The phenomenon of run clubs has become a popular topic of conversation of late. In recent months, many have noticed their friends prioritising “run club” meetups over nights out, adhering to an early bedtime to fulfill their morning run commitments. It seems like this running obsession, once exclusive to individuals having a mid-life crisis, has now affected those in their twenties as well.
If you’re a resident of Dublin, it’s quite likely you’ve spotted these groups in motion. Hordes of youngsters clothed in athletic wear are seen conquering pristine locations like Phoenix Park, Grand Canal, and Dún Laoghaire pier. When not running, these health-conscious twenty-somethings might be causing a delay in queue at your favourite café on a Saturday morning.
One cannot help but ponder how these run clubs managed to interest such a large number of directionless young adults, while maintaining a social pace of 6½-minute per kilometre. Is it the attraction towards an active lifestyle or simply the prospects of a reward post-run? Or could it be that these clubs are becoming a modern matchmaking platform?
Gillian Sullivan acknowledges that for club participants, the joy of running usually falls third or fourth on their list of reasons for taking part. Her partner, Daniel O’Farrell, and she incidentally started a run club called Pastry Pace nearly half a year ago. O’Farrell, an ultra-marathon runner, had initially intended to coach Gillian to complete a 5km run. Their progress and post-run pastries, shared via social media, garnered attention leading to nearly 80 individuals accompanying them for Sunday runs at Phoenix Park, followed by a café visit for croissants.
Likewise, the founders of Happy Feet, Kate Flynn and Ciara McNulty, are also seen rewarding their run with coffee and snacks among their club members. McNulty humorously admits that she initially thought their members would be seeking athletic performance, but it turns out that no one particularly cares about it.
The first encounter of the two pals took place in a fitness centre and their shared interest in keeping fit quickly led to a close bond. Their goal was to make the oftentimes intimidating space feel more friendly and enjoyable to their contemporaries and most importantly, to demonstrate its social potential. Within three weeks of introducing ‘Happy Feet’ in August 2023, they had an enthusiastic turnout of 80 participants and a growing interest in the post-run catch-ups. From the very beginning, it became strikingly obvious to them that Happy Feet was about more than just fitness and running.
“The sheer number of people who remain behind after every run, whether on weekends or weekdays, clearly shows that the social element is a significant pull” explains Flynn, who is 23.
Most of the runners, primarily in their mid-to-late-20s, start off with a bit of trepidation, arriving alone, but eventually end up sharing a post-run coffee and company with others. By the conclusion of the morning, contacts are being swapped and by the following week, these new acquaintances show up as a pair. “It’s quite extraordinary,” remarks McNulty, “all we have to do is turn up”.
However, the question arises as to why a running club has become a social hub for the younger generation. Aren’t pubs supposed to serve that purpose? “It’s a different environment,” Aoibhinn Raleigh, the founder of Dublin’s newest running club: Sole Mates, points out. “You wouldn’t wander into a pub by yourself and strike up a conversation with a random group of girls! Yet at a running club, that’s perfectly acceptable.”
Aged 26, Raleigh decided to give up alcohol last year and discovered a new method of connecting with her home city. She shares “It was a significant revelation for me. With most of my friends having moved abroad, I was left behind in Dublin and had lost a major socialising opportunity that Irish people typically enjoy – I needed to find a new one.”
Daniel O’Farrell, cofounder of Pastry Pace, mentions, “Our group chat on WhatsApp consists of 800 individuals who are not just part of a running club, but are also 800 individuals who enjoy each other’s company.”
Within a fortnight of creating their Instagram account, the club has remarkably attracted nearly 2,000 followers. The club’s first run saw 105 participants (including 102 women and three rather courageous, or perhaps calculated, men), a turnout that moved her to tears. “The sense of community was overwhelming,” she expressed, considering how invaluable this is in a time where emigration is spreading our generation thin.
“People lament the fact that many of their friends have moved abroad and they are in search of new acquaintances,” Raleigh reflects on the quick success of her club. She further considers that while a sense of camaraderie can be found in pubs, the genuine formation of a community, solid friendships, and the opportunity to belong won’t truly arise from such social scenarios.
The warm reception by Dublin’s Millennials towards running clubs such as Sole Mates, Happy Feet, and Pastry Pace is encouraging, even though it also highlights the loneliness many within this age group silently endure. These running clubs appear to provide comfort to a generation craving for more than the digital life that has characterised it, especially now that they have reached an age where everyone is continuously coming or going, attempting to settle down or having to leave.
“For individuals who may feel somewhat isolated, or are new to the city, or simply don’t have many friends or are still trying to find their footing – a common issue among people in their 20s – it is reassuring to know there are people who will be there,” remarks Ciara McNulty.
Apparently, this trend stems from a grander quest for companionship, camaraderie, and association in an era that can be isolating, daunting, and unpredictable. “Your mid-20s are laden with doubts,” observes Raleigh. “There’s a pervasive sense of fear that grips individuals. Are you labouring in the appropriate job? Have you pursued the correct course? Is your residence ideally located?” She proposes that running groups have evolved into a conducive platform to address these uncertainties, even if they are momentarily set aside due to engaging conversations.
The second canon for running clubs? It’s appreciating this aspect. “We run a WhatsApp group consisting of 800 participants in a running club,” shares Pastry Pace’s O’Farrell, “but it’s also 800 individuals desiring social interaction.” The actual running? “Well, that’s merely an intermediate activity.”