The rise in social media over recent years has changed the way many of us connect with each other, and this ease of connection of has extended to those who love to get out and pound the pavement. No longer is running a lonely venture, with the rise in the popularity of running groups many have found a way to combine fitness with some social interaction. Many debate whether the coffee afterwards is more important than the run itself. Let’s check out a few ways you can get started towards building a running group of your own.

Before you start planning your routes or advertising in your local paper, think clearly about the goals you want to achieve in the run club, and the kind of environment you want to foster.

Is the group going to for beginners, intermediate, experienced runners, or a mixture of all three? Is the goal of the run club to train for a specific event, or to just simply promote a healthy lifestyle and keep each other accountable? Having clear goals will help you attract like-minded people with the same expectations of what will happen once they join the scheduled sessions.

As casual as your run club may be, branding it and giving it a name will ensure members can easily recognise you, and search online for the run club should you have any presence on the world wide web. Spark a sense of belonging and community by creating a logo, social media accounts and printing out some basic merch for run club members.

The best branding in the world means nothing if the times you choose for the runs do not align with members schedules. Choose locations that are easy to get to and times that will accommodate member like early mornings, evenings and weekends.

Chose routes that are easy to get to and are scenic, fun and preferably flat so that members can enjoy the run without the risk of injury. And of course, make sure there is a coffee shop near the finish line so that members can relax and enjoy each other’s company once the hard part is over.

Make the most of social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to promote your running group. Build an events page where members can visit to stay updated on schedules, routes, and last-minute changes. Invite friends, workmates, and neighbours to join the account and spread the word. Your running club can be as big or small as you want it to be, and social media will give you the opportunity to scale up your run club if that’s what you choose to do.

Maintain the expectations of runners by keeping the sessions consistent. Plan out a structure that includes a proper warm-up, a short talk with members prior to the run to inform them of the route and any other relevant info, followed by the run and a cool-down at the end.

Include an optional coffee shop run or breakfast at a local eatery once the run is over for a chance for members to have a chat socialise. After all, the coffee afterwards is why most people join a run club to begin with!

There you have it, a few tips to help you get started creating your own run club. Head into your nearest Athlete’s Foot store for a fitting and some advice from our friendly team. Check out our new arrivals for the latest styles from our brands, and shop our accessories for running socks, shoe cleaners and all you need to pack your bag for your next run.