No more Running Solo; Learn how to Start Your own Running Club

Park Circle Running Club founder Virginia Clauser shares her tips

Virginia Clauser, April 07, 2022

Have you ever been out on a solo run and happened upon a group of happy, chatty and energetic runners? Did it make you feel like you were missing out on something? In this article you will find tips for starting a successful and long lasting own running club. There are many benefits to joining a running club including motivation, accountability, increased fitness and FUN!

“Someone will always be there to lead the run, no matter the weather and I think that has really helped our numbers stay strong.”

Find your Purpose

The first consideration when starting a running club is the purpose for the club. When I started The Park Circle Pacers, I did it for selfish reasons. I wanted a group to run with and there were none in my area. I lived in an area with sidewalks and beautiful scenery and knew that there were many runners around. The comradery of a running club has been proven to motivate people to run more, run faster, and run happier. Schwartz says “When surrounded by others, everyone is more likely to push through feelings of wanting to quit. Whether it’s running a few extra miles or going faster in a speed workout, running with friends is likely to bring motivation gain that will make you push harder and get a better workout than you would have alone.” (Schwarz, K. March 31, 2022). This is also when you should think about how casual or serious your club will be. Will you join the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) and host your own races? Will you hold membership drives and have a board of directors? Will you be a casual group of runners with no membership fees? The purpose for starting your running club could be anything, but make sure it is well defined before you take the next steps.

Know your Audience

When starting your running club you need to think about the people who will join you. There are all kinds of runners out there, some running for fun and some training for a 5K, 10K, Marathon or Ultra-Marathon. For example, if you are training for a marathon in your city and you wanted to form a running club aimed for that specific race then that would be your “who”. Your running club would consist of runners participating in some stage of marathon training, who are looking for people to train with. There is a well-known running club called Black Girls Run. They are a national organization, with local chapters. According to its website, BlackGirlsRun.com, the goal for this running club is “to encourage and motivate black women to practice a healthy lifestyle.” In this case the “who” is African-American women running as a means to lose weight and get in shape. Just as with your purpose, the people you want in your running club are up to you, but it needs to be clear to anyone wishing to join.

Determine your Route

Now that you have a defined purpose and you know who will be running with you, it’s time to determine where it is you will be running. Are you going to run a familiar local running route? Will you run at a track? For the Park Circle Pacers, I knew that I wanted family friendly 1 mile and 5K route options in the Park Circle neighborhood. I also wanted the run to start and end at the same location. That location needed to have a bathroom and water available to runners before and after the run. I choose a local Brewery, CommonHouse Aleworks, contacted the owner and created the route from that starting point. It is very important that you map the route and make sure it is accurate. Use apps like MapMyRun, Strava or Garmin to ensure the mileage is correct. You need to run the route several times yourself so that you can explain the route to the club before every run. Keep in mind to watch out for things like water fountains, hazardous road crossings, bathrooms etc. found along the route. It might take a few tries to come up with the perfect route for your running club, so don’t stop on your first attempt. Remember, the goal of a running club is longevity. The more attractive your route, the longer people will continue to come run with you.

Set a time and stay consistent

Next you need to decide when you will hold your group runs. Will you have run group once per week or multiple times? Do you prefer an early morning run or a happy hour run? When I started the Park Circle Pacers, we only had one run a week. It was on Thursday nights at 6:15 pm. Now 5 years later we have added a Sunday 8 mile run and a Tuesday track workout into the mix. It helps to think about when you anticipate having the most participation. Do most runners in your area use the trails in the mornings or afternoons? Will there be beers after the run? If so an early morning run is probably not advisable. Do you think more people will join you on a Monday or Saturday? Taking everything into account when planning the time of day will go a long way towards the longevity of your running club.

Monthly Calendar for The Park Circle Pacers Running Club

Name the Club and Start Promoting

Now that you have the why, who, where and when you can get to the fun stuff! You need a name for your running club. Something simple, yet catchy will be best. Can you make it alliterative? Giving your running club name a distinctive feature will help people remember it. Your name should give some indication or the purpose for the group or the geographical location. I went with The Park Circle Pacers, because we are running in Park Circle and Pacers sounded good. I also liked the initials “PCP” and it’s very fun to shout “GO PCP” at races when cheering for each other! Our PCP members love to do local races and running and racing together creates a sense of club pride. Another running club in my town is called Charleston Beer Runners. They meet at a brewery called Charleston Beer Works, so that title fits with their purpose, which is to run and then drink beer. Don’t forget to promote the club on social media and by word of mouth. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Strava are used by most people these days and can be a great place to spread the word about your new running club. If you have a target group be sure to cater to that audience in order to reach more people.

“Running and Racing together creates a sense of club pride!”

Putting it all Together

Now that you have all the important stuff figured out you should be well on your way to starting a successful running club. Remember, consistency is the key to ensuring a turn out at your group runs. We have a rain or shine policy at all PCP runs. Someone will always be there to lead the run, no matter the weather and I think that has really helped our numbers stay strong. It is easier for others to hold themselves accountable if they know someone will be there waiting for them to show up! Running clubs can be a great benefit to communities and athletes of all calibers. Just remember to have fun and stick to your original purpose.