I've just turned 69, and partly through fear of a niggling knee "injury", have been having difficulty getting and maintaining motivation to train on my own and to turn out for club training nights.

Last night I attended my club training session, fearful that I wouldn't be able to keep up with even the slowest group, and was resigned to just doing a couple of miles on my own.

In addition to the fastest "elite" group of runners in our club, we also have a "New Starters" group and a "Next Steppers" group, with suitably qualified leaders.

I protested that I wouldn't be able to keep up with the slowest group, but I was told that I'd be just fine, and that our new starters group would have a back marker - in fact we had two!

With their help, and with at least three "muster" points where I was asked if I was OK, I managed to get around a 5 mile very hilly course with just a few walks, was never left behind, and finished the session satisfyingly knackered, and felt encouraged to turn out again for the next meeting....that has been my positive experience every time I've run with our club which is very friendly, and welcomes and encourages all abilities.

Unfortunately I have read in running magazines about people who have had bad experiences with their running clubs, feeling left out because they aren't "good enough".

I'm very conscious of the benefits to my mental and physical well-being through running, and through also attending the "social" events at my club, and I feel it's a shame that people are losing out on those benefits, possibly because some running clubs don't have the membership numbers or facilities to provide such support.

What are the experiences of other beginners / recuperating / older runners?