If you’re on social media, you might have noticed that run clubs are becoming more popular. Or, maybe, if you’ve got stuck in a running social media algorithm, it’ll be making you notice run clubs are becoming more popular. And we think they’re great. There are endless reasons why someone should be interested in joining a run club.
Below, we’ll explain some of the reasons why we think run clubs are becoming more popular.
The Social Renaissance of Running
Running is becoming more social, and we love it. It’s the same with most mass participation sporting events – it’s more social than anything else. And running was once a lone-wolf activity – a bit boring if you ask us.
Some cities are making these fun, like Berlin and London, that have become hubs for run clubs. All you need to do is search the run club and the area you’re interested in, and they’ll come up.
Run clubs in urban settings like London, Los Angeles, and New York are probably the coolest, but some people prefer to be in nature. Wherever you are, we promise you’ll be able to find one.
Social gatherings like post-run brunches, celebratory dinners, or informal meetups are great for making friends outside of the club. And even if not, it’s to have company for an hour or two each week with other people. Most run clubs are on a Saturday or Sunday.
Pandemic and the Rise of Run Clubs
The pandemic played an essential role in running clubs. With gyms closed and social distancing in place, people wanted to run to keep physical health and social interaction. Well, it’s probably not that they wanted to, but they had no choice. It was one of the only ways to be social and exercise.
Clubs like the Venice Run Club in Los Angeles saw explosive growth. Sadly, not all of us could make it to a run club in Los Angeles. The settings might have been different, but it was still fun.
Community and Connection
Run clubs are all about community. So many people make friends and build solid connections they didn’t have before. Everyone does it for the same reason, so there’s a shared connection.
The shared experiences of pushing through physical limits (and, sometimes, you really do have to push), celebrating personal milestones, and overcoming obstacles create a unique bond. For anyone who’s feeling isolated and a little bit lonely, they’re the perfect idea. You don’t even need to run fast – you just need to be able to run. Or, even a fast-paced walk will do with some run clubs.
A New Cultural Movement
The emergence of running clubs is nothing more than how people are engaging in the activity. Instead of seeing it as a marathon training, blood, sweat, and tears type of event, people see it as fun. These definitely aren’t professional-run clubs. And we do think a lot of it has to do with social media. It’s social media that’s creating the cultural movement before running itself does.
The benefits of this new movement are massive. Without realising it, a community of people are collectively becoming healthier than they would be. And it would seem brands are jumping on the run club bandwagon. Just recently, Squares did a collaboration with influencer Holly Brooks to do a run club in Manchester. It was a massive success, and they’re not the only brands doing it. Compared to some branded-run clubs in places like America, it was a small event. Still, it shows fitness and food brands are interested in the idea.
Not only that, the movement encourages a more inclusive view of what it means to be a runner. You don’t have to be training for a marathon – anyone can go, and anyone does.
The rising popularity of run clubs shows more connection and community is forming in today’s fast-paced world, and really, it’s all thanks to technology. Run clubs have always been a thing, but we’re now more connected and more aware of them. And, with connected apps like Strava, you see more progress and feel more connected to a goal you have. Would you consider joining a run club now, even for fun?
