Running together: How Bournemouth’s run clubs are building community
On a cold winters evening in Bournemouth, the wind whistling, groups begin to gather in running shoes and hoodies, greeting strangers with the ease of familiarity. Some have come alone, others are already laughing mid-conversation, but there is no talk of pace or distance. Instead, the focus is on who’s new, how the day’s been and where the post-run café might be.
Across Dorset, social run clubs are becoming spaces where people come not just to move, but to connect. In a place known for its beaches and nightlife, running has slowly become a way to build community – one social mile at a time.
Ringwood Run Club: Credits Jordan Lench
Ringwood Run Club: Credits Jordan Lench
Andrew Mace has consistently been attending Sole Clinic’s social running club for 9 months. Joining the club was as much about the fitness as it was the connection and community. Walking up to the first group run felt nerve wracking.
He said the “people actually talked to each other, and it was good vibes and a good time.” He had already made plans to go to the next run and return.
What began as a single run quickly became part of his weekly routine, with familiar faces and post run conversations turning strangers into friends.
Jordan Lench and Myles Haskell, co-founders of Ringwood Run Club, wanted to create a space where running felt accessible rather than intimidating “especially if you don’t see yourself as a ‘runner’,” they wanted to change that.
Their main goal was to let people have a place where they could improve their fitness but also “gain the mental and social benefits of feeling connected and supported.”
“We hoped the club would become a place where people feel encouraged, motivated and welcome.”
The Community:
The co-founders, of Ringwood Run Club, went from wondering ‘What happens if nobody turns up?’ to having 22 runners at our very first run!
The community response was “incredible.”
It was clear there was a real desire for a community like this in Ringwood, “not a competitive club, but a supportive community where people can show up exactly as they are.”
A lot of adults find it hard to make new friends. “I’ve felt that myself…It is easy to feel isolated,” recalls Jordan Lench. “Having something to look forward to each week” can be powerful.
What began as a weekly run has developed into a social space for many if the runners. People from Ringwood Run Club have openly shared that the weekly runs give structure, helps with stress and helps to maintain a positive focus for the week.
Having a friendly group around you, a chat before or after the run, and knowing you are not doing it alone can make a huge difference.The social run club organises their routes around local cafes and bars, often providing a place to catch up with each other.
Additionally, Sole Clinic’s, Westbourne based run club, has a similar community that has been built on a close-knit community.
Member Grace Ashton, struggled to stay consistent and “dropped off the face of a cliff,” with her running after she completed the London Marathon in 2023.
Joining Sole Clinic helped her not only get back into a consistent running schedule but helped her make new friends and “meet new people through a group fitness setting.”
Why Run Clubs Are Growing:
Ringwood Run Club: Credits Jordan Lench
Ringwood Run Club: Credits Jordan Lench
The rise of social exercise and run clubs reflect a broader shift in terms of how people approach fitness and social connection. Rather than training alone or chasing performance goals, more people are seeking activities that offer routine, interaction and a sense of belonging.
In recent years, running has become one of the most accessible ways to combine movement with conversation, requiring almost no equipment and allowing people to partake at their own pace.
According to Active Dorset regular movement can increases self-confidence, improve your mood, help you relax and lower symptoms of mild depression and anxiety.
For young adults especially, fitness groups have become a vital way to organically connecting and meeting new people outside of a work setting.
In towns like Bournemouth, where many move for work or study, social run clubs offer to build community through shared, low pressure experiences.
As the run comes to an end, conversations slow rather than stop as runners linger to stretch and make plans for the week ahead, grabbing a quick one after the run. What was once a simple jog, has grown beyond that into something greater – a shared routine and connection in a time where people often spend more time online than outside.
In choosing to run together rather than race, Bournemouth’s social running community shows how small, consistent spaces can foster belonging. Here, the miles matter less than the people alongside you, proving that sometimes the most important part of a run is who you share it with.
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