I was on a one-way cross country flight when I started to consider what running would look like in my new city. Four years after running competitively at a Division I School, I had burned out and quit, cold turkey. My move from DC to Seattle meant that I could start anew and get back to what I loved. I thought about how nice it would be to run beside the ocean, and pass the houseboats seen in Sleepless in Seattle. I wanted to discover trails in the city like I had in DC, and find regular comfortable routes. The one thing that would be missing would be my team.
I knew no one in Seattle when I moved here. And if you’ve heard of the Seattle Freeze, it’s a little scary to be a newbie. I started looking up running clubs, teams and get togethers. To my surprise I found more than expected. Now, ten years later, I see that most of my local friendships formed from my running groups. Here are my insights about how that came to be.
Convenience helps a lot
The number one thing that helps a new comer find the right group is convenience. If the barrier of entry is low due to location, time and cost there’s more chance you’ll pack your shoes and go. The main group I found wasn’t too far from my work, was free, and met at 6pm, which gave me enough time to arrive.
The right dynamic
Desperate to make friends, but feeling a little shy, I was unsure how my social skills would hold up with an unknown gang of runners. But then I remembered that the majority of runners are good people. They have similar goals and come from all different backgrounds. Finding your people in a running group is important. You won’t get along with everyone. Look to the leader of the group as well as any sort of “social chair” type person to see if the club is a good fit for you. At the “fun run” I joined, the most welcoming guy ended up becoming a groomsman at my wedding.
The right speed
Some teams are going to be competitive, you’ll find out if you can hang. If you are of that caliber I’d say don’t get discouraged if your first interactions are a bit of a try-out. Groups like this can be very tight knit and they like to preserve their cred. There are different groups that cater to different speeds. Go online and check out the descriptions. Ask questions before you show up. I remember not being very fast when I re-started running. Luckily there were a few back-of-the-packers to hang with so I wasn’t alone. They usually stayed with me on the route and I only got lost once (and lived to tell the tale!)
Connection after the run
The best groups for a newcomer are ones that have a hangout after the run. It’s usually informal, grabbing coffee, pizza and/or beer. There are in-person organizations that have online connections too. One of the running groups I’m part of relies on their facebook group. Members share articles, training advice and meet-up information. Like much of facebook, it can be overwhelming, so I’m happy motion.social is a new way to connect.
Friendships can form while running but they grow when you spend more time together off the roads. As a newbie to a city my best advice is to find something outside of work that you love and meet other people who love it too. While I felt awkward and new when I first got back into it, running in a group provided new friendships. Put yourself out there and join the right group for you!
