The Running Club Boom: What’s Driving It—And How Your Business Can Profit

Last Updated on 12 September, 2025

Running clubs are having a moment—and it’s more than just a passing fitness craze. 

Across the U.S., community-based running is exploding, becoming one of the biggest fitness community trends of the past few years. What started as small, grassroots groups has surged into a mainstream movement, creating new opportunities for businesses to build loyalty, brand visibility, and fresh revenue streams.

So, what’s fueling the running club boom, and can your business get any of that juice?

Running clubs are surging across the U.S.

In its 2024 “Year in Sport” report, Strava, a social fitness platform, highlighted a 59% rise in running club participation globally, with social connection listed as the number one reason people get started. 

While the trend is global, in the U.S. alone, there’s been a 25% surge in running clubs in the past five years, according to the nonprofit Running USA. Moreover, Runner’s World reports that as many as 50 million people in the U.S. now run and jog.

For many of these new runners, it’s not just about the miles. People crave community, and running clubs are replacing dating apps, providing new opportunities for networking, and offering a more affordable way to socialize with friends while promoting wellness.  

Read More: Breaking Down the Digital Fitness Market: Latest Share Insights & Emerging Trends

Business owners can benefit from starting a running club

For business owners, the rise in running clubs isn’t just a fad—it’s a sticky community trend that can drive loyalty and sales. A huge number of businesses can benefit from starting a running club, including:

• Fitness studios & gyms: Extend your services with social runs, interval sessions, or training programs.
• Wellness centers & yoga studios: Pair running with yoga, meditation, or nutrition coaching for a holistic approach.
• Martial arts studios: Add running sessions as a form of cross-training and conditioning.
• Cafés, breweries, and restaurants: Host “run and refresh” or “5K and a pint” events to bring in customers.
• Retail shops: Sporting goods and apparel stores can use run clubs as both marketing and sales funnels.
• Coworking spaces & community centers: Position group runs as networking and wellness perks for members.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg. If your business thrives on community, a running club can amplify engagement, build loyalty, and attract new customers.

How to monetize your running club business

A running club doesn’t just build goodwill—it can be a real source of profit. Here’s an overview of proven ways to monetize running clubs:

1. Offer different membership tiers

Offering multiple levels of access could provide a revenue opportunity. For example, you could have three tiers for your running club: 

• Free: Join weekly runs and receive updates.
• Premium ($10–$25/month): Priority event signups, discounts, and branded swag.
• VIP ($40+/month): Includes coaching, recovery services, or bundled classes.

Specific types of businesses can also tailor their clubs to the services they provide. For example, a yoga studio could offer “Run + Recovery” memberships with weekly runs plus unlimited yoga for runners for a set membership fee.

2. Host branded events & challenges

Your company’s running club could charge entry fees for special events such as holiday runs, themed races, or monthly “fun runs.” Charging $25 to $50 per runner could bring in big profits, especially when you add on merchandise purchases.

Hosting branded events allows even businesses outside of the wellness space to benefit from the running club trend. For example, a brewery could charge $40 for a “Beer & 5K” event, which includes race entry, a pint, and a branded glass.

3. Retail & Product Partnerships

Running clubs are perfect for cross-promotion: Your company could

• Partner with local running stores for commissions.
• Sell gear, apparel, or recovery tools in-house.
• Allow sponsors to demo products at events.

Partnerships are a win-win. For example, your gym could partner with a shoe retailer to offer fittings after Saturday runs, earning affiliate revenue.

4. Coaching & Add-On Services

Some running clubs are coached, while others aren’t. If your company is in the wellness space, you could convert casual runners into clients by offering:

• Form analysis workshops
• Strength training for runners
• One-on-one coaching plans
• Recovery services such as massage, cryo, or stretching

This monetization technique works best for companies that can offer specialized coaching to help runners improve their skills. For example, a wellness center could upsell a $150/month “Run Coaching Plus” package that includes group runs, a training plan, and recovery sessions.

5. Corporate Wellness

Finally, your business could partner with employers to create branded run challenges such as:

• 6-week workplace wellness programs
• Employee team runs
• Co-branded events

Companies across all industries are eager for ways to improve employee health and drive engagement. You can cater to this need, offering a $2,000 corporate package that includes weekly runs, branded shirts, and post-run yoga for staff.

How WellnessLiving helps you build & scale a run club

Running clubs are exciting, but they require organization. The good news is, WellnessLiving offers plenty of tools to help businesses simplify management, communication, and monetization. 

WellnessLiving provides key features that can streamline running club marketing and operations, such as:   

• Scheduling and event management tools: Set up recurring weekly runs, manage waitlists, and organize branded events.
• Client engagement tools: Use marketing features like automated email, SMS, and push notifications to remind members of runs and promote upsells.
• Membership and payments: Membership management tools make it easy to create free, premium, or VIP run club memberships with automated billing.
• Rewards and referrals: Build loyalty by rewarding attendance and referrals through the built-in rewards system.
• Mobile client apps: Achieve gives runners easy access to booking, event calendars, and reward redemption.
• Analytics and reporting: Track participation rates, revenue per member, and conversion of free runners to paying clients.

These are just a few of the many WellnessLiving tools that can help your company jump on the running club trend and find new opportunities for profit while embracing a major fitness trend.

The bottom line

Running clubs aren’t just for elite athletes—they’ve become a cultural phenomenon. For businesses, this offers a unique opportunity to build loyalty, strengthen branding, and generate new revenue.

Whether you’re a gym, wellness center, café, or coworking space, launching a running club can bring your community together while driving sales. With clear monetization strategies and the right tools to manage operations, you can turn a simple weekly run into a profitable, long-term growth engine.

Ready to learn more about how WellnessLiving can help you launch your running club? Book your demo today.