Running clubs in Putney, London

Serpentine is too far for me to travel after work (my commute is long enough as it is). Last time I joined a running club I stopped going because the travel there and back took too long. For ease I'm looking for something extremely local. Richmond Park would work (depending on times) as it is sort of on my way home.

Barnes Runners has a very relaxed approach to training. They are a wonderfully ramshackle, disparate and eclectic bunch, many of whom simply run to try and stave off the midlife crisis for as long as they possibly can. They welcome beginners, recreational runners and elite runners (although an elite runner has yet to join them). For more information, visit their website: barnesrunners.org

@hansyhobs I was training quite hard last year, and have let it slip. So my main aims are to build up endurance and get faster! There's a route on the Thames Path, around 4.5 miles that we could try..

@Amy - I'd definitely be up for starting a Saturday morning run, for e.g. Let me know if you want to set something up!

Hi Hansyhobs and Miss Gilchrist

Have you found a running group in Putney yet?

I do the river loop run on the weekends but am looking to join up with a group. I'm not fast and am looking to improve too. Let me know if you'd like to set something up or if you have any other recommendations

Aimee

@Aimee - Amy Ashdown and I have been running a few times a week (4 to 7 miles) for a few months now. DM me if you fancy joining us.

Just to confirm Run Club Putney's still going strong so feel free to pop down and join us for a free trial. Obviously there is a monthly fee though I think we're one of the few clubs with professional coaches and our aim is to provide quality coached sessions for all levels at a reasonable price. Most of our sessions are circuit or technique based which seems to work well with such a wide range of abilities though we do also train groups up for specific events throughout the year.

Admittedly if you're a keen runner who's already out 2/3 times a week that's one thing but our general model is to attract those maybe new to the sport or nervous about joining a large group who simply head out for a run. At the end of the day if you make a couple of sessions a week you're looking at £2.50/session. We try to find a middle ground between the high end coaching of somewhere like the Running School who charge £50 session and your classic running club whereby you'd just meet up and head off for a run (not great if you can't run for more than 5 minutes).

Anyway, the model seems to be doing well and we're currently offering 12 sessions a week around the capital to over 150 members. We've just come back from a trip to Paris where we got 12 newbies around the marathon with the next goal a 10k in July so hopefully something to offer everyone.