8 October 2026

A beginner run club in Sydney is a group run where you can start with one short lap, walk when you need to and move at a pace you can talk at. Hills Run Club is a free community running club in the Hills District of Sydney, NSW, and our runs are built that way. Our Thursday Morning Run offers 2.5 km or 5 km, and our Tuesday Night Run offers 3 km or 6 km. Here is what your first run looks like, step by step.

Who a beginner run club is for

A beginner run club is for people starting from zero. That includes people who have never run before, people who ran once years ago and want to start again, and people who would rather move with a group than go it alone. You do not need a watch or a training plan to begin. You need a time, a place and a willingness to show up.

What happens on a beginner run

Every Hills Run Club run follows the same simple shape, so you know what to expect before you arrive.

• Register first. Create a free HRC+ account at hillsrunclub.com/hrc-plus/ and register for the run you want. Every run is registered in HRC+.
• Arrive for the meet time. Thursday mornings meet at 5:45am for a 6:00am start. Tuesday nights meet at 6:45pm for a 7:00pm start.
• Choose your lap. Pick the short option for your first run. You can build up from there.
• Run, walk or do both. Set off with the group and walk whenever you need to.
• Stay for the chat. The group is there for company as much as for the distance.

Choose the lap that suits you

Both runs are built from laps, and one lap is a full run in its own right. Starting with the short option is a perfectly good plan. The table shows the two runs side by side.

The Tuesday Night Run meets at Castle Hill Showground, Castle Hill, under the lights. Enter via Doran Drive, the entrance closest to the metro, take the first left and follow the road to the lit oval. The group meets at the large shed, with plenty of parking around it.

Walking is part of the plan

Walkers are welcome at both runs. If you walk the whole way, you still take part: you still meet the group, you still get the chat and you still belong. Mixing walking and running is a sensible way to start, and nobody will ask which bits you ran.

No speed tests, no pace pressure

There is no speed test to join Hills Run Club and no time you need to beat. The right pace is one where you can talk in short sentences. If you cannot, slow down. To see why speed does not decide who joins, read do you need to be fast to join a run club?

How to get ready for your first run

• Create your free HRC+ account at hillsrunclub.com/hrc-plus/.
• Register for the run on the runs page. The next Thursday Morning Run is on Thursday 15 October, and the next Tuesday Night Run is on Tuesday 20 October.
• Plan to arrive at the meet time, with a few minutes to find the group.
• Wear shoes and clothes you can move in, and bring water.
• Follow @hillsrunclubau on Instagram for club updates.

After the run

Thursday mornings finish with a coffee and a sweet treat, so the run is only part of the morning. It is a good time to meet people and ask your questions. If cost is on your mind, read whether Hills Run Club is free to join. The answer is that running with the club is free.

Questions people ask