Houston FIT or not

(I think we should get Matt to change the name of the Running Forum to "Your Week in Training by KB Fitz and random running questions") 

I'm pondering whether to join Houston FIT (part of USA FIT) for the sole purpose of doing the long runs with a group.  It starts in early July, but I wouldn't be able to do any of their long runs until late September and even then only a couple of Saturdays a month. 

It ends up that I could run with them maybe 6 or 8 weekends from October through December.  Is that enough of a benefit?  I would be running my usual solo running schedule when not running in a group, so I would be putting in the miles on a consistent basis.  I have posed this question before, I believe.

Thoughts?  Comments?

I've always been a solo runner but this year I did pair up with a friend for a few workouts.  I really enjoyed it and felt like I got a lot out of it.  Is there a cost involved?  If not...or if it's not to much...I'd say go for it even if you can only join in on a few of the group runs.

I would.  I train all summer alone, but as those runs become longer, I love the camaraderie of the group.  I doubt it is an issue to join and then not come until October - I'm betting that might be a common event especially since the summer is soooo warm there.  If possible, you might want to try to go to an early beginning run to make sure there is a group of like paced folks (that are like minded too).

Seconding Michele's comment about making sure you have a pace group.  I ran a few of the DCRR long runs and, despite being a pretty fast dude, I was immediately dropped most of the time, since I was training for an ultra and running 8:30s instead of 8:00s.  Group runs became solo runs, so I stopped going.

I support signing up.  Makes those long runs go by a lot faster.

Thanks, y'all.  They have groups split up by time, so I'm sure that I can find a group, but I'd have to keep the noise from the metronome real low.

I doubt the organizers would care if I ran or not, since I paid the $140.  I'm sure they have a historical attrition rate.  Well, I'll give it a go and see what happens.

Late to the party, but I'd agree that it'd be nice to have some company from time to tme if they have an appropriate pace group. If not, never mind. It's no fun getting dropped.

Not late.  Heck, I just posted the thread today.  I checked the different pace groups and my group would be the 10 minute to 13:45 pace group.  I can't imagine that's 1 group, but sub-groups of 2 or 3.  I know their are different starting times for the Saturday long runs.  They have a talking head that starts at 8 a.m., so the long runs are started with the 8 a.m. finish time.

Can you imagine 1 group crossing a street?  Thanks, Mark.