Starts & finishes
at The Pioneer Club
St Albans AL3 5AY

bag drop* from 6.30pm
warm up from 6.50pm
run starts 7pm

frequently asked questions

What is a social run club?

Conventional running clubs are brilliant. They often run great training sessions, and produce high quality local, regional or national standard runners, as well as contributing to their communities. And Parkrun is incredible too - what a movement. A social run club is just a bit of a different emphasis - we don’t do training sessions, it’s not competitive, there’s no organised timing, we aim to keep things light and sociable, we want to focus on mental fitness as much as physical - and do that by bringing people together with a bit of the buzz of exercise (and a drink or two after, at a legendary venue, that even has alcohol-free beer on tap, if that’s your thing).

What time do things happen?

Please arrive from 6.30pm. We’ll meet from 6.45pm outside, for a quick warm-up from 6.50pm. We start running at 7pm. The run will be approximately 5km, and then we’d love to see you at The Suet Yard bar a The Pioneer Club, for team socialising - usual drinks options available, including alcohol-free beer on tap.

If you haven’t registered online ahead of the event, you may be able to do so on arrival.

Are there toilets and/or changing facilities?

Yes, there are toilets for everyone, and you can use these to change, though keep in mind that The Pioneer Club will also be open for other events and other people using the facilities.

I want to give it a go, but I’m not sure if the pace will be right for me - how do know?

Please come along and join us - we’d love to see you! We will run to the pace of the group - some people might be a little faster at the front, others not so much at the back. We aim to make this a pace where lots of people could still have a bit of a chat (but no obligation, if you don’t feel like it!).

We value everyone that joins in, so there will be a ‘tail runner’ (or walker - eg if someone gets injured, or no longer feels able to run), to make sure we run as a whole team - even if we’re spread out. You can always let the run guide (or tail runner) know if you’re feeling like your running ability isn’t included - we’ll adjust things to make sure everyone can enjoy being part of the pack.

If you’re a faster run, you might want to think of this as a different kind of training run, amongst your usual routines - a chance to relax, talk and meet new people (this isn’t Personal Best territory - let’s call it Social Best or Saint Best!).

Can I leave my stuff somewhere?

*Yes, there will be an area at The Pioneer Club to drop a bag of belongings. Please don’t bring valuables, and note that leaving items is at your risk, and The Pioneer Club and your run organisers are unable to take responsibility for the security of items left while you run (see *Disclaimer).

Is there a cycle park or car parking?

Although not quite right in the city centre, The Pioneer Club is pretty easy to walk or cycle to, for many people in St Albans. That’s always the most sustainable and healthy option we’d recommend, for those who are able. There is some free parking on site, on a first come, first served basis. There isn’t a secure cycle park (yet!), but you can bring locks to secure your bike on site.

How many people will be running?

SaintA social runs are new, so we’ll start small (somewhere between 15 and 20 max), and see where we go. If we’re growing, we might be able to split into 3k and 5k, with different paces - but like other similar runs (take a look at Left Handed Giant Run Club in Bristol - our heroes!), we’ll always bring everyone together at the start and finish.

How do I know where to run?
What is the route like?

You’ll be running with a lead guide, who will have a route planned (roughly 5k). Just run with the ‘pack’ and have a chat - it will be hard to go wrong. There will be a ‘tail runner’ at the back, to make sure we all start and return - they will happily run at the pace of the least quick runner. The route might change during the run, if pavements and paths aren’t in good condition, or we need to return early for some reason. The distance means we won’t ever be far from The Pioneer Club or urban comforts!

Will the run be well lit, in darker months?

We’ll do our best to run along pavements and paths with lighting, but please take personal responsibility for the conditions - you might need a head or chest LED light, or similar. For your safety, reflective clothing is recommended (see Disclaimer).

How fit do I need to be?

You know your fitness best, and your health at any point in time. Please don’t run if you’re not feeling well. If you’re new to running, please consult a health professional for advice before coming along. We aim to make our runs straightforward for everyone, whatever their fitness level (and let’s face it, most of us go up and down with exercising or injuries - because, life!). For more info on your health, fitness and safety, please do read through the Disclaimer.

How awesome does my run outfit need to be?

Great question! Seriously, come as you want, come for the weather conditions (even if you don’t usually ‘feel’ the cold or heat, your body might sometimes respond unpredictably to changes in temperature). These days, there are as many different styles of running gear as there are runners - and we welcome anyone who wants to break the norms (although a woollen suit would be bold). If you’re training for a half marathon where you’ll be dressed as a giant pigeon, lovely - come and practise with us (just clear up your mess).

Did someone say something about music?

Yep! Playlists and a Bluetooth speaker are lined up for the run. We’ll aim to make this a proper mix of old, new, different genres. But if you hate what’s playing, you can also shout “Change Your Tune” to your run guide, and they’ll shuffle up something - it might be worse though.

What’s the focus on mental fitness?

Lots of us are getting better at talking about our mental health more like our physical health something everyone has, something to be looked after every day. So instead of thinking about fixing mental health, we talk about maintaining or improving our mental fitness with a regular run habit - just like going to the gym, or going for a walk helps to maintain our physical health.

This thinking is inspired by the lovely team at Talk Club (a national men’s mental fitness charity, with Talk Club St Albans now up and running). And we might borrow their simple, “How are you? Out of 10?” scoring, at the start and finish of the run.

Why is it at The Pioneer Club?

Now you’re kidding, right? St Albans has this incredible (slightly hidden!) gem of a gig venue, skate park, bar and community meeting-place. Of course you love a bit of historic St Albans, but this place has an awesome modern history. And you’re part of that culture.

What drinks are available at the social after the run? Will there be any food?

A typical bar selection of alcoholic and soft drinks, including a range of beers on tap from the fantastic Signature Brewing (based in Walthamstow, London E17) - including their brilliant Lo-Fi alcohol-free pale ale, usually available on tap. Currently, there are just bar snacks available, but watch this space for more on food (and more entertainment, as part of the Last Thursdays event).

What’s the online shop about?

If you enjoy the run, and enjoy being a Saint Runner (a Running Saint?), we have some team merch in the works. We’d love to spread the word about community connection and mental fitness - inviting more people to join in, with small steps towards better connections. In time, shop sales might also help us to improve how the runs work for everyone.

Something happened during the run that I’d like to discuss - who can I contact?

Please contact Rich at saintarunclub@gmail.com