It’s been called ‘the friendliest city in the UK’ by readers of Condé Nast, and Glasgow certainly deserves the award if the warmth of its running clubs is anything to go by.
If you’re after good fun, good humour and good friends you could certainly do worse than join a Glasgow running group, whether you live North, South, East or West.
Read on to find out more about the city’s friendliest running clubs…
NORTH – Springburn Harriers
Springburn organise at least three runs a week in and around the North of the city and Huntershill track. The club’s vision is to promote ‘enjoyment, family, friendship and sporting excellent’ for all, no matter gender, age, background, race, religion or ability – a message everyone can get behind.
Find out more: https://www.springburnharriers.co.uk/
SOUTH – Bellahouston Roadrunners
South Siders looking to improve your running, this one’s for you. For a small monthly fee – following a free trial, of course – you can join one of the city’s oldest and most action-packed running groups. Despite the name, Bella runners don’t just run on roads – they also do cross country and hill running – and their social calendar’s pretty action-packed too.
Find out more: https://www.bellahoustonroadrunners.co.uk/
EAST – Shettleston Harriers
If you hail from the East of the city, you might want to try Shettleston Harriers – an East End institution since 1904. Sessions run most nights, covering road and hill running, track and field, and they also have a Get Fit programme with Jog Scotland to encourage newbies. And if you’ve got little ones, make it a family affair with their busy Juniors programme.
Find out more: http://shettlestonharriers.org.uk/
WEST – West End Road Runners
Look no further, Westies. More of a community group than a competitive club, West End Road Runners is for runners of all ages and stages. “I turned up at WERR absolutely petrified, but I couldn’t have been luckier to end up in the loveliest, most encouraging group,” says runner Tracy. “Everybody’s effort is equally valued and whether that ends up in a 40 minute 10k or an 80 minute 10k, the encouragement and the applause are the same.”
Find out more: https://www.westendroadrunners.co.uk/
CENTRE – HWJ Run Club
HWJ Rub Club (founded by @homemadewithjade) organises two regular runs in the city from well-known central (or close to central) locations: Glasgow Green and Glasgow Botanics. The running, Jade says, is probably the least important part of this friendly run club, which goes by the motto ‘meeting faces, not chasing paces.’
Find out more: https://linktr.ee/homemadewithjade
Outlier Run Club
And a special shout out for new(ish) running club Outlier, which takes its name from the G1 coffee shop and bakery. They’ve just celebrated their first birthday and run three times a week starting from various city centre locations. The best way to keep up to date is via Instagram – lots of lovely city squad photos and running-related memes.
Find out more: https://www.instagram.com/outlierrunclub/
Want some extra motivation? Check out the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run here – and tell your new running club pals!
