Five miles in and feeling tremendous — that’s just another weekly jog for members of the several run clubs that have popped up in Orange County in recent years.
Participation in run clubs has been rapidly increasing globally, jumping up 59% in 2024 according to Strava’s annual Year in Sport: Trend Report.
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One club founded during this boom is the Orange Runner Club, based in the city of Orange.
“We started from the simple idea of creating a community of like-minded people and doing that by promoting health and wellness,” said Anthoni Avila, founder and owner of Orange Runner Club.
The club, which boasts anywhere between 50 to over 100 people joining their runs, seeks to build excitement for the sport through the different themed runs throughout the year.
“One of our favorite memories has to be from our most recent themed run for Valentine’s Day — ‘Lover’s Run’ — seeing 100-plus people running the streets of Orange sharing one common goal,” Avila said.
While run clubs may seem like a recent trend, group running events in Orange County have deep roots.
Long before the current wave, established clubs were already bringing runners together week after week.
One of the oldest running clubs in the country, run by A Snail’s Pace Running Shop, has been operating its run club in Orange County since 1979.
“Our run club became a Mecca for runners looking for community,” said Lien Chen, developer of run club events for the shop. “We would have visitors join us from all over the country.”
One of the more organized and professional clubs in the county and one of the few where members pay to participate, Snail’s Pace attempts to justify its $120-per-year price tag by providing its runners with extra benefits beyond just participating in runs, such as free coaching and discounted race entry fees.
Since its conception, several locations scattered across Orange County have become a meeting place for the local competitive running community.
Many serious runners from these clubs and others around the county use these not only as a chance to socialize but also as an opportunity to train for larger events such as the OC Marathon.
A commitment to inclusivity is a common thread among the county’s run clubs, which strive to make every runner feel welcome. Since 2014, RunOC has invited participants of all levels to join their weekly four-mile treks across Irvine, Newport Beach and Santa Ana.
“We’re a non-competitive social club. We welcome runners, walkers, pets and anyone who wants to share four miles of wellness with us,” said Gloria Shen, one of the six organizers of RunOC who plan and lead events coordinated by the club.
The continued growth of run clubs across Orange County reflects both a modern fitness trend and a long-standing tradition of people coming together through running.
Jim Herkimer, doctor of physical therapy and professor at Chapman University, described how regular running can boost someone’s health.
“The main benefits of running are the same as any other form of cardiovascular exercise; improved heart function, better glucose control, decreased risk of chronic diseases such as hypertension, obesity and heart disease,” Herkimer said. “In terms of mental health, any exercise boosts mental health.”
