6 Reasons to Join a Running Club (and How to Pick One)
Running often looks like a solo sport: headphones, you and the road. Yet all over the world, thousands of runners meet up in groups once or several times a week. There are good reasons for that.
6 reasons to join a running club
1. Motivation and consistency
With a set time and meeting point, "I'll skip today" gets much harder to say. When people are waiting for you, you get up and go. Consistency is the single most important ingredient of progress.
2. Running further, and enjoying it
Kilometers fly by when you're chatting. Long runs that feel hard alone are far easier in a group, and a pace you can talk at is exactly the right pace for easy runs anyway.
3. Learning from experienced runners
Shoes, race preparation, staying injury-free, pacing: clubs have people who have run for years and love sharing what they've learned.
4. Safety
Running in a group, especially early in the morning or after dark, is safer than running alone. If something happens, someone is there.
5. Discovering new routes
Clubs usually know the best and most runnable routes in town: seafronts, parks, forest trails. You'll find places you'd never have tried on your own.
6. New friends
Meeting around a shared passion is one of the most natural ways to make friends. For many runners, the club becomes their favorite part of running.
How to pick the right club
- Pace and distance: Check the group's usual pace and distance. If you're new, "all levels welcome" or walk-run groups are ideal.
- Day and time: Choose a club that fits your schedule; one you can't attend regularly will only drain your motivation.
- Meeting point: Close to home or work makes it easy to keep showing up.
- Sport: Some clubs only run, others ride or hike too. Pick what suits you.
- Atmosphere: Go once or twice and get a feel for it. Race-focused or social? Both are great, as long as it fits you.
Getting ready for your first group run
- Arrive a few minutes early and introduce yourself; saying you're new helps everyone.
- Bring water and dress for the weather.
- Don't worry about being the slowest on day one. Good clubs leave no one behind.
Finding your club with Milefolk
In Milefolk, running, cycling and walking clubs near you come first, and you can search clubs in other cities too. Join open clubs at once or request to join approval clubs. In a club's feed you see members' activities and can give kudos and comment. Can't find the club you're looking for? Start your own.
See the clubs in your city on the clubs page. New to running? Our zero-to-5K plan is a great place to start.