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The Rise of Run Clubs

27 November 25

Running solo is out – run clubs are in. See how community is changing the way we run.

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“It’s not just about podiums or PBs anymore. Now hills are tackled shoulder to shoulder, sprints are best shared, and every run reminds us that we’re chasing something bigger than exercise.”

A craving for community

It's been almost a decade since I fell in love with running while pounding London's footpaths and finding my rhythm. After years of HIIT classes, yoga studios and Pilates reformers, clocking kilometres outside was the breath of fresh air I didn't know I needed.

I soon got hooked on parkrun then threw "run a half marathon" onto my 30 Buckets to 30 list. By the time I blew out my candles, I'd completed three – but all alone, and while there's solace in a solitary run, the finish line feeling isn't as great when you're by yourself.

Then Covid struck, everything shifted, and we were never the same again. Suddenly, solo sweat sessions didn't hit the highs we were chasing – no matter how we moved our bodies – and when the world reopened it wasn't the gym or running beyond our 5km radiuses that we craved; it was people, community and connection.

So the run club boom was born, with communities popping up around the world to share kilometres with new mates.

"I think the rise in running groups is a result of community expectations," Lynn Herisson, President of the Sydney Striders – one of Australia's oldest run clubs – tells me. "Covid played a factor with people feeling isolated and run clubs became an easy way to meet like-minded people."

Which is exactly what I was looking for when I landed in Sydney in 2022. Just a few weeks later, my friend Hannah and I kicked off the Coogee Run Club, hoping we could convince a handful of strangers to run with us twice a week.

Three and half years later, we have more than 4,000 members, we run together at least five times a week, and I never stop pinching myself that this community is real.

From elite grind to everyone's game

Back in 1980, the Sydney Striders launched into a very different world.

"There were no established dedicated marathon running clubs in Sydney, and a shortage of quality distance running events," explains Lynn, who's been with the club for nearly 35 years.

So the Striders built their own. "We established the Lane Cove River half marathon in 1982 and successfully ran this event for 13 years – setting the standards for running events going forward. The event attracted marathoners nationally and Olympians, with up to 1,500 runners – which was large for the time."

But it's really been the past decade that's given way to Australia's run club revolution. "Running has gone from being mainly for the elite with a competitive focus, to a diverse running experience," Lynn says.

Today the Striders boast over 900 members – from juniors to octogenarians – with a gender split that's almost perfectly even. "We've also been able to attract runners of all paces from all over Sydney by offering training at different locations and times," she adds.

Down in Melbourne, Ruth Jeanes, Professor of Sport, Physical Activity and Social Inclusion at Monash University, says versatility and inclusiveness are exactly why run clubs have taken off.

"People are looking for flexible ways to get fit and stay active," she explains. "Run clubs are an ideal way to do this – they're informal, you can usually find one that meets your fitness needs and abilities, and they're also a place to meet new friends."

Without membership fees, a need to commit or any pressure, most social run clubs run on one rule only: no one gets left behind. And with that, everyone leaves a little bit happier, fitter and more connected than when they arrive.

The power of running together

By making running more accessible to everyone through a built-in community, run clubs are doing more than just building fitness – they're creating spaces that bring comfort and confidence.

"For people who don't feel safe running on their own – particularly women, girls, and those from culturally and racially minoritised backgrounds – run clubs allow them to run with others," Professor Jeanes says. "They can feel safe to run in areas they wouldn't normally run, like trails and deserted tracks, and at times they wouldn't run on their own, like early mornings and late evenings."

When everyday people are encouraged to run, it also opens the door to so much more. By providing a sense of belonging, social connection and support that helps people stick with the habit, run clubs can empower members to reach new goals.

"Running in a group can be helpful for motivation and for pushing yourself and running faster or longer distances," the Professor of Sport explains. "Particularly for those who are looking to compete in long distance events such as marathons, running in a group can make long training runs more enjoyable and less boring."

In this way, run clubs transform running from a solo pursuit into a shared experience, where fitness and friendships grow together – proving that encouraging everyone to run doesn't just change their health but how they move through the world.

Reshaping the landscape of sport

The sense of connection people feel in run clubs isn't just personal – it reflects a global trend in how people are engaging with sport.

"There has been an increasing shift away from traditional club-based sport participation in the last 15 to 20 years in Australia and internationally," says Professor Jeanes. "More people are opting to participate in informal settings and run clubs fit in with this, usually offering flexibility, low cost and an opportunity to build social connections."

In other words, while traditional sports struggle with declining memberships, running is booming precisely because it's unstructured.

"Run clubs tend to be more inclusive and accessible," explains the Professor. "There are usually no high membership fees, requirements to turn up at regular times, or an expectation to run competitively.

"Groups tend to self regulate to be inclusive of the types of people that are coming to them. People who want to run at a quicker pace tend to group together, and one of the regular runners will run with a newcomer to make sure they feel included and welcomed."

While Professor Jeanes insists there is still a place for traditional forms of community sport, she says they'll only ever be attractive to a small minority of the adult population. "Whereas run clubs allow a broader range of the population to access physical activity because they attract people who would not normally see themselves as an 'athlete' or someone who wanted to join a club."

From local Sydney streets to the world stage

The rise in community-led running groups isn't just transforming how Aussies move or connect – it's changing how the sport itself is evolving at the top level, and the groundswell of run club culture and community spirit is having ripple effects no one saw coming.

"Over its 55-year history, the Voltaren City2Surf has gone from a small event in Sydney with just over 2,000 runners to the largest fun run in the world with 90,000 registered participants," says City2Surf media director Craig Heydon.

He attributes the sell-out events in both 2024 and 2025 to the rise of a more social, visible, and accessible running movement. "As the popularity of run clubs has grown not only in Sydney but further abroad, we're thrilled to see so many people who are a part of run clubs taking part in City2Surf, especially younger runners."

But the biggest win in Australian running history? This year Sydney raced into the record books as the first Southern Hemisphere event to earn Abbott World Marathon Major status – joining the ranks of Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York on the global stage.

That didn't happen overnight though. It followed a three-year candidacy bid where the Sydney Marathon had to hit ambitious benchmarks in participation – from those on course to those on the sidelines – and run clubs were central to the strategy.

The result was more than organisers could have hoped – going from 13,000 finishers in 2023 to more than 35,000 lining up for the seventh World Marathon Major this year.

"Run clubs, and the growing popularity of community events such as parkrun, are providing a great way for people to take up running in a welcoming environment, train for a common goal with others, and then step into the world of running events," Craig says.

"This is having a huge impact on races and the availability of places," Lynn adds. "But it's great that racing is no longer just for the elite competitive runner – it's for everyone, and run clubs make that possible."

Finding your tribe

Running with a club isn't just about hitting kilometers – it's about staking a claim in a community, and there's a reason why so many people identify strongly with their crew.

It shapes how they see themselves so it's no longer just "I run" but "I belong here".

"Participating in sport has always had a strong influence on a person's identity, but this indicates that even informal participation can be an important part of how a person sees themselves," Professor Jeanes says. "It's also indicative of the strong connections fostered within running groups."

In a run club, running stops being just something you do – it becomes part of who you are, and the friendships, support and journey make every step feel meaningful.

The road ahead

From the legacy of the Sydney Striders to the social-media-fuelled rise of new clubs, one thing is clear: running together is about more than fitness – it's culture, identity and belonging.

"I think run clubs will continue to grow and develop because they offer social connection as well as support for reaching fitness and physical activity goals," Professor Jeanes comments.

For the Striders, Lynn stresses the importance of staying true to what works while adapting to the times. "That means remaining community focused, giving back with quality training and events, fundraising for charities, and continuing to be involved in the wider running scene," she says.

"Clubs also need to be inclusive, appeal to a diverse customer, and share our passion for running with those that may not have been lucky enough to have stumbled across it yet."

Because when you run with a run club – whether you're building up to your first 5k or chasing your tenth marathon – it's never just the kilometres. It's the crew.

Starting is simple: lace up, show up, and let the rest fall into place. You don't have to be the fastest, the fittest, or even know exactly where you're going. You've just got to take that first step and remember that the real finish isn't a time on the clock – it's the community you find along the way. And that no one comes to run club to run alone.

"You forge great friendships because it's not all about the running," says Lynn, "but the chats you have at 6am on a long run and the post coffee catchups."

Run clubs aren't just redefining running, reshaping races or reengineering community sport – they're changing lives. And as long as people keep showing up together, the road ahead is wide open.

Looking for expert advice and running tips? Check out rebel RUN and level up your running game.