October 2nd 2024.
For these runners, joining a running club is more than just a way to stay in shape. It's a way to find a sense of community, make new friends, and even overcome life's challenges. During the lockdowns of 2020, many people turned to running as a way to stay active and maintain their mental well-being. But for some, it became much more than that.
By 2024, running had become a fever that swept the nation. The popular fitness app Strava saw a significant increase in registered users, while athletic brand Hoka experienced record-breaking sales. Even events like the Hackney Half marathon and the London Marathon saw an unprecedented number of participants. But the reasons for running went beyond physical health. People were running to find love, be part of a community, or find peace of mind.
The Agency spoke to three runners about how joining a running club changed their lives. One of them, Philip Dehany, found himself in a difficult situation during the pandemic. As someone living with HIV, he was advised to shield and ended up staying with his parents in the Lake District. However, the isolation took its toll on him, and he began to struggle. To make matters worse, he was targeted by an online stalker who publicly shared his HIV status and even contacted his mother. Philip describes this time as "hell" and says it drove him to contemplate suicide.
Feeling alone and reclusive, Philip reached out to the Terrence Higgins Trust, who offered him the opportunity to run the London Marathon in support of their cause. During his training, he discovered a love for running and found a community at a local gym and running club. He says that these newfound friends became more than just running companions – they became his tribe. They provided him with motivation, laughter, and most importantly, friendship.
Another runner, Rory Norrington, joined a London-based LGBTQ+ running club called Gayns. He had been running solo since 2020 but wanted to connect with other people in the queer community. Through the running club, he found the connections he was looking for and made new friends who shared his passion for running.
Joining a running club not only offers physical benefits but also provides a sense of belonging and connection. For Philip, it allowed him to meet like-minded individuals and feel less alone in a big city. He also made connections within the LGBTQ+ community, something that was important to him. Running became more than just a form of exercise for these runners – it became a lifeline and a way to form meaningful friendships.
So, if you're looking to join a running club, don't hesitate to do so. As the saying goes, "join the country's biggest running club – parkrun." It's free and open to everyone, whether you're a keen runner, jogger, walker, or just looking to volunteer and support others. You only need to register once, and it's a great way to meet new people and find a sense of community. As Philip found, running clubs can lead to life-changing friendships and provide support during life's difficult moments. So, lace up your trainers and join the running community today.
As the world went into lockdown in March 2020, many of us turned to running as a way to stay active and manage our mental health. But for a group of dedicated runners, it wasn't just about exercise - it was a way of life. By the time 2024 rolled around, running had become a full-blown obsession for them.
Strava, the popular running app, saw a massive increase in registered users, with over 120 million people signing up by April - a 26% jump from the previous year. And it wasn't just individual runners who were getting in on the trend - even athletic brands like Hoka were seeing record-breaking sales figures.
The demand for running events was also at an all-time high. In just two weeks, all spots for the 2025 Hackney Half marathon were snatched up, and a whopping 840,318 people entered the ballot for the 2026 London Marathon - a new world record that far surpassed the previous year's total of 578,304.
But for these runners, it wasn't just about the numbers. They were lacing up their trainers for a variety of reasons - from finding love to being part of a community, or even just finding peace of mind. And for some, joining a running club had led to life-changing friendships.
The Agency recently spoke to three runners about how joining a running club had transformed their lives. "Joining the country's biggest running club," they say, referring to parkrun, "is free and open to all - whether you're a seasoned runner, a casual jogger, or just looking to volunteer and support others."
One such runner is Philip Dehany, who started running during the first lockdown in 2020. As someone living with HIV, he was at high risk for Covid-19 and decided to leave London to stay with his parents in the Lake District. But as the months went on, he found himself struggling - both with his health and with a terrifying online stalker who had targeted him for his HIV status.
In the depths of his struggles, Philip reached out to the Terrence Higgins Trust, a charity supporting those living with HIV, and signed up to run the London Marathon with them. As part of his training, he spent hours running through the neighboring villages near his family home. And when he returned to London, he joined a gym called UN1T, where he found a welcoming community and a weekly running club known as the "Run to the Pub Club."
In those tentative first strides, Philip realized that he had found more than just running companions - he had found his tribe and a new group of friends. And as he continued to train and participate in races, his running friends became some of his closest confidants. They even attended his 40th birthday party, and he now regularly meets up with them for brunch or a trip to the theater.
For Philip, joining the running club was a lifeline. "It allowed me to meet other like-minded people in a city that can often feel overwhelming and lonely," he says. "They've made me feel part of something and less alone, while also giving me a new set of friends for life."
Another runner who found a sense of community through running is Rory Norrington. In March 2021, he joined Gayns, a London-based LGBTQ+ running club, after seeing an ad on Instagram. Although he had been running solo since 2020, he was looking to connect with other queer people and found exactly that in Gayns.
"I made connections in the LGBTQ+ community that I didn't have before," Rory says. "And the best part is, we're not just running - we're also having a great time and supporting each other." He adds that being a part of the club has given him a sense of belonging and has been a source of joy during a challenging time.
For these runners, joining a running club wasn't just about exercise - it was about finding a sense of community, forging new friendships, and supporting each other through both the highs and lows. And as the running fever continues to spread, it's clear that these clubs will only continue to grow and provide a much-needed sense of connection for those who lace up their trainers and hit the pavement.
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