Neither apps nor nightclubs: the new trendy bar is called a 'running' club

BarcelonaRunning to take care of yourself physically and mentally, to meet new people, to unwind, to flirt, to feel part of a group, to achieve goals, because you don't have much time, or simply to have a good time. Whatever the reason that leads someone to take up running, there's no doubt that running is in fashion. But the real reason why running is an increasingly popular sport lies in the fact that it has gone from being an individual activity to a social one. This is confirmed by the report. Year in Sport: Strava Trend Report, the world's leading sports social network.

According to the report, running is the fastest-growing social sport. Specifically, during 2024 the popularity of running clubs running It increased by 59%, with an 89% rise in women joining clubs last year. running clubs They are an easy, organic, and healthy way to meet new people, and in fact, 61% of those surveyed in Spain made new friends through sport, and 50% say that socializing is the main motivation for practicing the activity.

"Going for a run in a group is a very powerful psychological motivator because it creates a sense of belonging and commitment that helps you be consistent," explains Berta Almató, psychologist and coach sporting, and adds that "the running club It goes beyond physical performance, as you share challenges, strengthen self-esteem, and expand your circle of friends. However, running alone also has specific benefits, and as psychologist Almató explains, "running alone is a more introspective moment in which you listen more to your body and strengthen your autonomy."

Social trend

Almató uses the term "social trend" to refer to running and explains that "accessibility, the minimal infrastructure required, social media, and the races that have taken place year after year have been the breeding ground for the fever for the runningGroup running isn't just changing how we meet new people; it's also transforming the dating market. In fact, the report reveals that one in five Gen Z respondents has dated someone they met during a group sporting activity, and 59% of those surveyed prefer meeting people in a sports group. A powerful business niche has emerged in this trend, with the launch earlier this year of the Running Club initiative, featuring events in Barcelona and Madrid that invite singles to connect through sport.

While some running clubs created more explicitly for finding love have also taken root in the Catalan capital, such as B3TTER RUN CLUB, a club that usually runs along Barceloneta beach, there are many others that want to distance themselves from this label. "We are not one social run "It's not a club for hooking up. We're driven by objectives; our team includes coach Marina Ramos, and every training session is focused on the goal we set," says Aïda Lirola, co-founder of Half Runners. This running club, created in 2019 as a result of a Nike-sponsored challenge to run from Barcelona, arose, in Lirola's words, "from the friendship of six women and the desire to do more in the women's sports sector." "Those who come regularly are from here or other parts of Spain and are willing to learn Catalan," Lirola explains.

Now, the fact that women are increasingly inclined to run in groups and that there are more and more clubs of running Created by and for women, it's no coincidence. Running alone, day or night, winter or summer, was and still is synonymous with fear, discomfort, or insecurity for many women. "Many women have had something happen to them, whether it's being followed or having comments made about them," explains Aïda Lirola, adding that "since coming every Wednesday, they've formed groups to run together on other days of the week." Half Runners' training sessions, which attract a young audience between 22 and 35 years old, have brought together men and women who share a passion for running. A passion that has gone even further, and, as Lirola confirms, "the people who have been coming from the beginning have become very close friends; groups of friends have formed who sign up for races and even take trips together."

Jordi Guarque, a member of the VivaRun running club, which is part of the activities offered at the VivaGym in Glòries, says that "being guided by a gym instructor is important, and being part of a group makes you more consistent, since everyone encourages each other." VivaRun brings together athletes of very different ages and levels and has also encouraged women who previously didn't run because of fear to do so. "A woman told me that when she went running alone on the beach in winter and it was already dark, she felt unsafe. I had never thought about it; I have the privilege of going out for a run and not being afraid," explains Guarque.

Promoting local sport

Although Barcelona is by far the Catalan city with the most clubs runningSome of whom end their training sessions by sharing a beer, a meal, or even a night out, the so-called post runMore and more clubs are springing up in other cities across Catalonia, promoting local sport. One example is 0822RUN, a social running club created by a group of friends from Terrassa who decided to open their runs to the rest of the community. The club, named after the city's postal code, started training at the beginning of March, and as one of its founders, Albert Bonavila, explains, "it was a great success from the start, with fifty or sixty people." Although Terrassa is one of the most populated cities in Catalonia, there was no running club before 0822RUN. "At first, the feedback we received from many people was that it was about time Terrassa had a running group. Some people have started running thanks to this initiative," recalls Joan Bonavila, one of the founders of 0822RUN.

Every Wednesday night, the 0822RUN community usually meets outside the Ateneu Candela bar, before making their way through Parc Vallparadís, the large green lung that runs through the city of Terrassa. In this regard, as psychologist Almató explains, "studies have shown that being in nature reduces levels of cortisol, the stress hormone," and she advises that, if there is no nature nearby, "the best thing to do is find a park, a green area, or go outside and experience the feeling of stress."

While the variety of social clubs of running It's immense, and everyone has something in common: altruism and zero cost. However, as Almató points out, "there's a hidden recklessness in the fact that it's popular and accessible to everyone, since you need to know your starting point." Running and seeing progress in our performance brings gratification and motivation, although it's important to remember that no extreme is good. According to the psychologist, there are some warning signs that help identify when a hobby is becoming an obsession. "Running becomes an obsession when it becomes an obligation, you feel guilty for not training, you neglect your daily life, or you even go running with an injury or overexertion."