DFW Running Club!!

RichOneday_2

OK, this idea struck me when I saw that there had been 2000 views of the thread in 2 days, which kind of says there's quite a bit of interest.

The bonkers idea is to form a AAA affilliated Road Running Club (not as hard as it sounds) with the following mission statement:

"..to encourage and coach individuals of all levels of fitness and abilities to take-up and participate in road running"

The wording is carefully chosen for a reason I will come on to.

Advantages

1. Everyone would then be an 'affiliated runner' rather than an 'unattached runner' when entering races which usually saves a couple of quid, more in big races.

2. As a club you automatically receive a minimum of 2 guaranteed places in The London Marathon.

3. Main Point - There are grants available , usually £5,000 a time, through AAA, The Lottery Fund, the charity arms of the big banks and one or two other Olympic related funds that are intended to promote active participation in sport. They struggle to give these grants away. The key is to tick all the boxes for what these funds were set up for and, you've guessed it, that mission statement above would nicely tick the boxes.

Funds would have to be spent on coaching and participation and since coaching would be free on here, all funds could be used for participation in the club's league races. These races would be wherever we chose - one in London, one in Bristol, one in Edinburgh whatever.... (you get the idea).

4. Once a club is formed there is no reason not to get sponsorship. Why not MSE? Running in MSE vests is a good form of promotion for the site, especially in the big races. So a form of recurring revenue rather than one-off like the grants.

Requirements

1. Membership - not sure yet, but there will be a minimum number, possibly 25.

2. AAA fees are £50pa club and £5pa individual. Obviously, that £5 more than comes back in reduced race entry fees. And these affiliation fees could be paid out of a grant/sponsorship anyway.

3. We would need a few volunteers - Secretary, Treasurer, Fixtures Secretary, Coach and something else I cant think of at the moment. There wouldn't be a great deal of work involved in any of these (except the coach).

There is no reason why a clubs members have to be in one place or that they have a fixed location, so that's no obstacle.

I can look in to this in a lot more detail but I need to see what interest there would be first. When I was a Teasurer of an Athletics Club the actual mechanics all seemed pretty straightforward. So, the whole purpose would be to get external funding to promote race participation. As I said, it makes sense to me, but....................

(Land_of)_Maz

Wow!!!

i was almost in bed, in fact deleted a post saying talk tomorrow about it... but you have my full attention now....!

(Land_of)_Maz

sounds like a great idea but i wonder if MSE would allow it... i suppose of any sport running is the most MSE as it is free! (apart from trainers and sorbathegreek insoles)....

explain clubs league races to me........

redsquirrel80

Sounds like it has potential! I really DO have to go to bed soon but definitely keen on the idea.

RichOneday_2

(Land_of)_Maz wrote: »

sounds like a great idea but i wonder if MSE would allow it... i suppose of any sport running is the most MSE as it is free! (apart from trainers and sorbathegreek insoles)....

explain clubs league races to me........

The club's league races are whatever you want. All a club normally does is say we're going to XYZ race, sign up if you want to go. That's what was going on yesterday. But if travelling costs were somehow going to be funded you would have to have an element of fairness, so maybe 3 events per year at London, Bristol, Scotland. But that can all be thrashed out as we want....

(Land_of)_Maz

and are we in a league? with others? or ourselves?

RichOneday_2

(Land_of)_Maz wrote: »

and are we in a league? with others? or ourselves?

No, just informal races. Exactly what goes on now, but 3 times a year we all end up at the same race.

I've overcomplicated it by calling them league races. They're just any old 10k, 1/2 mar, marathon we choose that's in a convenient location.

(Land_of)_Maz

I'm in! Maybe we won't be able to use MSE but we can discuss on how we would approach Martin re branding if any...... i'm sure DFW wouldn't be under any kinda copyright...

I would take on an office bearer type role if required... i could do with the purpose!

Lets see what the others say in the daytime/thru the week.....


If sponsorship/grants was able to pay races then it would be a no brainer....

even if we set up, ran for a year, or til any funds ran out, then we folded, it would save us something for a year or so... and by then we'd be commited enough to ensure the longevity of the club....

i will be an affiliated veteran! (but i'll still be younger than you!!! )

RichOneday_2

(Land_of)_Maz wrote: »

I'm in! Maybe we won't be able to use MSE but we can discuss on how we would approach Martin re branding if any...... i'm sure DFW wouldn't be under any kinda copyright...

I would take on an office bearer type role if required... i could do with the purpose!

Lets see what the others say in the daytime/thru the week.....


If sponsorship/grants was able to pay races then it would be a no brainer....

In essence it would be just a way of paying for 3 get togethers each year for club members who are chosen by 'the committee' as eligible, ie they are actively involved.

Do you get bossy when you have a title?

(Land_of)_Maz

RichOneday wrote: »

In essence it would be just a way of paying for 3 get togethers each year for club members who are chosen by 'the committee' as eligible, ie they are actively involved.

Do you get bossy when you have a title?

bossy moi?? no it's that sally one that gets bossy!!!

I'm hitting the hay now, very late and running again in morning (ooooh get me!!!)

will catch up tomorrow, would love to here what others think....

BTW - well done on the 6.5miles earlier today... i can hear that BMI shrinking from here!

Night
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