Workout Trend: Social Running Clubs

We've all sprinted before, after all, there's hardly a sport that's easier to put into practice: A pair of running shoes and something reasonably breathable on top is absolutely enough. You choose your own route, pace, and playlist.

There are no memberships, no fees, no hidden costs. Pure sense of freedom! But for some, that's exactly where the catch lies: Because this freedom can also be intimidating or, to put it better, challenging. Because motivating and pushing yourself without a fixed framework can be exhausting.

For those who feel the same way – and for anyone looking for a bit of variety: Solo sports are currently experiencing a real boom. This is not only due to the young brands that are seemingly popping up everywhere (like Unna, Satisfy Running, or Doxa), but especially due to the many social running clubs that are literally taking over the big cities. These are basically running groups 2.0, where it's not just about running side by side, but the sense of community is at the forefront.

It's not just about achieving best times and athletic ambitions. Instead, the focus is on togetherness – you motivate each other, don't give up, celebrate each other's successes, and make new connections along the way.

The latter is what makes social running clubs so attractive, especially for city dwellers used to anonymity. Because each of these 'clubs' organizes an 'after-run' get-together for the 'crew', as all participants are called, after each run.

Here, runners gather, exhausted and sweaty, but also relaxed and free from shame, to meet new people or maybe even find true love. Morning runners are often seen in a café, while evening runners meet for a drink and DJ set.

Many social running clubs emerged during the pandemic, when people were looking for safe ways to stay active – not in isolation, but with like-minded people. In cities like Los Angeles, New York, London, and also Berlin, real hubs developed.

Today, there are social running clubs for every level of performance, endurance, and preference. In New York, for example, the 'Old Man Runclub' – as the name suggests – is aimed at a specific target group, while the 'Lunge Run Club' is already making headlines as the first dating-running club.

Some of these clubs rely on exclusive admission procedures, where you have to be selected to join. Others, however, are open to everyone and, depending on their size, are not infrequently sponsored by sports brands, if they do not organize their own social running club. Whether beginners or experienced runners, there is certainly the right crew for everyone. We present five German social running clubs here:

Frankfurt: Runners Frankfurt

© Runners Frankfurt

In Frankfurt, there is a different run every day for varying performance levels.

"We run together - not against each other - and motivate each other to personal bests," says the Adidas Runners' website. The brand already organizes social runs in around 50 cities, including Frankfurt am Main.

What is special about the "Runners Frankfurt": There is a different run every day for different performance levels. While every Wednesday evening is reserved for women, long runs are on the program on Saturdays and trail runs on Sundays.

Running updates and registration information: Runners Frankfurt

Munich: Bold Running Club

© Bold Running Club

In Munich, the running route passes through the English Garden, among other places.

In early 2024, the Bold Running Club was founded in Munich. Since then, the group meets every Monday morning at seven o'clock at Wiener Platz 3. From there, the eight-kilometer run starts through the city – sometimes along the Isar, sometimes through the English Garden. If you're not quite awake after the distance, you can change that while having coffee together.

Run updates and registration information: Bold Running Club

Berlin: Midnight Runners

© Midnight Runners Berlin

In Berlin, running in company is on the agenda on Wednesday evenings.

Some friends in London shared a common love for evening runs and spontaneously founded the Midnight Runners Club – a community for night runners, now represented in 18 cities, from Amsterdam to Sydney to Berlin.

What's special: All runs are led by volunteer "Crew Captains" and are free for participants. In Berlin, the club meets every Wednesday at 7 p.m. for a 10-kilometer bootcamp run. Every two kilometers, the run is interrupted, not for a break, but for a Tabata or HIIT session.

Run updates and registration information: midnightrunners.com/cities/berlin

Mannheim: Monnem Moves

© Monnem Moves

In Mannheim, they meet twice a week for running.

Zweimal pro Woche, mittwochs und sonntags, treffen sich die „Monnem Moves“ zu einem 3- bis5-Kilometer-Lauf. Das Tempo bleibt bewusst moderat – die Gründerinnen wollen sicherstellen, dass während des Laufs genug Zeit bleibt, um neue Bekanntschaften zu knüpfen. Je nach Wochentag endet das Treffen dann meist bei einem gemeinsamen Kaffee.

Laufupdates und Infos zur Anmeldung: Monnem Moves

Hamburg: Run Fleet

Vorreiter im Bereich der Social Running Clubs ist Run Fleet aus Hamburg. Bereits 2014 gegründet, trifft sich die Crew einmal pro Woche, jeden Donnerstag um 19 Uhr, häufig in Sankt Pauli.

Dort wird die Gruppe nach Laufniveau aufgeteilt: Während die 10 Kilometer bei einer Geschwindigkeit von 5:45 Minuten pro Kilometer läuft, joggt die andere Gruppe über 6 Kilometer mit einem Tempo von 6:30 Minuten pro Kilometer. Wo sich Run Fleet danach trifft, wird immer vorab bekannt gegeben.

Laufupdates und Infos zur Anmeldung: Run Fleet