Over the past few months, something has been happening in Nairobi (and honestly, in cities everywhere): people are running. Not alone in the early morning with earbuds and a hoodie pulled up, but together in groups, on Saturday mornings, after work, and sometimes even at night. Your timeline is full of people in coordinated activewear smiling after 5K runs, talking about pace, hydration, and “recovery drinks.” It feels like everyone suddenly discovered running and community at the same time. But it’s not just fitness. It’s cultural, emotional and social. A run club is not just a group of people moving their bodies. It’s a place where adults are remembering what it feels like to belong.
We are living in a time where loneliness is becoming a public health concern. Many of us are busy, stressed friendships are scattered across the city, and it’s easy to feel disconnected even while surrounded by people. Run clubs offer something rare: a regular, low-pressure, shared activity that brings people together without the need to perform.
You show up as you are. You run. You breathe. You talk a little or not at all. And somehow, that is enough. But beyond the emotional grounding, there are practical reasons run clubs are resonating right now.
1. Movement Feels Better in Community
Working out alone requires discipline while working out with others creates momentum. When you know someone is waiting for you, motivation becomes easier. The energy is shared and so is the progress. For many, it’s the first time exercise feels joyful rather than punishing.
2. It’s Socializing Without Spending Money
A lot of adult social life revolves around going out, eating out, or drinking.
Run clubs offer a social life that isn’t tied to consumption. You don’t have to dress up, you don’t have to be “interesting.” You just show up and move.
3. It’s a Soft, Gentle Way to Build Discipline
Running is simple. One foot in front of the other. It reminds us that consistency is not dramatic, but small decisions repeated. Showing up once a week turns into twice, 3 minutes of running becomes 10 and before you know it, you trust yourself more and that trust spills into other areas of life.
4. It Gives Community Back Its Meaning
We talk a lot about community, but many of us don’t have places to practice it. A run club is structured consistency with the same place, the same time, familiar faces. And over time, a stranger becomes an acquaintance, an acquaintance becomes a friend, and a friend becomes someone who texts you when you don’t show up.
5. It Reminds Us That Our Bodies Are Not Accessories
We live in a culture that tells us to sculpt, optimise, and perform our bodies. Running, especially in community, shifts the focus from appearance to experience. What can your body do? How does it feel to breathe deeply and to finish something you didn’t think you could? This is not shallow, but self-connection.
How to Join a Run Club (Without Feeling Awkward or Out of Place)
If the idea intrigues you but your brain is already trying to talk you out of it, start small. Go once and feel it out with no pressure. Tell the leader it’s your first time so they can welcome you and make sure you’re comfortable. Run at your own pace. Run clubs are not races! Stay for the cool-down as that’s where the socialising happens. Come back next week, even if it feels a little weird as new things often do. You don’t need to be “a runner”, you just need to be a person with shoes who wants to feel a little more alive. If you’re in Nairobi check out We Run Nairobi and Fitbeat Inc or your closest gym for group runs, and enjoy!
