Running doesn’t have to be a solitary activity. Start a running club to meet and exercise with other people in your area who are passionate about running.
Why Start a Running Club?
There are many reasons why you might want to start or join a running club. Running clubs have plenty of benefits, including:
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Building community and better wellness habits
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Making exercise more fun
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Staying accountable toward your running goals
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Motivating yourself and others to continue running
How to Start a Running Club
Follow these steps to start a running club in your area:
1. Define Your Club’s Purpose
Why do you want to start a running club? Is it to help people train for a marathon, or to create a positive social movement in your community? Determine whether your running club has a competitive or casual focus to attract the right audience.
2. Choose a Format
Most running clubs meet in person, although some are virtual. If you want to start a virtual running club, find an app or social media platform that lets club members stay connected.
Strava is a popular running app that lets you track your runs, join challenges, and follow your friends, making it a great choice for in-person and virtual running clubs. And when you join the Nuun+ loyalty program and connect it with your Strava account, you’ll get points for movement and logged activity that you can use to score exclusive discounts and offers on Nuun products. This can help you and the members of your club stay motivated to reach their running goals! To help new members feel welcome, connected, and supported on their running journey, you can also consider sending virtual members a Nuun Sport Hydration Bundle.
3. Plan Logistics
When you start your running club, you’re in charge of all the planning. You’ll want to consider factors like:
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Running frequency: Determine how often your running club will meet
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Timing: How long do you want to run for? What time of day do you want to meet?
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Location: Will you run around the city, or at a local park? Where will everyone want to meet?
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Distance: How far will you run as a group?
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Hydration: How will members stay hydrated? Will you take frequent water breaks?
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Communication: Will you communicate to club members about weather delays or cancellations via text message, email, or social media app?
4. Set Ground Rules and Safety Measures
Having ground rules and safety measures in place can help the members of your club feel welcome, respected, and secure. Some running clubs create a code of conduct that informs members that they must behave in a positive, safe, and respectful way with others. Once you’ve created a code of conduct, share it with members online or print it out to pass out at meetings.
Safety measures are also important for your running club. You might want to ask members for emergency contact information should something happen to them. It’s also wise to establish when your club won’t meet—for example, extreme heat or incoming storms can pose a risk.
To be a responsible club leader, learn and look out for signs of dehydration. Consider carrying Nuun Sport Hydration Tablets or Nuun Sport Hydration Electrolyte Powder Drink Mix with you in case you or a running mate needs hydration before, during, or after your workout. Nuun Sport tablets and powders contain five essential electrolytes and hydrate better than water alone. Don’t forget to create an account and join the Nuun+ loyalty program to earn points for future Nuun purchases. Spread the word to your club members so they can earn Nuun rewards, too!
5. Create a Running Club Name and Identity
Choosing a name for your running club is important because it will:
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Establish the identity of your club
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Make it easier to promote it
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Differentiate it from other running clubs in the area
Here are some tips to help you choose a name for your running club:
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Consider your club’s mission and core values: Choose a name that aligns with the goals of your club, like health, community, or socializing.
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Incorporate your location: Using your city, town, county, or neighborhood in the name of your club can help attract locals to it.
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Be creative and memorable: Incorporating puns or alliteration can make the name easier to remember.
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Keep it short and simple: Concise names are also easier to remember.
6. Promote Your Running Club
Get runners to join your club by promoting it. Social media is a great way to promote your club, especially if it’s virtual, but you can also try flyers or branded T-shirts on runs to attract attention.
Starting a running club can be challenging, but it can also be rewarding. Don’t forget to keep your club hydrated with Nuun Sport Hydration Tablets or Powders.
