8 October 2026

Run clubs are growing quickly. Strava's annual Year in Sport trend report recorded the number of running clubs on its platform rising 3.5 times on the year before. For a beginner looking for run clubs in Sydney, that means more groups are forming and more people are looking for one. Here is what is driving the boom, and how to choose a group that suits a newer runner in the Hills District.

What is driving the run club boom

Plenty of people start running on their own and find it hard to keep going. A group gives you a set time, a familiar face and a reason to get out the door on a cold morning. That is the pull of a run club: it turns a training plan into something you do with people.

Strava's report points the same way. It found club-organised events rose 1.5 times on the year before, which means the groups are not only sitting online. They are meeting in person. In its survey, 37% of respondents saw running clubs as a good place to meet people.

What the boom means for a beginner in the Hills District

More groups means more choice. You do not have to fit into the first group you find. You can look at the day, the time, the distance and the feel of each group, and pick the one that suits your week.

Hills Run Club is a free community running club in the Hills District of Sydney, NSW. There is no pressure to be fast, and walkers are welcome. Four things are worth checking before you choose any group:

• Cost: running with Hills Run Club is free. You create a free HRC+ account and register for each run.
• Distance: each run has two options you choose from on the day. The Thursday Morning Run offers 2.5 km or 5 km, and the Tuesday Night Run offers 3 km or 6 km.
• Time: the Thursday Morning Run starts at 6:00am and the Tuesday Night Run starts at 7:00pm.
• Welcome: you should be able to tell, before you go, whether beginners and walkers are welcome. At Hills Run Club, they are.

The two regular runs

Hills Run Club has two regular runs. Both are free, and both have distance options you choose from on the day. One lap is a full run, so you never have to take the longer option to belong.

Thursday mornings finish with coffee and a sweet treat. On Tuesday nights, enter Castle Hill Showground via Doran Drive, the entrance closest to the metro. Take the first left and follow the road to the lit oval, where the group meets at the large shed, with plenty of parking around it.

How to join without the pressure

Joining takes a few minutes. Create a free HRC+ account, then register for the run you want, because every run is registered in HRC+. Check the dates on the runs page.

1. Create a free HRC+ account and register for the run you want.
2. Choose the distance option that feels right for you on the day.
3. Arrive at the meet time, say hello and go at your own pace.

Upcoming runs and where to find us

Upcoming runs include the Thursday Morning Run on 15 October and the Tuesday Night Run on 20 October. Full details are on the runs page, and you can follow the club on Instagram at @hillsrunclubau.

Keep reading

To see why more adults are joining in, read young adults are back at the start line: here is why. For the first morning itself, read how to join a running club (and what your first run is like).

Questions and answers