Quick tips on starting your own running group

Starting a running group is a great way to boost your motivation, but finding members, picking trails and other tasks can be intimidating. If you're looking to start a running group of your own, here's how.

• Getting a friend involved is a great way to reduce the time and effort involved in organizing a runner's group.
• Not only can you split the work load involved in starting a runner's group, you'll always be guaranteed at least one runner when you hit the trails.

• A runner's group name doesn't have to be particularly creative, but it should indicate the type of runners you hope to attract.
• Before you get too attached to your new moniker, do a quick web search to make sure your runner's group name is unique to your area.

Training for a specific race isn't a requirement for any runner's group, but this type of goal can be helpful when you're trying to pick trails and determine other objectives.

• To encourage greater participation, pick a local race that's three to six months in the future.
• That gives your group plenty of time to train effectively and gives people an incentive to show up to every meeting.

• Assemble a quick cheat sheet that tells members when you meet, what gear to bring, how long each session lasts, how to get to the trail, and other pertinent bits of information.
• Collect email addresses of interested potential members and email them this cheat sheet to get them excited about attending.

• Asking current friends and gym buddies if they want to join your running group is a great start, but social media can help you attract new blood to your club.
• Meetup and Craigslist are two good spots to advertise your new group, but you can also ask your friends to invite people via Facebook or Twitter.

When starting a new runner's group, it's important to avoid any barriers to membership.

• That means you should avoid charging a membership fee, requiring a specialized t-shirts or gear, or making other suggestions that cost money.
• Once you have a core group of runners that have been committed to your club for at least a year, then you can consider printing those matching t-shirts.

If you're lucky enough to start a popular runner's group, you may want to purchase liability insurance, achieve non-profit status, or throw parties for your members.

• Talk to a core group of your runners and ask for their perspective.
• If enough people show interest, it may be worth charging a membership fee and formalizing your running group's status.