You used to be able to find us in da club. Now a lot of us are up in da running club instead. And with the same goal in mind, apparently. One in five runners has been on a date with someone they met at a run club. That fun fact might be the whole reason weeknight meetups that used to draw a dozen regulars are now pulling in hundreds. They’re also functioning more like a mixer than a workout, ending at a bar or a coffee shop more often than with anyone checking their split time.
If you’re single and have a decent pair of running shoes, it might be a trend worth literally chasing. To help you hit the ground running (the pun was the whole point), here’s a run clubs starter guide. It covers how to find one in whatever city you’re in and whatever your relationship with running currently is.
TL;DR
Run clubs are booming. Global membership is up 59%, and most people are joining for the social scene, not the fitness. One in five runners has dated someone they met at a run club, and the run itself is often just the warm-up for the bar or coffee stop after. For most clubs, every pace is welcome, so you can show up no matter whether you’re a serious runner or not.
Nationwide, you can find chapters of “people over pace” clubs like We’re Not Really Runners (WNRR) built specifically for total beginners. But there are also city-by-city starter picks for Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Austin, Denver, and Nashville.
Why run clubs are suddenly everywhere
The numbers back up what you might have already noticed: global run club membership is up 59%, with new club creation up more than three times. And the rise in popularity is no mystery once you look at why people actually join.
The number one stated reason is social connection, not fitness. Fifty-eight percent of people report making new friends through a fitness group. And the dating aspect is not just anecdotal. Eighteen percent of under-35s in one UK survey said they’re actively hoping to meet a partner through a running group.
The running itself might sap your energy. But the clubs are a lower-pressure option than swiping through another app or sitting at a bar hoping to get lucky with a conversation.
What actually happens at a run club (so you’re not nervous)
Most run clubs are free, welcome every pace and ability level, and the run itself is often the warm-up act. The real draw is the social stop after. It could be coffee, a bar, a taco stand, or whatever the club has adopted as its unofficial home base.
Look specifically for “people over pace” clubs—We’re Not Really Runners (WNRR) is the clearest national example in the U.S.—built explicitly around a walk-run-or-just-show-up model, for anyone intimidated by “real runner” culture. Showing up solo is completely normal, since most regulars started that way. Bring water, check the club’s Instagram for the week’s meet time, and don’t overthink the rest.
City-by-city starter picks
Los Angeles
Venice Run Club (VRC) is ground zero for the whole trend with Wednesday-night runs along Venice Beach and Abbot Kinney pulling 1,100+ people—and it’s (mostly) unironically been called “a real-life dating app.” Koreatown Run Club keeps it smaller and neighborhood-first, with Thursday runs ending in burgers and drinks at Love Hour. Midnight Runners LA leans hardest into the bar-not-workout structure: Monday nights come with live music mid-run and a guaranteed afterparty at Library Alehouse.
New York
Brooklyn Track Club and Lunge Run Club—the latter grew from 30 to about 1,000 runners—plus Endorphins and Front Runners NY. Spring 2026 attendance has been hitting new records across the board.
Chicago
Chicago Run Collective (community-driven and all paces welcome), CARA, and Lakeview Run Club all have active, beginner-friendly scenes.
Austin
Rawdawg Run Club is all about skipping the overthinking and just showing up, while The Morning Jo’s draws roughly 200 runners to pre-dawn Tuesday meetups around the Texas State Capitol.
Denver
Denver Run Club leans hardest into the bar-first structure, meeting Tuesdays at RiNo’s Ratio Beerworks under the tagline “Good Enough Sucks.” Cooldown Running is the city’s most recognizable running scene, drawing a social, all-are-welcome crowd (runners and the occasional rollerblader) to shifting weekly locations. Cerebral Run Club splits into pace groups out of Cerebral Brewing, with a dollar off pints once the run’s done.
Nashville
This is actually where We’re Not Really Runners got its start. Founder Raya Mufti built it after feeling like she couldn’t call herself a runner. It’s since grown into a national chapter model built around a walk-run-or-just-show-up format. 6Run5 Run Club is another local go-to for a social-first scene.
Your city
Wherever you are, the fallback playbook is simple: check Strava’s clubs tab, look at your local run shop’s bulletin board or Instagram, or use WNRR’s national chapter finder if your city isn’t a major running hub yet.
Run club etiquette for first-timers
Don’t apologize for your pace. Most clubs split into pace groups, and the good ones don’t pace-shame at all. It’s completely fine to walk sections, especially at a club that’s focused on people over pace. And don’t skip the social stop after the run if meeting people is actually why you came.
Not every club is a great fit on the first try, and that’s normal, not a sign the whole trend isn’t for you. Try two or three before you decide the format doesn’t work for you.
Just show up once
You wouldn’t know it by the name, but it turns out that run clubs aren’t really about running. It’s a third space for people at a moment when a lot of the old ones have disappeared. A training plan or a pace goal isn’t required to walk into one of these clubs. You just need to show up once—the rest tends to take care of itself.
Quick answers to your run club questions
Why are run clubs replacing dating apps? They offer a lower-pressure way to meet people around a shared activity instead of a profile. Data backs this up, with one in five runners having dated someone they met at a run club, and 18% of under-35s in a recent UK survey saying meeting a partner is an active reason they joined.
Are run clubs good for beginners or non-runners? Yes. Most clubs welcome every level, and “people over pace” clubs like We’re Not Really Runners (WNRR) are built specifically around a walk-run-or-just-show-up model for people intimidated by hardcore runner culture.
How do I find a run club near me? Check Strava’s clubs tab, look at your local run shop’s Instagram or bulletin board, or use WNRR’s national chapter finder if you’re not in a major running hub. Most clubs post weekly meet times publicly.
What happens at a run club meetup? There’s usually a free group run at mixed paces, followed by a social stop—coffee, a bar, or a food spot—that’s often the actual draw. Showing up solo is normal—most regulars started that way, too.