Running school with focus on welcoming people retains more Copenhagen Frontrunners
Pan Idræt's running department, Copenhagen Frontrunners, has decided to create an offer for beginners who want to learn how to run. The running school is a 10-week course that focuses on technique, warming up and building endurance.
But the Running School is also an effort where you actively work to create a good framework for the welcome, for the team spirit and for the individual. Claus Højlund himself felt that there was a need for this when he completed the Running School course last year. That is why Claus Højlund is now involved as a welcome guide at the Running School:
"When you are new and inexperienced, the Running School is a good option with a common start-up, so everyone can join in. Everyone is taken into account, we focus on your own pace and avoiding injuries, and we make sure that everyone feels seen and heard," says Claus Højlund.
Involvement and communication
As a welcome guide, Claus makes sure that he is there earlier to welcome the participants. He says hello to everyone and asks about last week's training. He also makes sure to repeat points from last time, to remember the participants on next week's running schedule, and to delegate different small tasks and roles each time. He also makes sure to get the participants' information so that they can become part of the communication on Facebook, among other things.
"A team spirit is really created when everyone is involved in different ways. It could be the warm-up, which takes turns, or someone is tasked with planning social things outside of training time. We also make sure that everyone is on the route, and send the fastest ones down to the back and do a lap. We pay attention to each other, and that brings out the smiles, so people come back," Claus Højlund continues.
Social activities have great value in the long run, says Claus Højlund, who invited the participants to his home in June. They will also arrange small races throughout the summer. Often – when there is no corona lockdown – the runners also gather with the other Frontrunners teams at a local cafe close to the changing room and round off the day's training. He finds that the good camaraderie is very much what keeps the new runners going.
"We started with 12 in May, and only a few have dropped out. More than half of those from the Running School last year are still members. After two trial training sessions, you can join, and it has had a really positive effect to do something active for the team spirit, to be considerate and to involve people in the joint communication. I can only recommend that you try it if you have the resources for it," concludes Claus Højlund.
