How do I join the Flying Irish?
This is our most common question besides “Are You Guys Really that Fun?” (Indeed we are.) Joining is super easy! All you have to do is show up to one of our runs and fill out our membership application that is also our waiver. Pretty darn simple right? We like to keep things simple, as we are Irish after all. Plus, it’s free to join! Signing the membership application/waiver gets your name put into our super awesome database that allows us to track your runs each week. You only have to sign the waiver once per year. No we aren’t the government spying on you. It’s just our way of being able to keep track of how many awesome people show up to our run each week (and to satisfy some pesky insurance requirements.) Plus you earn the right to go through our ritualistic shirting ceremony after just 6 runs!
We meet every Thursday night at 5:45pm and the run starts at 6pm. The week’s location will be shared in the weekly email and on our Facebook page, so make sure you give us an email address that you actually check! No, we’re not data-mining you and we try not to be spammy ourselves. Our official season goes from the first Thursday in March until Thanksgiving. Our Annual Meeting and End of the Season Party is the first Thursday in December.
Is it free to join?
We love things that are free and why would we want to charge someone to run?
Do I have to be a runner to join?
Nope! We have people of all abilities join us on our weekly runs. Some are super-duper fast while some just jog or walk. That’s one of the special things about the Flying Irish Running Club, people of all abilities meet at the same time and do whatever speed or distance they feel comfortable with.
Do I have to be Irish to join?
When you run with the Flying Irish Running Club you become Irish!
What is the length of your typical run?
Our runs are typically between 3+/- miles but we do have some longer run options that are closer to 5 miles for those that want to go further. More information on our routes can be found on our Routes Page.
What happens if it looks like rain during the run?
You get wet! But the likelihood of that happening is like finding a Leprechaun’s pot of gold. We have had over 350 official runs and its only rained on 3 occasions. So we can say with 99% certainty that you will stay dry, minus your sweat, during a Flying Irish run.
Where can I park when I run with the Flying Irish?
Wherever you can! It depends on the venue but street and pay-lot parking are the primary options.
Is the weekly run a race?
Why race when you can have fun among friends? Our weekly runs are designed to promote a healthy lifestyle and provide a means for people to socially interact. It’s pretty hard to meet new people when you are all huffing and puffing out of breath. Run, jog or walk whatever pace you feel comfortable at and meet some of your fellow Flying Irish along the way.
Anything important I need to know or follow while I run with the Flying Irish?
We are citizens just like everyone else so that means all local laws and ordinances that pertain to pedestrians are also applicable to us. We have a strict zero-tolerance policy for j-walking or cutting into traffic. If any of the runners breaks this rule the whole Club loses their run attendance that night. Don’t be that person!! Also, be mindful of other users of the trail or sidewalk. Our runs are not on a closed course so they are open to the public during our weekly run. Please be respectful of other users, as we want to portray ourselves as good citizens.
How do I get on the email distribution list or I am not receiving your weekly email?
If you would like to receive the weekly email that covers everything that’s going on for the Flying Irish and be up to date on the latest news you just have to put your email address down when you sign the membership application (waiver) when you go to your first run. If you have already joined and are not receiving the weekly email please check your spam mail folder. You can update your email any time you check in for a run.
Can I run at a different time and have my run counted?
We love having everyone run as a group as that is one of the things that makes the Flying Irish special. Even though we want to see our members run outside of our weekly Club run we unfortunately can only count a run as being a Club run when you sign-in at the weekly run.
Can I bring my pet or baby stroller (jogger) to a Flying Irish run?
Families and well-behaved (& leashed) dogs are welcome, just please be mindful of others. Not everyone is comfortable with furry friends and strollers can create congestion in the crowd. Some of our sponsor venues are restaurants/bars where animals cannot enter, and occasionally we run from a venue that is 21 & over only. When that is the case we make sure to mention that in the weekly email & social media posts!
Can I wear headphones to a Flying Irish run?
One of the things that Flying Irish is all about is that it’s a social running club. We want our members to get to know each other during the run and afterwards. The best way we see to accomplish that is to not wear headphones while you run at our weekly runs. Plus it’s a safety issue and we want you to be aware of your surroundings and not distracted while you run with the Flying Irish.
How is my attendance recorded each week? Do I have to do anything when I go each week?
Fear not in having to keep track of your own number of runs. We do that for you with our super sophisticated counting method (aka spreadsheets.) At your first run you’ll scan the “new member” QR code, fill in basic information, and check that you have indeed read and agree to the included waiver. After that you just have to scan the weekly run QR code, enter your name & email, and you’re good to go! If you don’t have a smart phone with you or need help no worries – a designated sash-wearer (or any board member) will be ready to help!
What’s this ritualistic shirting ceremony? Do I have to jump in a volcano or something?
Well fortunately there isn’t an active volcano within a few hundred miles of Spokane otherwise that may very well be an option. After 6 runs with the Flying Irish Running Club you earn the right to purchase & wear our Club shirt. It’s a long-sleeve technical fabric shirt. But, in order to do that you have to get up on top of the stage and tell an Irish joke. We like to be entertained & recommend going to about the 1,000th page of a Google search results to find something original. Shirts cost $20+tax and are available for pre-order online so it’ll be ready for you after you tell your joke!
I really like my 6-run shirt but is there any other run milestone to work towards?
Hey, we need the motivation too so we introduced several other run milestones:
- 33-Runs (100 miles) – The Flying Irish Running Club singlet. Need to keep cool during the summer months or look very fashionable showing off your runner’s upper body? This is the milestone to shoot for! Plus, it’s the only run milestone where you don’t have to go through a ritual! $30
- 50-Runs – A green full-zip hoodie sweatshirt to help bear the cold during our winter runs. The Irish are all about green and this is when you can earn it and make everyone else green with envy! Another trip on top of the stage and tell an Irish joke (different from your 6-run one), or recite an Irish limerick about the Flying Irish Running Club or sing an Irish song (of course it should be about the Flying Irish Running Club). $30
- 100-Runs – Whoa, you’re getting up there and have been with the Club for a while now. Shouldn’t you now get a short-sleeved technical shirt? Well, yes of course! Of course it involves another trip onto the stage and you can do any of the things at 50-runs as long as its not what you did for that run milestone (we have good memory) but also you can make a simple toast to the Club. $20
- 200-Runs – Okay, I think its safe to say you’re an addict. An addict to running that is! At this very prestigious milestone not only do you get a very special looking shirt (short-sleeved green) but also now earn the right to wear our Club’s Coat of Arms! Wear it with pride, as you are now a fully knighted member of the Flying Irish Running Club! Just have to get back up onto the stage (you should be used to this by now) and the world is yours! Note: we aren’t actually giving you the world, but certainly we think you should have the feeling like you do own it! $20
- 365-Runs – only a dozen or so have reached this prestigious milestone! A technical, long-sleeved bright green this shirt proclaims your dedication to the club! $35
Any profits made from the sale of our Club shirts are used in our promotion of our Mission Statement.
Okay, I’m a member of this awesome running Club but what does that really mean? Do I have to attend meetings?
Ugh, we hate meetings. We just want to get out and run amongst our friends! We do have an all-members Annual Meeting once a year and that’s the first Thursday in December when we have our end of the season party. At that meeting we have the vote for Directors that are running for office and discussion of topics that may be of importance for the Flying Irish. But as a member of the Flying Irish Running Club you get a vote in how the Club is run. All of the rights and requirements of membership are outlined in the Club’s Bylaws which are provided in the link below.