UK Athletics affiliation

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Originally Posted by Bladerunner

XRunner most of the members of clubs who affiliate to ARC won't be bothered about almost all of those points you raise, on average they will be 40+ who just simply want to run in the odd road race with the minimum of cost and fuss.

Infact similar to most fell runners, turn up , pay your entry fee, run, have a beer, go home!!

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Then why bother affiliating to ARC or even being a member of a Club?

While I agree with you that most runners just want a good race, some form of organisation is required in order to ensure that the abuses perpetrated by a few people (whether athletes, promoters or administrators) do not spoil the event for the majority of people.

I also believe that higher levels of competition at National and International level are important for the sport and this needs to be managed, developed and funded.

It is highly unlikely that small organisations will bother with many aspects the sport, apart from their own self-interest, and one should question the real motives and reasons for setting up such groups.

'then why bother affiliating to ARC'...you answer that yourself because some kind of organisation is needed to administer insurance etc.
'why bother being a member of a club'...many answers, people to train with, race with, socialise with, share transport with, natter to after races.

If ARC works as it should it will simplify admin and reduce costs. The danger is if it is successful it will eventually mutate into something much bigger. What it won't do is employ loads of sports admin career professionals or subsidise other areas of the sport i.e track and field