Find your sole mates

Stay on track with a running club

Why run alone when you can join others who share the same passion as you? You have probably seen running groups around your neighbourhood or perhaps they have run right past you while you’re out on your usual jog. Contrary to popular belief, running clubs are not only for pro athletes or marathon runners, they are for everyone. Besides connecting with a community that will encourage you to take steps forward, you will have people to cheer you on and support you at races too.  

If you’re still uncertain about joining a running club, some advice from friendly members of your local clubs might just do the trick:

• "Running has brought me many gifts but the greatest thing that running has given me is the people it has brought into my life" - Andrew, Atlantic Athletics Club.

• "Safety in numbers"; "Outdoors is free”; "Crew support is key"; "Opportunity to socialise with like-minded people" - member from Stellies Shakeout.

• "There’s a huge sense of community. We all come together simply because we enjoy running. There’s a sense of family that is truly special. Whether you’re a beginner, or an accomplished athlete, Adidas Runners (AR) is all about uplifting one another and working towards whatever goal you’ve set out to achieve, whether it’s running your first 5km or tackling your first marathon. It’s always a lot of fun, and the AR community is full of awesome people!" - Adeeb, Adidas Runners Cape Town.

• “Running with a group can help motivate you to push a little further”; “Having conversations with people whilst you run makes the run feel quicker”; “Running with a group helps keep you accountable for your training" - member from Atlantic Athletics Club.

In addition to the convincing reasons above, here are some extra reasons to consider joining your local running club:

• Align group runs with your schedule: find a running group that trains when you’d like to train. 

• Improve your running performance: When running in a group you can get caught up in a pace without even realising how fast you are running. This is explained by social facilitation,  a social psychology term referring to “an improvement in performance produced by the mere presence of others”.

• Sign-up for races: your teammates can introduce you to new races you’ve never heard of or have never considered trying. Experienced runners can also help you prepare for the races.

• Access training programs: when someone is leading the training session you can focus on specific components, like strength, pace and endurance. Training properly will have you better prepared for upcoming races.

While running may have you adding days to your life, running with a group can add life to your days.