How to Join a Running Club in the DMV
Whether you just moved to the area or you are looking to spice up your daily runs, joining a run club can open up a community you may have been missing out on. But where to start? Every run club is different: if you want to run faster or slower, if you want a morning coffee crew, or maybe you’re interested in a drinking club with a running problem, there is probably (definitely) a group running in DC, Maryland, or Virginia that ticks all the boxes.
If you have been struggling with decision paralysis or your anxiety is getting in the way of you showing up for your first run, here is how you do it.
What Kind of Group Fits Your Needs?
Before you pick a group, decide what you are after. The DMV has groups for nearly every kind of runner, but they do not all do the same thing.
Some clubs are built around hard, structured work. DC Road Runners is a good example. They run coached track workouts on Wednesday nights and Thursday mornings, organize spring and fall training programs, and hold a Saturday long run that draws everything from sub-7:00 minute milers to runners closer to a 13-minute pace. If you are chasing a Boston qualifier or trying to finish your first half, that kind of structure helps.
Rock Creek Run Club
Other clubs care less about the workout and more about the company. Every Person Run Club, based out of Navy Yard, runs an easy three miles on Wednesday nights and a longer effort on Sundays, then heads to Tap99 or a food hall afterward.DC is also home to an incredible unpaved trail system within Rock Creek Park. If you are looking to explore those trails, groups like the Rock Creek Run Club have you covered.
Worried about running too slow? Guess what, there is a run club for that too. Slow and Steady Run Club shoots for a 11:30-12:30 minute mile, and guarantees no runner will be left behind.
Maryland and Virginia are also home to many run clubs that fit just about any niche, whether it is My Muddy Shoes trail running club or St. Elmo’s Coffee & Run Crew. All to say, there are hundreds of run clubs throughout the region and you can find a welcoming community wherever you look.
How It Works
The biggest thing holding most people back is the assumption that there is some formal process. There usually is not.
We have spoken to many run clubs as part of our Run Club Spotlight Series, and they usually tell me the same thing: “Just show up!”
You show up at the meeting spot at the meeting time, and someone welcomes you. Some clubs, like the very popular NoMa Run Club also have a bag drop at some of their runs, so you are not stashing your jackets in a bush.
A typical run starts with a quick introduction from the group lead, who walks through the route and asks if there are any newcomers. From there, runners break into pace groups so nobody gets dropped or held back. Afterward, most groups regroup for coffee or a drink. That post-run hang is often where the club part of a run club actually happens.
Find the Right Club
There are dozens of clubs across DC, Maryland, and Virginia, and they are scattered across Instagram accounts, Strava groups, MeetUp, and word of mouth.
We built a directory to fix that. The DMV Run Club Directory lists clubs across the region in one place, so you can find a group near you and figure out where and when they meet. You can browse it here.
Pick one that matches what you decided you wanted. Check the meeting spot and time. Then, the hardest part, show up. Every runner in every group was new once. The fastest way to stop feeling like an outsider is to run a few miles with a group and grab a coffee after.
If a club you love is not in the directory yet, let us know. We are adding more all the time.
