Everyone needs a little help from their friends – especially when it comes to finding the motivation to run.
Joining a running club can give you that reason to strap on those running shoes, help you improve your technique, and even meet a few new friends along the way.
So, whether you’re a beginner or a hardcore athlete, here’s a roundup of some of the great running clubs that operate in Vancouver.
The Running Room
Running Room’s run/walk clubs are open to all and meet twice weekly at all store locations. There are also training programs for everything from walking to half marathons available.
Where: All Running Room locations across Vancouver
When: Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings
More: runningroom.com/hm/inside.php?id=2238
Forerunners
Train for the Scotiabank Half Marathon and 5K with Forerunners (Forerunners)
Vancouver’s own running store, Forerunners holds clinics from both their locations to help get runners ready for upcoming races including the Scotiabank Half Marathon and 5 km.
Where: 3502 W 4th Avenue, Vancouver and 980 Marine Drive, North Vancouver
When: Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings
More: forerunners.ca/clinics/
Kintec
Both beginners and marathoners are welcome at Kintec run club (Kintec)
Kintec Footwear and Orthotics hold clinics for all comers at their Vancouver and North Vancouver stores, from walk/runs for beginners to premium programs for marathoners.
Where: 1201 W. Broadway, Vancouver and 975 Marine Drive, North Vancouver
When: Various times and days depending on difficulty
More: kintec.net/run-clinics/
Lions Gate Road Runners
You could join these happy runners at the LGRR (Lions Gate Road Runners/Facebook)
This local club welcomes runners of all abilities and ages and has a regular weekly workout session of interval training and repeats in Point Grey.
Where: Point Grey Secondary school track – 38th Avenue and West Boulevard, Vancouver
When: Every Thursday at 6 p.m.
More: lgrr.com
MEC
MEC Vancouver holds twice weekly meetups for runners of all abilities, tackling distances from 4 km to 7 km. Many other events for intermediate, advanced and trail runners are also on offer.
Where: 130 West Broadway, Vancouver
When: Wednesdays at 6 p.m., Saturdays at 9:30 a.m.
More: events.mec.ca/
Pacific Road Runners
The Pacific Road Runners on an away day (PRR/Facebook)
Pacific Road Runners is a recreational running club, with a variety of pace groups meeting twice weekly. Members’ 10 km race times range between 37-62 minutes.
Where: False Creek Community Centre on Granville Island
When: 5:55 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday evenings
More: pacificroadrunners.ca/
Rackets and Runners
Hopefully the Rackets and Runners outings won’t include too many stairs! (Rackets and Runners)
The Rackets and Runners store at Oak & 23rd offers a supportive, inclusive, and fun loving run club, and holds varied workouts around the Shaughnessy neighbourhood of Vancouver.
Where: Rackets & Runners – 3880 Oak Street, Vancouver
When: 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:15 a.m. on Saturdays
More: racketsandrunners.ca/community/run-club
Eastside Fitness
The Eastside Fitness running clinic (Eastside Fitness/Facebook)
Eastside Fitness is a small fitness studio offering 8 km and half marathon running clinics. There is a fee, but that includes entry to races, running shirts and workshops.
Where: Eastside Fitness – 5788 Fraser Street, Vancouver
When: 9:30 a.m. on Saturdays
More: eastsidefitness.ca/running-clinics
Tuesday Nighters
The Tuesday Nighters are an “eating group with a running problem” – they offer a few workouts every week and hold eating events like sandwich crawls and epic brunch runs.
Where: Point Grey Secondary school track – 38th Avenue and West Boulevard, Vancouver
When: Every Tuesday 6 p.m.
More: tuesdaynighters.com
Vancouver Falcons Athletic Club
Join and compete with Vancouver Falcons Athletic Club (VFAC/Facebook)
The VFAC is a competitive running club. Members enjoy twice-weekly supervised group interval workouts and a customized running program including intervals and hill running.
Where: Brockton Oval parking lot in Stanley Park and Point Grey Secondary school track at 38th Avenue and West Boulevard, Vancouver
When: 6:15 p.m. on Thursdays at Brockton Oval and 9:15 a.m. Saturdays in Point Grey
More: vfac.ca/
Vancouver Frontrunners
Vancouver Frontrunners provide a safe and friendly environment for the LGBT community and their friends to enjoy running and walking at a variety of speeds, followed by brunch.
Where: Brockton Oval clubhouse and the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre
When: 9 a.m. on Saturdays at Brockton Oval, 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Roundhouse
More: vancouverfrontrunners.org/
Seek The Peak Training
The Seek The Peak training group will get you in shape to take on the gruelling 16 km run of the same name, from Ambleside to the top of the Grouse Grind on June 12.
Where: Various meeting points near the race route
When: 6 p.m. on Wednesdays for 10 weeks
More: seekthepeak.ca/
Ladies of the Trails
If you’re looking for a friendly group of likeminded runners, you could join the Ladies Of The Trails run club, to prep you for the 5 Peaks trail running series. Open to all levels of female trails runners.
Where: Based in Vancouver, serving trail runners across the Lower Mainland
More: facebook.com/groups/LadiesoftheTrails
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