How Finding Your Running Community Shapes Your Journey

One of the best things about being a runner is being a part of the running community.

As runners, we “get it.” We’re often each other’s biggest cheerleaders. The ones who understand the frustration of being sidelined with an injury, ask the nuanced questions about how training is going, and know just how big that 30-second PR really is!

Our non-running friends and family are important in our journeys and a big part of our support networks — don’t get me wrong. But when we need the early morning training motivation or the right words of encouragement when we hit the wall, it’s our fellow runners who know how to help.

When We Couldn’t Find Community, We Built It 

My husband and I have attended established run clubs over the years — we even met at one. When we moved to Middle Georgia, we stopped by the only local running store and asked about their group runs. They didn’t have any! So, we started our own. Over the last 2.5 years, we’ve seen the greatest connections emerge from it.

We made a lifelong friend from day one with a runner who had just relocated to the area, and we’ve gotten to know dozens of runners who moved there on military orders and sought out community.

We paced a group runner for a portion of his self-supported 100-miler from Middle Georgia to the border of Alabama. And we all cheered on a group runner as she completed her first virtual 5K at one of our weekly runs. That same runner went on to run her first full marathon less than a year later — alongside another first-time marathoner who she met through the group!

These runners and so many others showed up on our last evening run before we moved out of state. As we passed the Perry Run Group baton (literally and figuratively) to a new leader, it was so obvious to me that our time in Georgia was shaped by our running community.

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4 Tips to Find Your Running Community

Being a part of a running community is special. Sure, you can train alone and motivate yourself to reach that finish line. You don’t need the community. But especially in today’s world where our screen time is at an all-time high and in-person connections are less frequent, joining a run club offers a low-barrier social opportunity.

Luckily, it’s easier than ever to find a running community. Over the past few years, the number of run clubs has snowballed, thanks at least in part to runners’ desire for personal connection as we emerged from the depths of the pandemic.

In addition to running groups affiliated with local running stores, many cities have run clubs that meet at coffee shops and breweries as well as run clubs that empower underrepresented runners. Some of these clubs have a national presence with local chapters, such as Latinas Run, Black Men Run, Native Women Running, and Front Runners.

While it’s easy to find a run club, it can be intimidating to join one for the first time. For that, I have four tips: 

1. Start following a local run club you’re interested in joining on Instagram or Facebook. You’ll be able to go in with a better idea of what to expect — 
   • Where they run
   • How many runners typically participate
   • General tone of the group (structured and serious versus fun and beginner-friendly, for example).  
2. Message the leaders to ask about the distance they run and the average pace range. Bigger run clubs are more likely to have a wider range of paces, sometimes even pace groups. But don’t count out the smaller clubs! Personally, I’ve found it’s easier to get to know others in a group of less than 25. 
3. If you’re new to running, chances are you won’t be the only one. And even if you are, remember that every single runner has been right where you are in their running journey. Fellow runners often love to share tips and offer encouragement. It’s a great way to learn more about the sport. Don’t let being a new runner discourage you! 
4. Go with an open mind and plan time to hang out after the run to get to know others. You’ll be surprised by how many conversations develop before, during, and after a group run. 

There are so many long-lasting effects of being a part of the running community that go well beyond weekly social connection. You’ll find the support and encouragement of fellow runners who “get it.” There’s also plenty of motivation (yes, sometimes peer pressure) to sign up for a few races. Your running community can help you accomplish these once-daunting endeavors.

Chances are, it will shape your running journey for the better.

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