The Rise And Whys of Running Clubs in Hong Kong
Let’s agree that the sight of runners has become a familiar fixture. Their steady pace reflects a burgeoning trend that has captivated the city’s attention. As we pass by, we might question what drives these individuals. How far do they run? What routes do they take? Are they energized or exhausted? Do they genuinely want to run? Or perhaps, while doom-scrolling through Instagram, we stumble upon reels of people joining running clubs, waking up at dawn for a 10km run, or turning to running to connect in a world where dating apps have fallen short.
A juxtaposition of the before and after Midnight Runners members arrive at Hong Kong Observation Wheel on Thursday. Media: Celine Seo
Either way, globally, running is experiencing a renaissance. Strava, the popular fitness app, recently reported that running is the most frequently uploaded sport on its platform, with a staggering 120 million registered users by April. This surge reflects an undeniable rise in community engagement with fitness. On the commercial front, Hoka, the popular running shoe brand, announced an impressive 58.5% year-on-year revenue increase, totaling $521 million- an indication of the booming demand for running gear. As cities worldwide embrace running as a pathway to health and wellness, Hong Kong is no exception in joining in this excitement.
Running for Hong Kong is not necessarily a ‘new’ thing. It boasts a rich history of fitness culture, particularly through its running clubs. With over 100 running clubs in the city, the Hong Kong Ladies Road Runners Club, established in 1979, laid the groundwork for a thriving community.
Timeline of the establishment of 5 running clubs in Hong Kong. Timeline: Celine Seo
According to the founder of Buffalo Running Co. Hong Kong Harry Loasby, the bloom in the running scene was seen post-COVID. “Our kids team started in 2019, and after a year or two, we expanded to adults because there’s been a massive boom in running everywhere, actually, not just Hong Kong, like the whole globe. Especially during COVID, everyone seems to have gotten into running.”
The isolation both physically and socially has intensified individuals’ desire to engage in movement, connect with others, and participate in communal activities.
Fitness and Health on the Run: Get moving with the club
For many, the primary draw of running clubs isn’t just about hitting the pavement—it’s about the health perks that come with it.
Take 24-year-old analyst Krishna Kothandaraman, for example. Joining the DOP training club has taken his running game to new heights. “Before joining, I knew the founders of the club were experienced personal trainers, they’ve done it for 15 years, and people who show up are very serious about running,” said Kothandaraman. “I started running and doing training every day. I would go to work, go home, go on a run, and I would follow a plan. As I started doing more and more, I started feeling more accomplished.”
Running isn’t just about the rush of dopamine; it also boosts endocannabinoids in the bloodstream. This increase contributes to mood enhancement, improved focus, and a more seamless ability to switch tasks, as noted by Dr. David J. Linden in his article, “The Truth Behind ‘Runner’s High’ and Other Mental Benefits of Running” at Johns Hopkins Medicine.
An infographic showing the benefits of running. Source: Johns Hopkins Medicine
Joining a running club is more than just clocking miles – a healthier lifestyle comes with it. “When you’re around people with good habits, such as those who really push themselves on the run, who care about consistency, who care about eating well…All of it starts to rub off onto you,” said Kothandaraman.
Yet, the focus on consistency and improvement can sometimes make running clubs feel a bit intimidating. Fortunately, many clubs are on a mission to make running more welcoming and inclusive.
“We have people who are literally just trying to get into running. And that is absolutely okay. The only prerequisite to join our club is that you want to get better and you want to be a part of something,”
Runners at Buffalo Running Co. warm up before their training on November 21st. Photo: Abby LI
Runners at Buffalo Running Co. warm up before their training on November 21st. Photo: Abby LI
The surge in the running scene reflects not only a growing number of runners in the city but also a more diverse range of ages and backgrounds among participants. As the founder of She Runs Collective, a running group dedicated to women, Amy George aims to build an accessible club in which every woman can come along. There are girls as young as 16 years old in the group, joining for the safe space they provide; there are also members’ moms who are in their 50s and 60s. The group offers various distance options—2K, 4K, 6K, and even walking groups—so there’s something for everyone.
Picking up any sport is a long-term journey of building habits and higher physical tolerance, but running clubs provide the perfect platform to connect with like-minded individuals and get professional support along the way.
“Sports and fitness is quite significant for a person’s life learning in general. Discipline is just one thing, and there are takeaways, such as personal growth, ups and downs, highs and lows, whether it be an individual sport or a team sport. In the process, you get to know about yourself and you get to learn about what you want to do,” said Vien Tsang, a practitioner in the sports industry and floorball player.
Fun on the Run: Socializing in the club
Running clubs have been around pre-pandemic, but during and post-pandemic time was when they gained momentum as spaces dedicated to staying active – both physically and socially.
Enter Midnight Runners, a social running club with the taglines “never just running” and “fun over fitness”. The club began in London in 2015 with a couple of friends who wanted to go on a late run after work and has since launched branches in cities all over the world.
A video showing Midnight Runners BootCamp Run on Thursday, November 21st. Video: Abby Li
“When I first joined, there were only 40 – 50 active members, and now we’re at 200 with a hard cap. What really made the great leap in numbers was Covid, and with social distancing going on, running clubs became a way to socialize,” says Winson Chan, a 21-year-old medical student at HKU and Hong Kong Midnight Runners captain. For Chan, his journey began just like that and he found himself in a space with “good vibes and good people.”
“I’ve made a lot of good friends here, and have recently seen some married as well. They met right here, and dated for two and a half years before getting married,”
Finding like-minded people who might possibly get you out of Singledom and into married bliss? Or alternatively, making more friends and not having to wrack your brain for hangout ideas? Now, that’s a motivating factor, beyond the base health benefits of running a club.
“Aside from the health and fitness aspect, peer connections, belongingness, and dating all serve as strong social motivations,” said social psychology expert Dr. Devin Zaixuan Zhang. “People also join to get more information about the activities, such as equipment, competitions, and news about current practices.” Even if you don’t walk away from a running club with friends for life, there’s a sense of understanding that comes from getting together to run, and Zhang believes the advantage of peers “forces you to be present.”
This shared experience of running together is something Chan has noted as a defining factor for social connections, “Running gets you endorphins, and at the end, you just feel like a team. There’s a sense of camaraderie and things could bloom from that.”
Kayla Lee, a 20-year-old college student and three-time attendee of Midnight Runners, thought it was intimidating at first but the upbeat energy kept her going. “Imagine you, more than 100 people ready to run, five captains leading the run and carrying speakers that blast party music, it’s just a big party running through Hong Kong. What’s not to love?”
“Just the act of showing up to the running club on Sunday morning makes you all decent friends. You look at each other like ‘why the hell are we out here at 8:00 am running through 27-28 degrees’ when it’s so hot,”
When running clubs put you through the paces, you might think, where and how do I begin socializing? Between catching your breath and keeping up with the pack, is there time for friendships to bloom?
The answer lies in the beginning, cooldowns midway, and the end, or as Chan explains, Midnight Runners has a dedicated mingling routine. “We start with introducing ourselves, and ice breakers such as talking to a new person for two to three minutes. Then, at the three stops along the route where the captains lead HIIT and fitness exercises, we’ll ask you to partner with each other, and find someone new every time.”
“I was quite behind when we got to the second group workout spot, and I was just standing there trying to catch my breath,” shares Jolene Gong, a 20-year-old college student who joined Midnight Runners for fun. “This guy who worked in Finance just came up to me and started talking super casually and saying some encouraging words, and I thought wow this is a very inclusive and social activity.”
Runners partner up to perform core exercises at Central Pier No. 9 on November 21st. Photo: Abby Li
Runners partner up to perform core exercises at Central Pier No. 9 on November 21st. Photo: Abby Li
With a focus on encouraging social connections and peer support, the true social sans-running moment for Midnight Runners comes in at the end where everyone is fired up from the runner’s high.
“When we’re done, we go to the AIA grounds where there’s a kiosk for people to grab drinks and food. We hang out for a bit until 10 or 11. Sometimes we go to the Pier 3 bars, which makes it a longer night. We have a couple of bears, hang out, chat, and catch up for a bit, and that’s how I entered the family” said Chan.
For the club that Kothandaraman goes to, the social sessions are very alike. “People show up regularly every week. They go drinking on a Saturday night and they go to sleep and show up ready to run tomorrow.”
It’s not just typical socializing either, where you come in with a preconceived notion of who you want to connect with. The unexpected element, and arguably something that makes it special, is the wide range of people you get to meet, of varying ages, careers, abilities, and more.
For intermingling between strangers in a run club, Zhang believes “competency and skill play a dominant role in social connection”, explaining that it can be observed when someone “is a better runner and connections are made by wanting to seek out more information.”
David Consti, the co-city lead for Midnight Runners is a firm believer of the intermingling of runners from different age groups. “We have quite a mix of ages, and you get valuable knowledge from just running and sharing. I’ve talked to younger people before and I wish I could have gotten some guidance back then.”
Midnight Runners Hong Kong's demographic distribution. Infographic: Yu Wing Chan
Running clubs are great grounds to meet people, but factors such as social anxiety, and the idea of not being able to keep up with the big group could get in the way of that final leap off the fence. Elise Lam, a 21-year-old college student and solo runner, admitted that her main reasons for avoiding running clubs are “the expectations, social pressure and not being able to keep up.”
Consti shared that the running club makes it so it’s open to people of different abilities. “We have three stops on the route, and these are for everyone to group up and for exercise workouts. So, every seven to 10 minutes, even if you’re slower and your friend is faster, you can all catch up.”
As someone who came to Midnight Runners solo, Chan maintains that the best way to get past that hesitancy, is to just go. “For social run clubs like us, it’s all about trying to get better and at the same time you make friends. The talking, the social lubricant, the prowess, you will get better and it will come eventually,” he said, pointing out that it’s natural to be fearful of rejection in a new club. “But go out, enjoy yourself, workout, and don’t worry so much. It’s a great supportive community.
Build it up on the Run: Community in the club(s)
Hong Kong’s social-running clubs epitomize community spirit, fostering connections beyond running routines. Consti also emphasizes the importance of this sense of belonging, stating, “I’ve never found another community that was global like Midnight Runners.” When visitors from the Tokyo branch join their runs, it feels like “cousins visiting,” highlighting the club’s strong international ties.
The commitment to inclusivity is further echoed by Loasby, the founder of Running Club Buffco, who shares, “We wanted to create this community and sense of belonging that you are from this club or this community regardless of your ethnic background, your passports or your residency or who says you’re from where or where you can live and not live.” This welcoming approach ensures that everyone feels at home, whether they are seasoned runners or just starting out. “On the other end of the spectrum, we have people who are literally just trying to get into running. And that is absolutely okay. The only prerequisite to join our club is that you want to get better and you want to be a part of something.”
The community aspect is evident in the regular attendance of dedicated members.
“A lot of people come and go, but there are core regulars that come every week. The biggest reward is seeing someone come, and seeing them come back 10 times, 20 times,”
Runners chit-hat with each other before the run at The Hong Kong Observation Wheel on Thursday. Photo: Abby Li
Runners chit-hat with each other before the run at The Hong Kong Observation Wheel on Thursday. Photo: Abby Li
These social-running clubs are not just about logging miles; they are vibrant communities where fitness and friendship intertwine. This camaraderie transforms each run into a celebration of health and connection. In a world that often feels disconnected, these clubs offer a refreshing blend of exercise and socialization, creating an environment that leaves members not only fitter but also deeply connected.
An infographic showing the healthiest cities in the world. Infographic: Yu Wing Chan
As Hong Kong thrives in its unique cultural landscape, it can also draw inspiration from cities like Amsterdam, Seoul, Sydney, Vancouver, and Singapore, which have successfully integrated active living into their urban environments. Amsterdam, known for its extensive cycling culture, boasts over 500 kilometers of bike lanes, promoting an active lifestyle with residents averaging 12.8 hours of physical activity weekly. Seoul’s Songpa District enhances active living through a 21-kilometer walking trail and bike path, encouraging outdoor exercise. Sydney offers outdoor enthusiasts stunning coastal walks and beach workouts, while Vancouver combines beautiful natural surroundings with a health-conscious culinary scene, fostering activities like skiing and trail running. Singapore exemplifies a fitness-friendly environment with modern infrastructure and green spaces that promote running and cycling.
With its thriving running community, Hong Kong is well-positioned to continue this journey, embracing the spirit of inclusivity and connection. Whether you're lacing up for a casual jog or participating in a spirited event, each step in Hong Kong’s fitness running clubs fosters personal growth and builds lasting friendships. This ensures a vibrant future for all its residents, contributing to a healthier, more connected city.
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