Run clubs are having a moment. Around the world, people are swapping solo runs for group runs, and coffee after a 6 km loop has become as much a part of the routine as the run itself. If you live in Bedfordview, Edenvale, Germiston, Kensington or nearby, here is why joining a running club is worth it, what the research says about running with others, and how to find the right pace group at Bedfordview Athletics.
In short:
- Strava's 2025 Year in Sport report found that new running clubs on the platform grew 3.5 times in a year.
- Research on recreational runners found that having more running partners, especially slightly faster ones, was linked to running more often.
- Clubs offer safety in numbers on early runs, structure, coaching and race entries with a licence.
- You do not need to be fast. Good clubs have groups for every pace, including walkers.
Why run clubs are booming
Strava's 2025 Year in Sport trend report, drawn from an app with more than 180 million users, found that the number of clubs on the platform nearly quadrupled in a year, reaching one million. Running clubs grew 3.5 times, and club-organised events rose 1.5 times year on year. The report links the trend to younger people in particular, who are spending less time scrolling and more time finding community in person.
The appeal is easy to understand. A club gives you a time and a place to be, people who expect to see you, and a reason to get out of bed on a dark winter morning.
Running with others keeps you running
A study of more than 800 recreational runners, published in Frontiers in Sports and Active Living in 2022, looked at how running partners affect training over time. Runners whose circle of running partners grew tended to run more often. Partners who were a bit better than the runner had the strongest effect, while partners of similar or lower ability made less difference.
In other words, the right group can lift you, as long as it is a group you can keep up with on easy days. That is why pace groups matter.
What a running club gives you
- Safety in numbers. Running at 05h00 in a group is safer and far more pleasant than running alone in the dark.
- Routes you would not find alone. Club runners know the best loops, the hills worth training on and where to avoid traffic.
- Structure and advice. From your first 5 km to your first half marathon, there is always someone who has done it before.
- A licence to race. To run official road races in South Africa you need an athletics licence number from your provincial body. Club membership arranges it.
- Friends. Many members will tell you this is the best part.
Do you need to be fast to join?
No. One of the biggest myths about running clubs is that they are only for serious athletes. At Bedfordview Athletics, our running schools are grouped by pace and goals, so everyone has a group:
- Walking School: the official walking group, meeting on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 05h00 and on Saturday at 06h00.
- Steel Bullets: ideal for newer runners and anyone returning from a break. A friendly group that runs together and finishes together.
- Sky Hawks: the middle ground for regular runners who want to get fitter and faster without leaving anyone behind.
- Navy Seals: consistent club runners building towards half marathons, marathons and Comrades.
- Azzurri: experienced runners chasing personal bests, with structured quality sessions.
Complete beginners can start with our free eight-week Sofa to So Far programme, which takes you from walking to running 5 km with coaches and a supportive group.
When and where we run
Bedfordview Athletics runs six days a week from the top parking lot at Virgin Active Bedfordview:
- Tuesday to Friday at 05h00: weekday training runs
- Saturday and Sunday at 06h00: weekend long runs
Members come from Bedfordview and the surrounding suburbs of Johannesburg's east, including Edenvale, Germiston, Kensington, Bruma and Senderwood. Check the training runs page for this week's runs, browse our running routes, or see what is coming up on the events calendar.
How to join
Your first run is on us, so come along and meet the group. To keep running with the club, join online. Your membership covers the club and Bedfordview Country Club levies, the club's arrangement with Virgin Active Bedfordview, your athletics licence number, catered races, club socials and the year-end awards evening. Questions? Get in touch.
Questions runners ask
Do I need to be a good runner to join a running club?
No. Bedfordview Athletics has groups for walkers, beginners, regular runners and experienced racers. Choose the group whose easy pace is comfortable for you.
Can I try a club run before I join?
Yes. Your first run is on us. Come to a weekday run at 05h00 or a weekend run at 06h00 at Virgin Active Bedfordview, meet the group, then become a member to keep running with the club.
Do I need a licence to run races?
To race in South Africa you need a licence number from your provincial athletics body. As a member of a club affiliated to Central Gauteng Athletics, your licence number is arranged through the club.
Is there a running club near Edenvale or Germiston?
Bedfordview Athletics is a few minutes away, and many of our members live in Edenvale, Germiston, Kensington and the surrounding suburbs.
Sources
- Strava. Strava releases 12th annual Year in Sport trend report, December 2025.
- Franken R, Bekhuis H, Tolsma J. Running together: how sports partners keep you running. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 2022.
