The Club-ification of Running

Running is so in. Gone are the days of boring solo runs (unless that’s still your vibe, then go for it). Why suffer alone when you can do it with others? Ever since run clubs became all the rage, the sport has evolved to accommodate every possible taste. 

From sunrise group runs to post-run matcha raves, running is the place to see and be seen.

Run to Rave

Run clubs from Brussels to Mexico City have transformed the all-time favorite coffee run into a post-run coffee rave. It’s sweaty, it’s chic and it’s networking at its finest.

They are great places to find like-minded individuals. Waking up at dawn to sweat typically brings together people that are goal-oriented, organized and have their life together (or they’re trying to), transforming run clubs into places for dating and networking alike. 

Strava’s 2024 Year in Sport trend report found that run clubs are replacing nightclubs. Gen Z is seeking connection, not on the dark sweaty dance floors, but through shared fitness activities. The community thrives on coordinated outfits, matching sets and expensive coffee after. 

The raving element brings the fun to an otherwise really tough workout. It forces you out of the other kind of club, into an objectively healthier scenario. Still, there’s comfort in the music, the vibe — except it’s broad daylight and instead of shots you’re sipping green juice.

The Rise of the Run Festival

If raving at 10 a.m. is a little too composed for you, the Runningman Festival takes things to another level. This isn’t your average marathon.

Reminiscent of Burning Man, the middle-of-nowhere grounds are sprinkled with thousands of white tents. In a recall to Coachella, a neon ferris wheel cuts through the sky. It’s on the verge of being as costly and chaotic as its Nevada desert counterpart — minus the running.

Tickets start at $345 for the race day pass and run up to $1,045 for a three-day pass that includes a four-person private glamping tent. 

Festival-goers can enjoy fitness classes, saunas, cold plunges, health seminars, and of course, music. The main event is a choose-your-own-distance race. Participants have eight hours to complete a race around a one mile loop, which can range anywhere from a 5K to a 50K.

Community or Consumerism?

Whilst running is for everyone, festivals like Runningman raise questions of consumerism and the age-old conundrum of belonging. The festival offers runners opportunities to meet with other individuals from all over the world, improve their fitness goals and have a good time.

But social media places everything under an even larger magnifying glass.

Does fitting in with the running community mean spending hundreds on matching sets, overpriced matcha or thousands on Burning Man-esque festivals? 

Sure, the hype is more likely to push you to redefine your limits, demanding: what are you capable of when others are watching? As with all other trends in the fitness community, it’s important to ground yourself in your goals.

Go out and find like-minded individuals who will motivate you to be the best version of yourself, whether it’s surrounded by neon lights, chic Vuori ensembles or the sole sound of your heart pulsing in your ears in a lonely neighborhood.

Are you a run club kind of person or do you prefer the thrill without all the pomp and circumstance? Let us know by tagging us @VALLEYMag on Instagram!

Related