To all you people looking for a running partner/informal running group, etc

Join a local running club!

They are not all full of elitist, super-fast racing snakes.  They are made up or ordinary runners, some faster, some slower, who like to run with other people.

It's way easier to find someone to run with, and a lot safer than taking up with someone who responds (if anyone responds) on the internet.

Most clubs will be happy to let you come along for a few sessions to see if you like them, so you don't have to join up without meeting them.

To find a club near you, either google "running club" and the name of your town, or look on the England Athletics website (or Scottish or Welsh as appropriate).

Running wise best thing I ever did was to join a club.

Good shout Wilkie.

My main reason for joining a club was to get a formal introduction to interval training, but as it turns out, one of the main benefits that I didn't really envisage is the ability to send an e-mail round to a bunch of like-minded individuals and say - I'm planning such and such a run on Sunday morning, anyone care to join me?

One of the advantages of the club set up is that the typical club really does cater for a number of different abilities, and training objectives.  Chances are it's the best environment for finding those like-minded individuals to keep you company.

I finally summoned up the courage and went for a taster session at my local running club last night after humming and ha-ing and generally being too nervous to go along for the best part of a year. Like most people, I was worried about not being able to keep up with the others and holding other runners back - not helped by the fact that the onyl time I'd seen their runners were at local 10km races where they always have a number of runners who land in the top ten places. All I can say is that club nights are completely different. So glad I went along - as previous posters have said, there were people of all abilities there and (whilst I was most definitely not one of the top runners!) I certainly wasn't the slowest. They made me feel so welcome from the minute I walked through the door and made sure I was matched with someone of a similar pace to me, and we chatted all round the route about the club and running and anything!

Really really wish I'd done it sooner. Go along - nothing to lose except maybe an hour or so of your evening. I'm definitely going back next week!

Just the best way to get to know some like-minded people when you move to a new area too. All clubs are different, one will suit your pace/timings whatever. I can't make mine regularly due to childcare arrangements but I just know I can pitch up when I can make it and have a great run with company (and if it's a cr*p run then I've got company for that too!).

If the idea of an organised running club puts you off, try Meetup  and search for 'running'. There are all kinds of groups - it's informal and I guess some are probably better than others, but it's another way to meet runners and you can search for your local area.