It’s as simple as show up and follow the leader. But if you’ve never been to a run group, it can be intimidating.
How much does it cost? Free. If you go to afters, you can buy a drink or food or something. But showing up to hand out and run is definitely free. And even at afters, feel free to just hang out and not buy stuff.
How fast do we go? Various speeds. We have some capable runners, and some party pacers. Generally, if the group spreads out, the faster people in front will wait at one of the forks in the trail so everyone has a chance to catch up. We try to keep some amount of buddy system going, someone can hang back to make sure everyone has someone to spend time with (obvious exception is when people say to “go ahead.”)
How far do we go? Usually 3-5ish miles. Depends on the trail. We try to do long enough that it is worth showing up, while being short enough that it isn’t un-doable for recreational runners.
Should I wear headphones? Most people don’t, some do. On solo runs, headphones are almost a given. We generally talk a lot, and headphones can get in the way of that.
What if I’m shy and don’t want to talk much? Just tell us. We understand. It can be fun just hanging around other people talking anyway 🙂
What if I don’t know where I’m going? Totally fine. It is very common for people to be trying this for the first time. Just follow the person in front of you. And if you let someone know you were worried about it, we can make a special effort to keep an eye on you the whole time.
I don’t drink, or I have dietary restrictions: even when we go to a place where alcohol is served, there is always at least one person not drinking, and no one is bothered by it. And order food based on your dietary restrictions, or just hang out and not eat. Totally fine to spend time together and not eat because they aren’t hungry or any other reason.
What do I need to bring? we really recommend wearing clothes and shoes. Pretty much personal preference beyond that. Once daylight savings kills the sun, we recommend, but don’t require, a headlamp.