Group run schedule
When to Show Up
Tuesday6:45 PM (step workout at Art Museum steps)Wednesday6:45 PM (comfort run)Thursday6:00 AM (Carolyn run from Lloyd Hall)Saturday9:00 AM (trail run)
CommunityFree
Fairmount Running Club
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Fairmount Running Club is a free, community-based running group in Philadelphia's Fairmount and Art Museum areas. Runs are open to all paces and skill levels with no-drop philosophy. The club offers multiple weekly runs including road runs, trail runs, step workouts, and track workouts.
About This Club
Fairmount Running Club is a free, no-membership community group based in Philadelphia's Fairmount and Art Museum neighborhoods, meeting up to four times a week. Their schedule covers a real range, from early-morning trail runs to step workouts on the Art Museum stairs to a midweek comfort run, so there is likely something that fits your schedule and what you are training for. It costs nothing to show up, and no-drop means nobody gets left behind.
Highlights
- Community workouts
- Social events
- Post-run gatherings
- Monthly happy hour
Who It Suits
This club suits runners who want variety built into their weekly routine, including people who are just getting started and people working on speed or trail fitness side by side. If you need a highly structured training program with assigned pace groups and formal coaching, this relaxed, open-pace format may not scratch that itch.
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What a Run With Them Is Like
Depending on the day, you might be covering 3 miles on a Wednesday comfort run, 5 miles on a Tuesday evening after hitting the Art Museum steps, or 8 to 10 miles on trails Saturday morning. Thursday is an early 6:00 AM road run out of Lloyd Hall.
The terrain is genuinely varied, roads, trails, hills, stairs, and track, so different runs will feel very different from each other. The no-drop policy means the group does not fragment and leave slower runners to finish alone.
Distance3 miles, 5 miles, 8 to 10 miles, 60-minute trail run, Varies for workouts
PaceAll paces welcome; no-drop philosophy; nobody runs alone; pace is flexible and workouts are open to all runners regardless of pace
TerrainRoad, Track, Trail, Hills, Stairs
Post-runCoffee after some runs; happy hour on the third Wednesday of every month; water ice in summer; drinks and dinner after Tuesday evening runs
Your First Run
Show up at Eastern State Penitentiary for most runs, though the Thursday run starts from Lloyd Hall and the Tuesday step workout is at the Art Museum steps, so pick the run that fits your week and double-check the specific meeting spot for that day.
When you arrive, you are walking into a group that explicitly holds for everyone, so being the slowest person there is not a problem. Walkers are welcome, and the pace is described as flexible across all workouts. You do not need to sign up, pay, or know anyone before you come.
Something to train for
Upcoming Races in Philadelphia
44 upcoming races in Philadelphia. Having one on the calendar is the easiest way to turn a few group runs into a habit.
Sat, Aug 1, 2026THE FNR 10K - Philly Philadelphia, PAFreeDetails Sat, Aug 8, 2026Philly Mayor's Cup Philadelphia, PAFrom $50Details Sat, Aug 8, 2026Testing Image Gallery Banner Philadelphia, PAPricing TBARegister
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Common Questions About Fairmount Running Club
Do I have to pay or become a member?
No. The club is free and requires no membership. You can just show up.
What if I need to walk or take walk breaks?
Walkers are explicitly welcome. The club says no-drop and nobody runs alone, so walking is not going to be a problem.
Which day should I try first?
Wednesday at 6:45 PM is labeled a comfort run, which is a reasonable entry point if you are not sure what to expect. Saturday at 9:00 AM is a trail run of 60 minutes if you prefer mornings and some off-road running.
Is there anything social, or is it strictly running?
There is a social side. Tuesday evenings typically end with drinks and dinner, the third Wednesday of every month is a happy hour, some runs end with coffee, and in summer they do water ice after runs.
How far will we actually go? Can I bail early if I need to?
Distances range from 3 miles on the shorter runs up to 8 to 10 miles on Saturday trails. The routes run through familiar Fairmount and Art Museum area streets and paths, so you are generally not far from the start if you need to cut it short. They do not publish turn-by-turn routes here, so it is worth asking the group when you arrive.
Where this comes from: Club details come from each club’s own channels (their site, Meetup, Strava and social posts) and are checked by hand. Group runs move, so confirm the meeting spot on the club’s latest post before you head out. Last updated July 2026.