Joining a running club for the first time can feel a little intimidating. You don’t know anyone, you’re not sure what pace everyone runs, and there’s always that thought in the back of your mind that you might turn up and immediately realise everyone is much faster than you.
Thankfully, that feeling normally lasts about five minutes.
Once the run starts, things become pretty simple. You find a pace that feels comfortable, start talking to whoever happens to be running next to you and, before long, you’re back at the meeting point wondering why you spent so much time thinking about it in the first place.
If you’re new to Da Nang, or you’ve been running in Da Nang alone for a while, joining a local running club is also a great way to get to know the city and meet people outside your usual circle.
Here’s what you can expect when you come along for the first time.
You don’t need to be a fast runner
Probably worth getting this one out of the way first.
There are some seriously good runners in Da Nang. There are also plenty of people who run simply because they enjoy it, people working towards their first 10K, and people who have absolutely no interest in chasing a PB every weekend.
A good running community has room for all of them.
Group runs tend to settle into different paces naturally, so there’s no reason your first session needs to become a test of how fast you can run. Start comfortably, get a feel for the group and go from there.
After a few weeks, you’ll probably notice something else too. Pace becomes much less important once you start knowing everyone. The run is still the reason you meet, but catching up with people becomes part of why you keep coming back.
What happens on your first run?
|
|
|
Honestly, it’s pretty straightforward.
Try to arrive a little before the start time. It gives you a chance to say hello, find out what the session looks like and meet a few people before everyone heads off. Depending on the day, there might be a set route or a more structured training session.
As for what to bring, there’s no special kit list. Wear running shoes you’re comfortable in, something suitable to run in and bring water if you need it. Da Nang gets hot and humid enough without carrying half a running shop around with you.
You definitely don’t need a carbon-plated shoe, GPS watch and hydration vest for your first 5K with the group. Although, to be fair, give it a few months and you might somehow end up owning all three.
That tends to happen.
Different days, different runs
One of the things we like about running together is that every session doesn’t need to serve the same purpose.
A relaxed run around the city gives you some easy kilometres and time to chat. Interval sessions are there when you want to push things a little harder, while longer weekend runs are useful when you’re building towards a race or simply feel like spending more time on your feet.
At TAG Running Club, we run three times during the week and mix those sessions up. You don’t need to attend every one of them, and plenty of people don’t.
Come to the sessions that suit you. If you’re training for something, use the group as part of that training. If you just want a reason to get out and run after work, that works too.
Running around Da Nang
|
|
|
The coastline is the obvious choice, particularly early in the morning before the city gets busy. Then there’s the Han River, the bridges and plenty of streets that feel completely different when you’re moving through them on foot rather than sitting on a motorbike.
Of course, summer adds another dimension. There’s nothing quite like stepping outside for an “easy run” and realising Da Nang has other plans for you.
Running in Da Nang with a local group also helps you learn the city surprisingly quickly. You pick up new routes, work out where people like to run at different times of day and, equally important, discover where everyone goes for coffee afterwards.
For people who have recently moved to Da Nang, that social side can be just as valuable as the running itself. Meeting people in a new city isn’t always easy. Turning up somewhere where you already know everyone shares at least one interest makes it a lot simpler.
So, how do you choose a running club?
There isn’t really a complicated answer to this.
Look at when they run and what sort of sessions they organise, but don’t spend too much time trying to compare every running club in Da Nang from your phone. A club can have the perfect schedule and still not be your kind of place.
Go for a run with them instead.
You’ll get a pretty good feeling for the community after one or two sessions. If you enjoy the run and like the people, come back. That matters much more than finding the supposedly “best” club in the city.
Running with TAG
TAG started with running, but the community has grown into something bigger than simply meeting up to collect kilometres.
We train together, enter races, hang out and occasionally convince each other that waking up ridiculously early on a Saturday is a perfectly normal thing to do. There are people who take their training seriously and people who are mostly there for the social side. Most of us are probably a mixture of both.
If you’ve been looking for a running club in Da Nang, you’re welcome to come along and see what it’s like.
There’s no need to wait until you’re fitter or faster. You don’t need to know anyone beforehand either. Check the next session, turn up and introduce yourself.
The first run is usually the hardest one to join.
After that, it’s just another run with people you know.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is TAG Running Club suitable for beginners?
Yes. TAG Running Club has runners with different levels of experience, so you don’t need to be particularly fast or be training for a race to join. If you’re relatively new to running, take the first few sessions at a comfortable pace and build from there.
Do I need to register before joining a TAG run?
Check TAG’s latest schedule before you come along, as the meeting point, time and type of session can vary. Arriving a little early for your first session is always a good idea too.
What should I bring?
For most runs, comfortable running shoes and normal running clothes are enough. Bring water if you need it and keep the weather in mind — Da Nang can be very hot and humid.
Where can I run in Da Nang?
The beachfront and Han River are two of the most popular areas for running in Da Nang, with plenty of options for both short and longer routes. Running with a local community is also a good way to discover quieter routes around the city that you might not come across on your own.
How do I find a running club near me in Da Nang?
If you’re searching for a running club near me in Da Nang, you can find local groups through social media or search for a Da Nang running club online. Once you find one that fits your schedule, the best way to know whether it suits you is simply to join a session.
If you’d like to run with TAG Running Club, check our latest schedule and come say hello.
