Running clubs have been surging in popularity with young people in London due to changing mindsets about health and wellbeing.
According to the app Strava, running club memberships shot up by 59% in 2024 and community running organisation Parkrun reported that the 20–29 age group saw the largest growth in participation.
The rise in run clubs has coincided with a broader societal shift towards health and wellbeing and away from traditional, alcohol-centred socialising.
Young people today are more health conscious than previous generations, placing a larger emphasis on wellbeing and expressing different attitudes towards alcohol-related risk.
Research has highlighted that nearly half of young people in the UK are no longer drinking alcohol.
These running clubs also offer a sense of community and young women have reported that running as part of a group makes them feel safer than running alone.
More than just a fitness trend, these running clubs reflect a changing social attitude in younger generations and are becoming a big part of the culture in London.
The Londoners spoke to a West London run collective called SROSA about these shifts in culture.
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