How to choose the right Running Club?
I (early 30s M) am a fairly recent runner, starting last Spring, falling off of it after Summer 2025, and getting back into it in May 2026. I'm doing pretty well at building up a base at the moment, slowly adding an extra running day every 4 weeks with the goal of getting to 6 days a week, and I'm currently at 50km at week.
But I want to prepare for Autumn and Winter come around again with the less pleasant conditions. I was thinking adding in club training and the social aspect (I run alone atm) could help to keep me "on the wagon" of training through the colder, darker months.
My problem is that there are multiple affiliated running clubs in my area, but it's really hard to tell what might suit me. The two that are in the most ideal nearby location seems like a club that seems to skew older (40+) and doesn't seem particularly competitive, and another that seems _incredibly_ competitive with the majority of regulars running at least sub-19 5ks.
For context, I'm fairly close to my goal of a sub-20 5k. I feel like this leaves me in a bit of a no-mans land of being fast enough to be in the top 20-30 at most park runs, faster than most people at more casual running clubs, but far slower than those at competitive run clubs.
I'm looking for both people to socialise with (so ideally not a massive age difference) and people to train with. I don't want to be at very front with few peers, or trailing at the back of the pack.
There are other slightly less competitive seeming teams that are not so casual, but they are either also skewing older or on the other side of the city that getting to training would be a bit of a chore.
Anyone been in a similar situation, or have any advice?