Start with the ones that are easy to find
Your nearest parkrun is the obvious first stop — free, weekly, and a reliable place to meet people who know every other group in the area. Ask at the café afterwards and you will generally leave with two or three recommendations.
Running shops are the other underused source. Many host their own free weekly runs, and the staff know the local scene better than any directory.
Check the things that predict whether you will stick
Distance from home matters more than quality of club. A group you can reach in ten minutes on a weeknight will get more of your attendance than a better one across town.
Then check the time. A club that meets at 6:30pm on Tuesday is only useful if you are reliably free at 6:30pm on Tuesday. And check whether pace groups are published — a club that names its groups has thought about not dropping people.
Competitive club or social group?
Both are worth joining, for different reasons. An affiliated athletics club gives you structured sessions, coaching, track access and a route into racing for a membership fee. A social run club gives you a weekly run and a coffee, usually for nothing.
The mistake is joining the first sort while wanting the second. Read the description: words like "track", "intervals" and "race team" signal one thing, "all paces", "social" and "beginners welcome" signal another.
Before your first session
Message ahead if you can. Almost every group has someone whose job is welcoming new runners, and telling them you are coming means someone is looking out for you.
Then just go. The first session is the only difficult one.
Common questions
How do I find running groups for beginners?
Look for groups that explicitly advertise beginner sessions, couch-to-5K cohorts or walk-run groups. General clubs may welcome beginners without having a session designed for them.
Are there running groups for women only?
Yes, and they are widespread. Many areas have women-only clubs, and larger clubs often run women's sessions alongside their main programme.
What time do most running clubs meet?
Weekday evenings between about 6:00pm and 7:30pm are the most common, with weekend morning runs typically starting between 8:00am and 9:30am.
Find a club near you
RunScene lists running clubs across 96 cities, with meeting times and who is going. Free on iOS and Android.
