The powerful benefits of joining a running club
As the popularity of running for leisure has increased over the past 10 years, so too have running clubs. Athletics affiliated clubs and organisations have been thriving, with now over 1,800 in England. There are also estimated to be hundreds of informal or social running groups being set up, offering individuals an alternative to a more structured running club routine.
In this blog, we look at why there is a growing trend in joining a running club and the benefits it gives to individuals who are on their running journey.
Social running to connect to the local community
Joining a running club, no matter what your experience or ability, is a great way to meet new people and socialise with the local community. Joined by a passion for running, friendships can be forged across generations, learning and growing in their club. There are often social events organised outside the scheduled runs to add another level of enjoyment.
Supporting your mental health together
It’s long been known that running is a brilliant way to support your mental health; the endorphins released are unsurpassed. Taking to the outdoors is the ultimate way to relieve the stresses and strains of everyday life… road, track and field running fills your mind and lungs with nature’s best.
When running as a group, there is also the added benefit of having conversations. Talking through your day and sharing any troubles helps to unload stress. When you’re running together, it’s often the little conversations that make a big difference.
Safety in numbers
Particularly in the Autumn/Winter, when the nights are drawing in, running in the dark can pose many risks, which can be avoided if you are running with a running club. Both male and female runners in the dark can have security risks, and heightened awareness is needed to ensure you get home safely. A running club run leader will seek out the most suitable routes for running in the dark, ensuring that any hazards, such as fallen trees or obstructions, can be identified and avoided beforehand. They will also ensure that you are all wearing the correct clothing to be seen.
Cost effective
Although running on your own is free, joining a running club is still recognised as a cost-effective way to keep fit and enjoy an enhanced social life. For a set annual subscription, which often includes membership to England Athletics, it remains cheaper than joining a gym or attending a regular fitness class.
Increase your time, perfect your technique
Whether you are embarking on your first Couch to 5K or looking to improve your running technique and smash your next PB, joining a running club can help you to achieve your goals.
Training for a run such as a 10K or Marathon can feel like a challenge, but when doing so with a running club, they will keep you motivated and committed to your challenge.
Sharing tips and tricks between members adds to the value of the running club. They often have guest speakers such as physiotherapists and running specialists at group meetings, so it can increase your knowledge of how to run safely, brush up on your technique and keep injury-free.
Try different running routes
It’s all too easy to fall into the trap of running the same route every time you go out, which can become uninteresting. Joining a running club allows you to explore new routes and perhaps find out more about where you live. Change is as good as a rest, and there’s nothing better than lacing up your runners and seeing what else is out there in nature.
Fit for life
Running is a passion which has the awesome side-effect of improving your fitness and lifespan too. Research published in the International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health suggests that running for as little as 75 minutes per week can add 12 years to your life.
Running helps to improve your fitness and quality of life, so if you are interested in starting running or finding a group to join to improve your running and make friends, visit England Athletics where you can search for clubs in your area.
Why not set yourself a challenge to work towards for September 2026 and sign up to the Sutcliffe Worcester City Runs 10K or half-marathon? Sign up here.
