Hi Kelly

Running clubs do vary but most of them have sessions/groups for different speeds of runners and some of them have beginners groups.  I don't know any clubs in Leeds, personally, but have a look on the club finder which is under the community menu.  Its probably best to contact your local club by email and see what they say - then generally you can just turn and join them for a training session.  I've always found running clubs very friendly and helpful for all standards.

I joined a club about 2 months ago because I wanted to have some incentive to run throughout the winter. It's better to join with others on these cold dark nights for a run then to try to summon the willpower to run alone. Our club let the slower runners go off first the faster runners usually catch them up and we all finish roughly together with a back marker to make sure nobody gets lost.  It's also nice to have a chat whilst running if you have the breath for it. I have to say even though I hd been running regulary for about 18 months before I joined the club their average pace is much quicker than mine so I'm regularly stretched, which is good for me. I have found them a friendly lot and I would encourage you to join a local club. Ours is nearer Sheffield than Leeds I'm afraid

Why dont you do parkrun on saturday morning run at 9am every Saturday a free timed 5k event. There are several in Leeds Roundhay and Hyde Park and about to be a new one at Temple Newsam. Check parkrun website as there may be others nearer you. I live in Harrogate and only started running at start of year never thought i would join a running club but have. Shame you are in Leeds as the Knaresborough Striders cater for all abilites and a very friendly bunch meeting on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. I must admit now that its dark i prefer going out in daylight and use the facility here to plot out a route from home. Good luck brenda

Hi Kelly, a lot of running and athletic clubs have a Run England group, this is a group of people who start from non runners upwards have a look at the site here: http://www.runengland.org/