In Oxford, the social scene for fun runners has never been brighter - or busier!
Daily Info’s Sophia has compiled a list of ten great clubs (in no particular order) catering to runners of various abilities, tastes and schedules. Plus three excellent apps to help you along in your running journey!
RunTribe Oxford
What: A friendly group that aims to make running feel social and enjoyable.
When: Tuesdays at 6.45pm (though worth noting Tue 20th May is from 6.30pm)
Where: Start and finish at The Slow and Steady Pub, Abingdon Road - runs are usually around 5k long, and the group usually stays for a chat and a beverage afterwards.
Why:
If finding runner friends is your goal, this is the group for you. Run Tribe boasts a genuinely inclusive and enthusiastic vibe, with a huge range of abilities amongst participants. It’s been going for a while, so it’s unlikely to disappear anytime soon, and has active Strava and WhatsApp communities where members applaud each other's accomplishments.
Bag Drop? Yes.
Cost?: Free, donations accepted - RSVP online.
Oxford Girls Running Club
What: A weekly run club for women who want to join a fun, supportive community of fellow female runners.
When: Mondays at 6pm for a 5k distance.
Where: Outside John Lewis in the Westgate (by the artificial grass area).
Why:
‘Oxford Girls’ is an events brand that offers a range of community events across the city (we’ve highlighted their crafts afternoon at the Market Tap in the past, for example). Their run club is aimed at those who identify as women (inclusivity is important to the group!), and has a girly, sisterly feeling. There is a chance to socialise afterwards as well.
Bag Drop? No.
Cost?: Free - RSVP via the Google form in their bio here.
Headington Road Runners
What: Headington Road Runners (HRR) is the most established group on this list, having run for well over 30 years, and offering a range of benefits to members.
When: Mondays (relaxed 5k), Tuesdays (coached sessions), and Thursdays (club night runs - runners divided into groups by pace).
Where: Various locations on Tuesdays, but Monday and Thursday evenings are from 7pm at OXSRAD Sports and Leisure Centre.
Why: From training sessions with pro coaches and the chance to enter team events, to reduced entry fees for races. As such, there is a membership fee (£50/year standard price), but the club welcomes runners to try a few sessions free prior to committing, and is designed to support a wide range of paces,from 7-12 minute average mile times.
Regardless of your current ability, if you are serious about improving your running and want a group that will inspire you to be consistent and accountable, HRR is your best bet, blending the social benefits of a run club with the focus of coaching.
Bag Drop? Unclear, but likely.
Cost?: £50/year as standard, initial taster sessions free. Sign up is online, but potential members are encouraged to email the club secretary initially for a friendly intro to the group before purchasing a membership.
Proof Run Club
What: A cheerful morning 5k run club based out of Sandford-on-Thames.
When: 8am on Thursday mornings.
Where: Starting and finishing at Sandford Industrial Estate, home of Proof Social Bakehouse (the bakery connected to Tap Social Movement)
Why: It’s one of just a few run clubs based outside of the city centre and meeting in the mornings, plus a nifty 10% off at the cafe afterwards. The club runs at a social pace and is always excited to meet new members.
Bag Drop? Yes, in the bakehouse.
Cost?: Free, just drop-in!.
Common Ground Run Club
What: Like Proof Run Club, this group is for morning people - meeting for a social 5k through Jericho and beyond every Wednesday, starting and finishing at Common Ground Workspace - with 20% off coffee and cake afterwards!
When: 8am Wednesdays.
Where: Meet outside Common Ground Workspace on Little Clarendon Street in Jericho.
Why:
For morning runners and those on flexitime or based in the city centre, this run club offers a picturesque early option. There’s not a tonne of info on this group available online, but it appears to be drop-in, and has been running for over a year, so worth checking out.
Bag Drop? Unclear, but unlikely as it begins before CGW open for the day.
Cost?: Free, just drop-in!
Social Run Group (aka Up and Running Club)
What: A popular and long-running (no pun intended) group based out of Headington’s run shop Up and Running.
When: 5k on Monday evenings at 6.15pm (actual set off time 6.30pm) different route each time.
Where: Meet at Up and Running, London Road, Headington.
Why: The group is well organised and keen to keep things fun. They offer freebies for achievements, such as a t-shirt after a certain amount of runs logged, monthly socials, an occasional run roulette wheel and various discounts. The group are also an active community on Strava.
Bag Drop? Yep, in the store.
Cost?: Free! Sign up in store - you’ll be briefed by a member of the team and issued a membership card.
Oxford Hash House Harriers
What: A sociable running club that meets in a different rural location around Oxfordshire (Kidlington, Leigh, Binsey, etc) every other week.
When: Every other Wednesday evening at 7pm.
Where: As above - a different location around the Oxford countryside each time.
Why: The HHH is based on the fascinating concept of Hashing, in which a lead runner acts as the ‘hare’ and carves a path through the streets/woods by dropping blobs of flour for the ‘hounds’ - the rest of the runners - to follow. Here, the group follows a preplanned trail, but the spirit of playfulness remains, with runs taking participants over multiple terrains, and the community spirit of the group being at the forefront (they’ve jokingly described themselves as ‘a drinking group with a running problem’). Post-run catch-ups are always on the schedule.
Bag Drop? Unclear, but due to the changing locations, unlikely.
Cost?: First three hashes free, then £4 per hash - but post-run food and beer are provided! Sign up via their website here.
Silver Joggers
What: A club for older runners, from longtime enthusiasts to those just starting out.
When: Thursday mornings, 9.30am - with two concurrent runs for different ability levels.
Where: Bury Knowle Park, London Road, Headington. Meet near the public toilets.
Why: As mentioned above, the group has two runs - one 5k for their regular joggers, and one for beginners and returners, who are just getting into the sport. Both have a trained lead runner to provide advice and encouragement. As with Oxford Girls run club, it aims to create a specific, supportive space to run with your peers, make likeminded friends, and build skill and motivation. Runs finish at Courtside Cafe for a post-run beverage.
Bag Drop? Unclear.
Cost?: Free, register or get in touch via their website here.
Peckish Run Club
What: Like Common Ground Run Club, this is a welcoming 5k morning run club based in Jericho - but this time, it’s on the weekends!
When: Saturday mornings at 9.15am.
Where: Outside the Tree Artisan Cafe, on Little Clarendon Street.
Why: With this club, it’s worth noting it’s now a ‘self-run run club’ - so there will not necessarily be a run leader at each meetup. However the group is still very active, and beautiful routes around Jericho and chatting over discounted coffee and pastries afterwards make this one a winner, as does the convenient weekend time.
Bag Drop? Unclear (assume not).
Cost?: Free, just drop in! The club is also active on Strava, and Whatsapp.
Oxford Run Club
What: A relatively new but very enthusiastic group that meets for a weekly 5k.
When: Wednesdays at 6.45pm.
Where: The Radcliffe Camera in central Oxford.
Why: After messaging with one of the co-organisers, Poppy, it’s clear this friendly group is passionate about continuing to grow its community, with weekend long runs, socials and club merch all in its future!
Bag Drop? Sort of - members are often happy to lend the boot of their car for this, and an official bag drop is one of the things the group has in the works!
Cost?: Free, introduce yourself via a direct message on Instagram or by joining their WhatsApp group (link in their Instagram bio) here.
Plus! Three Useful Running Apps
To be clear, none of these recommendations are sponsored - all are based solely on my experiences with them.
Couch to 5k
Best for: Beginners or restarting after a break.
The details: The NHS Couch to 5k app is a free app that guides you through the very beginner-friendly Couch to 5k program. The initial weeks of running can feel deflating, with the effort it takes to cover so little distance - C25K is great for helping you take pride in your progress and stick with it.
Consisting of three runs per week, the program starts by asking users to run for eight one-minute intervals with walking breaks in between, then gradually increases the run time until you’re running 30 minutes straight by the end of week nine.
Your coach will encourage you throughout each interval, and you can choose from a range of figures including athletes and comedians, or the generic original voice. It’s a very accessible and forgiving program, with the option to repeat weeks as many times as needed or jump in halfway through depending on your fitness level.
The app is available on both Apple and Android, but if you prefer a paper plan, that can be downloaded free from the NHS website here.
Strava
Best for: Building community and tracking success.
The details: Strava is a hugely popular app that combines a fitness tracker with a social media site. Users can either manually upload their runs or link the app to their smartwatch/Fitbit. The app provides data on your best efforts and times, and encourages you to keep pushing.
The social networking aspect allows friends to see your efforts and offer congratulations, and allows groups to track their activities together. You can choose how private you wish to make your account, from public to just you.
Like Couch to 5k, it’s available on both Apple and Android devices. The basic version is free, but to unlock additional features you’ll need to subscribe, starting at £8.99.
Nike Run Club
Best for: Staying motivated and engaged.
The details: Some runners swear by meditative silence while they run. But if you enjoy having a coach in your ear to tell you exactly when to pick it up and slow it down, distracting you during the slogging bits, and cheering you on throughout, Nike Run Club is for you.
This free app has hundreds of recordings in its library, ranging from a couple of minutes to a couple of hours in length, plus sprint workouts, race day audios, distance-based runs and more. The app will track how far you’ve gone and adjust the audio accordingly. It’s a supremely useful tool for boosting motivation and mental strength on days when you’d really rather not go pound the pavement.
NRC is completely free, and available on both Android and Apple devices.