A running group/club is a team of runners who meet at a specific time and location to run together for fun.
Depending on the group’s purpose, membership can be free or paid.
Since the lockdown in 2020, many people have taken up running and formed running groups. Some groups are still active, while others died down after the lockdown.
Others are active but only open to professional athletes/runners.
If you’ve wanted to join a running club and didn’t know where to find one, here are active running clubs in Kenya that welcome beginner runners.
Active Beginner Running Groups Based in Nairobi
- Fitbeat Run Club
Fitbeat running club was established by Rhotimmi, (a popular Kenyan fitness influencer) to create exciting experiences while celebrating holistic wellness.
The club meets every Saturday at 6.30 am.
To join, you register for free through the Instagram link in their bio and get added to the club’s WhatsApp group to stay updated on weekly runs.
Here’s a link to their social media profiles.
2. The Urban Swaras
The Urban Swaras running club began in 2006 to foster recreational running and provide a home to beginner and elite runners looking for a reliable running club. They organize runs all over Kenya but mainly in Nairobi.
To be a member, you pay an annual fee of 8,200 Kenyan shillings. 1000 for registration and an 1800 quarterly subscription fee.
They meet in different venues every Saturday at 7:30 am to run. Visit their pages for more running updates.
3. We Run Nairobi Running Club
We Run Nairobi Running Club was started by Emily Chepkor (a 10x marathoner) in 2022 to foster community and promote a healthy and active lifestyle.
The club organizes runs on roads and trails all over Nairobi.
Runners meet every Thursday at 6.00 am, Saturday and Sunday at 7.30 am.
Distances are usually ranging from 5-15km.
No registration fee is needed to join this running club. Just show up and run or walk as they welcome all paces.
Here are links to their social media profiles to stay updated on upcoming meetups.
4. Team Jasho Fitness Club
Team Jasho is home to all runners, from walkers to beginners and semi-elite runners.
They arrange all kinds of challenges, weekly and monthly, running, hiking, and cycling, women and men, forest and road challenges in Nairobi and outside with the mission of bringing together runners to enjoy running and keep fit.
You will pay a registration fee of 2,000 Kenyan shillings to join a run. They communicate the run routes on their social media some weeks before the run.
5. Karura Running Club
Karura Running Club is a united community of recreational runners embracing active lifestyles, championing green spaces, and working towards a healthier planet for future generations.
Their mantra is “boundless trails, one family.”
They organize runs all around Nairobi but mostly in Karura Forest.
No registration fee is required to join the runs.
To keep updated on their runs, check their socials.
6. The Run Fit Club
Whether you run for fun or want to better your running performance, the Run-Fit Running Club organizes different types of runs (including relays) all over Nairobi.
The club aims to build an active running community and offer runners endless possibilities.
There’s a registration fee needed to join a run. To stay updated, visit their social media accounts.
7. The Nairobi Hash House Harriers
As they call themselves, the hashers are a running group that began in 1938 in Malaysia when a group of British colonialists met every Monday evening to run.
In 1978, a group of runners formed the hash house harriers in Nairobi.
With their slogan, a drinking club with a running problem, the Hash House Harriers aim to promote physical fitness and responsible beer drinking.
They meet every Monday at 5:00 pm at an earlier communicated place around Nairobi, run 4 to 8km, and stay for a drink or dinner.
The trail run includes shortcuts, dead ends, and false trails so fast runners can slow down, allowing beginner runners to catch up and keep the group together.
Membership is free to be a hasher. You only pay ksh200 for food or drinks enjoyed after every run.
Check their website for updates on upcoming running events.
8. Tipwatipwa Fitness
Tipwatipwa Fitness welcomes all outdoor lovers, from runners to bikers, hikers, and climbers.
They promote holistic fitness and teamwork through games, sports, and hikes.
They have a gym in Lavington Mall, Nairobi, for gym lovers and a website with a detailed fitness calendar to keep track of their fitness events.
Check them out.
Active Beginner Running Groups Based in Mombasa
9. Mombasa Hash House Harriers
Like Nairobi hashers, Mombasa hashers love running in a pack for fun. They organize weekly running challenges on false trails to keep the pack together despite the different fitness levels.
Join the Mombasa Hash House Harriers Facebook group here for updates on the next runs.
10. Fitness and Duathlon Shanzu
Based in Shanzu, Mombasa, Fitness and Duathlon Shanzu was formed to promote sports in Kenyan communities, especially Duathlon.
They aim to champion a healthy lifestyle in Mombasa through sports (running, cycling, duathlon).
They organize competitions and training camps and invite fitness specialists to achieve these goals.
Check them out.
11. Diani Hash House Harriers
According to their Facebook Page, they are a running group for people with a drinking problem or a drinking club for people with a running problem.
Like the Nairobi and Mombasa hashers, Diani hashers meet to run together on Mondays to get over the weekend hangover and to persuade the older members that they are younger than they are.
The hash house harriers’ running groups are formed all over Kenya’s major cities, including Nanyuki.
Now I’d like to hear from you.
Are you in an active running group that I haven’t listed here?
Kindly comment the name below so I can add it to this list to help other runners.
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