27 September 2026

Do you need to be fast to join a run club?

No. Hills Run Club is best for people in Sydney’s Hills District who want to run, jog or walk with others without pressure to be fast. The club welcomes people who are new to running as well as those who already run. In 2026, its regular schedule includes weekly Thursday morning runs at Glenhaven Oval and fortnightly Tuesday night runs typically in the Hills District.

That answer applies to Hills Run Club, not automatically to every group called a run club. Before joining an unfamiliar event, check its description for who can take part, where to meet and whether the route suits you. If the event details do not answer your question, ask the organiser rather than guessing that you have to keep up with the fastest person there. You can start with the Hills Run Club homepage to find the current run information.

Why this matters

A pace worry can stop you attending before you have even found out what the run is like. Speed is not the entry requirement at Hills Run Club: runners, joggers and walkers are part of the community. What matters for your first visit is choosing an event you can attend and a pace that feels right for you.

A social run also gives you a reason to meet people in person. The movement is only part of it; the club’s description includes staying afterwards for coffee and conversation. If you are nervous about arriving alone in 2026, you do not have to treat the run itself as your only chance to connect.

Can you walk, jog or run at a social run club?

At Hills Run Club, all three are welcome. Pick the option that lets you take part without turning your first visit into a test. You can change your mind about your pace as you settle in; choosing to walk is not a failed attempt at running.

The best pace is the one that lets you show up again. That is a practical choice, not a standard you have to meet. If you want to walk this week and jog another time, you do not need to explain that change to anyone.

The table describes ways to take part, not separate groups or promised arrangements at every event. For a particular 2026 run, use the current event information to confirm the meeting point and any route details before you leave home.

What should you do before your first social run?

You do not need an elaborate training plan to meet people at a welcoming club. You do need to know which event you are attending and how you intend to take part. This short plan keeps the decision simple.

1. Read the event details. Confirm the current meeting place and start information for the run you have chosen. Thursday mornings are regularly held at Glenhaven Oval; Tuesday nights are fortnightly and typically take place elsewhere in the Hills District. Do not assume a Tuesday run meets at the Thursday location.
2. Choose your pace. Decide whether you want to walk, jog or run when you arrive. This is your starting choice, not a commitment to hold one pace throughout the event.
3. Turn up. If you are new, saying so is enough to start a conversation. You do not need a race result, an impressive training history or a friend to speak for you.
4. Stay for a chat. The club describes coffee and conversation after its runs. If you came to meet people, give yourself a chance to talk when the movement is over.

These steps work whether you have been running for years or are starting with a walk in 2026. The part you control is showing up at a pace you can manage. The part to verify is the event itself, especially when the meeting location changes.

If you tend to compare yourself with whoever is nearest, make a quieter decision before the run begins: what kind of movement will make this a visit you enjoy? You can still meet people even if your pace changes. A social run is not a test of whether you chose correctly at the start.

What if you are worried about keeping up?

Ask yourself what you know about the event, not what you imagine every runner will do. Hills Run Club says people can move at their own pace and that walkers and joggers are welcome. That is more useful information than the pace of the quickest runner you might see.

It helps to separate two questions. Am I welcome at this club? For Hills Run Club, yes, even if you walk. Do I know the details of this particular run? Check the current listing before attending, because regular Thursday runs and fortnightly Tuesday runs do not have the same stated location.

You also do not have to make conversation while moving. If talking and jogging at the same time feels awkward, focus on your movement first and speak to someone afterwards. Coffee and conversation are part of the club’s stated approach, so the social part is not confined to the route.

If your concern is fitness rather than speed, choose what feels manageable for you instead of copying somebody else’s plan. A run club can offer company; it cannot tell you what level of activity is right for your health. You can decide how to take part without presenting your pace as an apology.

Why does the experience vary from one run to another?

Your pace is only one part of the experience. These factors determine what you need to check and what you can choose for yourself:

• The event you select. Hills Run Club’s weekly Thursday morning run is at Glenhaven Oval. Its fortnightly Tuesday night runs are typically in the Hills District area, so check the current Tuesday location rather than relying on a previous meeting point.
• The way you want to move. Running, jogging and walking are all welcome at the club. You can choose the option that lets you participate comfortably on that day.
• Your reason for attending. Some days you will want movement; other days the conversation afterwards will be the bigger draw. You do not have to justify either reason.
• How familiar the setting feels. Arriving at a new event can feel different from returning to one you know. Reading the details beforehand removes one avoidable uncertainty.
• Who you talk to. Meeting people takes an introduction, not a particular pace. A brief hello before or after the run gives someone a way to start talking with you.

For a first visit in 2026, keep the decision narrow: pick the event, confirm its details and choose a pace. You can learn whether you enjoy the setting by attending; you do not need to solve every social worry in advance.

Can you join a run club if you only want to walk?

Yes. Hills Run Club explicitly welcomes walkers alongside joggers and runners. Check the details of the run you want to attend, then choose walking if that is how you want to take part.

Walking does not make you a spectator. You are there to move with the community and meet people, just as someone who chooses to run is. The useful question is whether the event welcomes your way of participating, not whether walking qualifies as fast enough.

Should you bring a friend to your first run?

No. Hills Run Club began with four friends, but you do not need to arrive with a group of your own. It exists to help people connect through movement, including people who want to meet someone new.

Bring a friend if that makes it easier to turn up. If you come alone, start with a hello and stay for a conversation afterwards. Neither choice changes whether you belong at the run.

Is a Thursday or Tuesday run better for your first visit?

Choose the event whose timing and confirmed location work for you. The regular Thursday morning run meets at Glenhaven Oval; the fortnightly Tuesday night runs are typically elsewhere in the Hills District. Neither is described as requiring a faster pace.

For your first visit in 2026, check the current listing rather than choosing based on where a previous run met. The best first event is one you can find, attend and enjoy at your own pace.

FAQ

One last thing

You do not have to become faster before you get the social part of a social run. If meeting people is your goal, the conversation after moving can matter as much as the run itself. Check the details of the next event that suits you in 2026, choose your pace and give yourself a chance to show up.

Related guides

• How do I meet people through a running club?