach”.

“In running, we talk about something called progressive load,” she told the Southern Courier.

“Let’s say you run for a minute and walk for a minute or whatever, and you do that for 30 minutes. And then the next week you might increase your run to one minute and 10 seconds.

“So you kind of increase your load by about ten per cent, no more than that. Just having the small kind of incremental gain and a very sort of gentle and approach to it, because running is absolutely awesome.”

Ms Doney encourages everyone to join a running club, regardless of what your level is.

“I think running clubs are amazing,” she said.

“There’s enormous benefits to running clubs, and if you find the right one, where you feel like it's a good fit you know there’s great friendships to be made. Maybe even romances. It’s quite easy to find your tribe.”