Run Clubs Are the New Bars: How to Find One in Your City

The short answer

Quick answer: run clubs have become one of the easiest ways for adults to make friends. Strava reported a 59% rise in running-club participation worldwide in 2024. In its 2025 report, the number of running clubs on Strava grew 3.5 times in a year. To join one, look on Strava Clubs or Meetup, or ask a local running shop. Choose a social "no-drop" run, where nobody gets left behind, and go three times before you decide.

Why run clubs are booming

Strava's 2024 Year in Sport report summed up the shift as "run club is the new nightclub". Its figures:

The trend continued in 2025. Strava's 2025 report found that new clubs on the platform nearly quadrupled, reaching 1 million in total. Running clubs grew 3.5x and club-organised events 1.5x year over year. Strava also found that 39% more Gen Z than Gen X use fitness to meet people who share their interests.

• running-club participation rose 59% worldwide in 2024
• 58% of survey respondents said they had made new friends through fitness groups
• nearly 1 in 5 Gen Z respondents had been on a date with someone they met through exercise, and Gen Z were 4x more likely to want to meet people through working out than at a bar
• activities with more than 10 people lasted 40% longer on average than solo ones

Why a run club works for making friends

Friendships form through repeated, low-pressure contact. A run club gives you three things at once:

Strava's 2024 data showed that big group activities had 3x more downtime than solo ones, which is the time people spend stopping to talk.

• a fixed weekly time, so you keep seeing the same people
• a shared activity, so you don't have to make small talk with strangers
• a natural moment to chat afterwards, usually over coffee

How to find a run club in your city

How to find a run club in your city:

• Search Strava Clubs for your city or neighbourhood, and filter for clubs with weekly events.
• Check Meetup and Luma for social runs, often listed as "5K social" or "no-drop".
• Ask a running shop. Many host free weekly group runs.
• Look at brand and café runs. Coffee shops and sportswear stores often host Saturday runs.
• Ask at your gym or university. These groups are often hidden but friendly.

Your first run: what to expect

Your first run: what to expect:

• Pace: social runs usually go at a pace where you can still hold a conversation, and some split into pace groups. If in doubt, message the organiser.
• Distance: 5 km is the most common distance for social runs.
• What to bring: water, a phone, and a layer for after the run.
• Etiquette: introduce yourself to the organiser and stay for the coffee. Most friendships start there, not on the run.

How to make it stick

Give it at least three sessions. The first time, you're the new person. The second time, people recognise you. By the third, you're part of the group. Pick one club and one fixed day, and add a second activity later if you like.

Find running buddies on whoin

Add "running" to your whoin profile and see who's nearby on who's in for a run. If you've just moved, start with how to make friends in a new city.