Fitiva
Finding a run club: how to simply join in
A run club is the easiest way to meet people in a city: no membership, no fee, no fitness test. You turn up, you run, maybe you stay for a coffee. Here is how to find your group, in four big cities and everywhere else.
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What a run club is
A run club is an open running group with a fixed weekday and a fixed meeting point. Unlike a sports club, you pay no fee and sign nothing. Most groups run a loop through their neighbourhood, split into pace groups and stay together afterwards for a coffee or a drink.
What sets the clubs apart is their vibe. Some start at six in the morning so everyone is done before work. Others run in the evening and head out together afterwards. There are women-only groups, queer clubs, groups for slow runners and trail groups at the weekend. Try two or three before you commit.
The easiest start: parkrun
If you have never run in a group before, start with parkrun. Every Saturday at 9 am, people run, jog or walk 5 kilometres at fixed locations all over Germany. It costs nothing, there is no time limit, and nobody finishes last, because a team member goes round at the very back. Every event is organised by volunteers.
You register once for free on parkrun.com.de and bring your barcode. Without a barcode you can still run, but you won't get a time. parkrun also runs in Austria, for example in Vienna's Donaupark.
Tip for your first Saturday. Be there ten minutes early. Then you can find the start without rushing, and the team on site will answer any question you have.
How to find your club
Most run clubs organise themselves on Instagram. That keeps them lively, but makes them hard to find when you are new in town. A good starting point is the privately run directory socialrunclubs.de, which collects run clubs by city, each with its meeting point and a link to the club's channel. For Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Frankfurt it looks like this:
| City | parkrun | Clubs |
|---|---|---|
| Berlin | Hasenheide, Tempelhofer Feld, Mauerweg | 80 |
| Hamburg | Alstervorland | 58 |
| Munich | Westpark, Riemer Park | 61 |
| Frankfurt | Nidda | 27 |
Other ways to find your group:
- Running shops. Many shops invite you to community runs or running courses. Ask next time you buy shoes.
- Instagram. Search for "run club" plus your city or neighbourhood. Active clubs post their dates every week.
- Events in Fitiva. On the map in the app you find run clubs near you. More on that below.
Berlin
Berlin runs all over the city. Popular routes are the Tiergarten, Tempelhofer Feld with its long, flat straights, and the Mauerweg. Berlin has three parkruns: in the Hasenheide, on Tempelhofer Feld and on the Mauerweg. On top of that there are social run clubs for every taste, from the run at six in the morning to the loop with a croissant afterwards. The full list is in the directory for Berlin.
Hamburg
Hamburg's classic is the loop around the Außenalster. It is flat, easy to find and busy in the evenings. The parkrun starts every Saturday in the Alstervorland. Other popular routes are the Stadtpark in the north and the banks of the Elbe. You find all the groups in the directory for Hamburg.
Munich
In Munich, people meet in the Englischer Garten, in the Olympiapark and along the Isar. There are two parkruns, in the Westpark and in the Riemer Park. Where else the city trains, from the hills in the Olympiapark to the free fitness trails, is in our guide to Munich. The city's run clubs are collected in the directory for Munich.
Frankfurt
In Frankfurt, the classic route runs along the Main. The bridges make the loop as long or as short as you like, and the skyline comes along for the run. The parkrun takes place by the Nidda, every Saturday at 9 am. All the groups are in the directory for Frankfurt.
Etiquette for your first visit
- Be there five minutes early. Many groups start on time.
- Ask about the pace groups and pick one that feels easy. Next time you can move up.
- Head torch in winter, water in summer. Nothing else matters.
- Stay for ten minutes after the run. The coffee afterwards is the real club.
Good to know. Times and meeting points change now and then, especially in winter. Check the club's channel before your first visit.
Run clubs in Fitiva
In Fitiva you find run clubs, bootcamps, yoga in the park and workshops on a map or as a list. You can browse them without an account. Coaches list their run club there as an event, free or with a ticket you pay for online. Groups that someone has suggested and that are not on Fitiva themselves yet carry the label "Unclaimed" and link to the group's own channel.
Is your club missing? With a free account you can suggest it in the app, with meeting point, time and contact. We look at every suggestion before it goes on the map. You can also write to us. At launch, coaches and events are in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Frequently asked questions about run clubs
Does a run club cost anything?
Usually not. Social run clubs generally don't charge a fee, and parkrun is always free. Some groups also offer sessions with a coach that cost something. If so, it says so.
Do I have to be fast?
No. Most clubs run in several pace groups, and at parkrun you can also walk. On your first visit, pick the group that feels easy.
Do I have to sign up?
For parkrun you register once for free so you get a time. Some clubs like a quick RSVP on Instagram or in an app so they know how many people are coming. At most clubs you can just turn up.
How do I find a run club in my city?
Search Instagram for "run club" plus your city, look in the socialrunclubs.de directory or ask at your nearest running shop. On the map in Fitiva you also find run clubs and events near you.
Can I add a run club to Fitiva?
Yes. With a free account you suggest a club in the app under Events. We check every suggestion before it appears on the map. If you are a coach, you list your run club as an event yourself.
