![\"Getty](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/ed8d\/live\/184c48f0-8582-11ef-83dd-fbf1b9732cf0.jpg.webp\")
Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\nTrainers on. Playlist set. Health mode activated.<\/p>\n
Do you feel like you’ve been seeing more and more people braving the wet weather to get a run in recently?<\/p>\n
Maybe #RunTok has crept into your algorithm, or you’ve got that one friend who keeps posting their latest stats to Insta Stories? <\/p>\n
You might be on to something.<\/p>\n
Parkrun, which recently celebrated its 20th birthday, says its biggest recent growth has come from people aged 20 to 29.<\/p>\n
And the organisers of the Great North Run, the largest half marathon in the UK, say 13.3% of runners this year were under 25, up from 10.9% the year before.<\/p>\n
So why are more people taking part in running and run clubs?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
A chance to make friends<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n\n“It\u2019s really difficult making friends in your twenties,” says Megan Titterington, who runs an all-female running group in Oxfordshire.<\/p>\n
“I feel like going to a run club kills two birds with one stone,” she tells BBC Newsbeat.<\/p>\n
“It’s a social outlet and you get to meet new people, but also you’re able to just fit in and work out, which is so important.”<\/p>\n
Megan, 24, set up the club after a chat with her co-founder over TikTok.<\/p>\n
“In February and we had maybe like 20-30 sign-ups for a first run, and now it\u2019s 75,” she says.<\/p>\n
“I think it’s just the fact that so many people really want to [socialise],” <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n![](\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/bbcx\/grey-placeholder.png\")
![\"Megan](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/307d\/live\/35b0cf70-8581-11ef-83dd-fbf1b9732cf0.jpg.webp\")
Megan Titterington<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nMegan runs an all-female run club with co-founder Harriet<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\nSafety in numbers<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n\nMegan thinks social run clubs like hers help people to feel safer.<\/p>\n
According to run-tracking app Strava, those aged 18-29 are the most likely to be running, and in 2023 women were more likely to upload runs than men.<\/p>\n
As winter approaches, concerns around running alone in the dark resurface, especially among women.<\/a><\/p>\n“I’d rather not run for three months, than attempt to run in the dark,” Megan says.<\/p>\n
“Even when going on a run as a female during the day, things can still happen as they can happen to anyone.<\/p>\n
“But being part of a running group, knowing that you’re all going to stick together and you won’t be left alone at any point on that run is really nice,” she says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n![\"Jade](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/48dd\/live\/270f1530-8581-11ef-9329-f30486eb2a33.jpg.webp\")
Jade Driscoll<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nJade has been influenced by social media to take up running<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n\nThat\u2019s something 22-year-old Jade Driscoll thinks about.<\/p>\n
Jade, from south Wales, started running in April and tells Newsbeat it can get “a bit lonely when you\u2019re out there on your own”.<\/p>\n
She\u2019s also set up her own run club.<\/p>\n
“It does build up community where you feel safe,” she says.<\/p>\n
“Especially coming into the winter months. <\/p>\n
“We are going to need it because we’re not going to be going out in the dark by ourselves, because we know as women [how] bad it is.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Wholesome vibes<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n\nThe opportunity to feel like you’re improving your lifestyle also appeals to Jade.<\/p>\n
“I want to be that girl who is going for a run and then getting her morning matcha,” she says. <\/p>\n
“That is idealistic.”<\/p>\n
She says social media influencers have provided an aspirational image.<\/p>\n
“I saw a lot of girls going out then they have coffee dates after it. And I was like: ‘that sounds great’.<\/p>\n
“Especially once you leave uni and are in your mid- to late twenties, you do think you\u2019re [over] that drinking culture,” she says.<\/p>\n
“People are leaning more towards going out running, going for a swim or walks.”<\/p>\n
She adds those are cheaper options in the long run, compared to nights out and gym memberships, after the initial cost of trainers and kit.<\/p>\n
“Running is a free activity.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n![\"Two](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/9a3a\/live\/7d64ad00-8581-11ef-822c-a50726bfda2e.jpg.webp\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\nAbbey and Laura (right) feel running has made a positive impact on their lives<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n\n
“It\u2019s really difficult making friends in your twenties,” says Megan Titterington, who runs an all-female running group in Oxfordshire.<\/p>\n
“I feel like going to a run club kills two birds with one stone,” she tells BBC Newsbeat.<\/p>\n
“It’s a social outlet and you get to meet new people, but also you’re able to just fit in and work out, which is so important.”<\/p>\n
Megan, 24, set up the club after a chat with her co-founder over TikTok.<\/p>\n
“In February and we had maybe like 20-30 sign-ups for a first run, and now it\u2019s 75,” she says.<\/p>\n
“I think it’s just the fact that so many people really want to [socialise],” <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Megan thinks social run clubs like hers help people to feel safer.<\/p>\n According to run-tracking app Strava, those aged 18-29 are the most likely to be running, and in 2023 women were more likely to upload runs than men.<\/p>\n As winter approaches, concerns around running alone in the dark resurface, especially among women.<\/a><\/p>\n “I’d rather not run for three months, than attempt to run in the dark,” Megan says.<\/p>\n “Even when going on a run as a female during the day, things can still happen as they can happen to anyone.<\/p>\n “But being part of a running group, knowing that you’re all going to stick together and you won’t be left alone at any point on that run is really nice,” she says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n That\u2019s something 22-year-old Jade Driscoll thinks about.<\/p>\n Jade, from south Wales, started running in April and tells Newsbeat it can get “a bit lonely when you\u2019re out there on your own”.<\/p>\n She\u2019s also set up her own run club.<\/p>\n “It does build up community where you feel safe,” she says.<\/p>\n “Especially coming into the winter months. <\/p>\n “We are going to need it because we’re not going to be going out in the dark by ourselves, because we know as women [how] bad it is.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The opportunity to feel like you’re improving your lifestyle also appeals to Jade.<\/p>\n “I want to be that girl who is going for a run and then getting her morning matcha,” she says. <\/p>\n “That is idealistic.”<\/p>\n She says social media influencers have provided an aspirational image.<\/p>\n “I saw a lot of girls going out then they have coffee dates after it. And I was like: ‘that sounds great’.<\/p>\n “Especially once you leave uni and are in your mid- to late twenties, you do think you\u2019re [over] that drinking culture,” she says.<\/p>\n “People are leaning more towards going out running, going for a swim or walks.”<\/p>\n She adds those are cheaper options in the long run, compared to nights out and gym memberships, after the initial cost of trainers and kit.<\/p>\n “Running is a free activity.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\nMegan Titterington<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nSafety in numbers<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
Jade Driscoll<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nWholesome vibes<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/8366\/live\/74a706f0-15d7-11ef-9b12-1ba8f95c4917.jpg.webp\")
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