Why the Runner’s Roost Running Group Might Be Perfect For You

When I heard Runner’s Roost was hosting 50 people or more for its Thursday night group runs last month—and snow was still on the ground, I had to find out more. I’ve shopped at the store (4190 N Buffalo Road, Orchard Park) before, but I hadn’t realized that this group met regularly.

It’s really casual: Everyone meets at the store at 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays to tackle three to five miles throughout the village of Orchard Park. Runners with different pace levels are welcome, but those 16 and younger must have a parent run with them. (Here’s the Facebook event. Join it if you want to give yourself a weekly reminder).

And, awesome side note: Run group leader Tom Williams ran the Boston Marathon this month!

What can group runs add to your fitness? Here are five factors to consider:

1) They can be full of teachers. Whether you’re starting out and need to learn basic pacing or you have a couple of marathons under your belt, a running group might be full of people who can share and model their knowledge, according to TheRunningBug.com.

2) They can help you cut the junk. Junk miles are the miles you run without any real intention, so they don’t do anything to help your speed or fitness. A few of those probably aren’t a big deal, but a group can give you a healthy push, according to Active.com.

“Solo runners can testify that, when you're out on your own, it's very easy to plateau and think you can't go any faster, or run any further,” writes SavyStrider.com. “However, more experienced runners are living proof that it's possible to get past the wall, and they can help get you past it.”

3) They might introduce you to new opportunities. New races, new routes, new running music, new buddies for DailyMile or Nike+.

4) They offer weekly accountability. Some days, getting out the door is the biggest hurdle. A weekly schedule can help with that.

5) They might give you a legit label. When do you go from being a person who sometimes runs to a “real” runner?

“When we first start out, many of us struggle to even call ourselves a runner,” writes TheRunningBug.com. “By entering a running club you will feel like you earned your place in the running community and embrace your new role as a bona fide runner.”

So, lace up your favorite shoes, fill up your water bottle and go check them out!