State running club guide
All of the running clubs we know of in Arizona are in Phoenix, which fits a city where group running is built around canal paths, desert trailheads, and the breweries waiting at the end of them.
The real decision here isn't really club versus club, it's whether you want your evening to end on a mountain trail or at a taproom table, and which night you can actually make. Nobody is going to make you run alone on your first time out either, since every club here says it welcomes beginners.
Local guide
Group runs cluster along the canal system and the trailheads that ring the valley: the Grand Canalscape through central Phoenix, the Scottsdale Greenbelt along Indian Bend Wash, and the packed gravel of Papago Park and South Mountain when someone wants dirt instead of concrete.
The social half of a run matters as much as the mileage, and that's why so many routes end at a brewery or taproom, whether that's along McDowell Road in central Phoenix or near the Greenbelt in Scottsdale and Gilbert.
Heat runs the calendar here: from May through September, runs shift to early mornings or after-dark starts along lit paths like Tempe Town Lake, while October through April is when daytime miles actually feel good. Trail groups lean on the McDowell and South Mountain preserves for long flat desert stretches or steeper climbs, depending on what kind of night you're after.
What they run on
If Monday is your night, you've got the most to pick from, three clubs meet then, while Saturday has just one option if weekends are all you can manage. Cost is close to a non-issue: six of the seven are free to show up to, and only one runs as a paid program you'd need to register for ahead of time.
If you need to walk part of it, six clubs say walkers are welcome, so you won't be the only one slowing down, though it's worth checking pace groups before you go if that's a real concern. Want dirt instead of pavement, two of the seven are built around trail terrain while the rest stick to roads, which narrows things fast if a sunset desert run is what you're after.
Narrow it down
Compare clubs
Each profile includes the practical details runners need: when to go, where to meet, what pace to expect, and whether the club is a good first group run.
Phoenix, Arizona
Free weekly group trail runs every Wednesday evening at rotating mountain parks around Phoenix valley. Pace groups: Fun (3.5mi), Mid (4-4.5mi), Fast (5.5-7mi). All abilities welcome, ~1hr duration, social afterward. Join via Facebook for locations.
Phoenix, Arizona
Mikkeller Running Club Phoenix offers fun group runs followed by beers at breweries. Meets Mondays at Chupacabra Taproom in Mesa and midweek at Phoenix Beer Overlooking Lakeside in Scottsdale. Inclusive for all paces, emphasizing community and post-run happy hour.
Phoenix, Arizona
PHX Run Club is a welcoming Phoenix running community offering free weekly group runs of 3-5 miles at multiple locations including Downtown Phoenix and Tempe, all paces welcome, with optional paid membership for exclusive perks and events.
Phoenix, Arizona
Sole Sports Group Runs are free weekly community runs hosted by Sole Sports running stores in Phoenix metro areas including Tempe, Scottsdale, Arcadia, Phoenix, and Gilbert. Meets Mondays and Thursdays at 6:30 PM, welcoming all paces with post-run store gatherings.
Phoenix, Arizona
Free private running club in Surprise, AZ since 2007 with 500+ members. Encourages runners and walkers of all ages and abilities for fitness, friends, and fun on trails and roads. Non-competitive social group.
Phoenix, Arizona
USA FIT Phoenix is a marathon and half-marathon training program for average people, welcoming runners and walkers from beginners to experienced. Focuses on attainable results through structured training with coaches.
Phoenix, Arizona
Valley Runners Run Club, established 2019 in Central Phoenix, hosts free weekly Thursday 6:30 PM 3-4 mile group runs alternating between Fate Brewing Company and The Joy Lush Club. All paces welcome, inclusive for beginners/walkers, with post-run socials and occasional special events.
Something to train for
125 upcoming races across Arizona. A club gives you the training; a date on the calendar gives you the reason to keep turning up.
Six of the seven Phoenix clubs are free to run with:
The exception is USA FIT Phoenix, which runs as a paid training program for half-marathon and marathon distances rather than a drop-in group.
Two clubs are built around trail terrain. Aravaipa Group Runs meets Wednesday evenings around sunset with three pace groups from easygoing to fast, and Surprise Running Club covers both road and trail on Tuesdays out of a parking lot near Spooner.
Six of the seven Phoenix clubs say walkers are welcome. PHX Run Club is the one that doesn't specify either way about walkers, so if that matters to you, it's worth asking before you show up.
Only one of the seven Phoenix clubs meets on a weekend, with a Saturday run at a variable time. The other six are spread across Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Six of the seven Phoenix clubs mention a post-run social, usually at the brewery, taproom, or shop where the run starts. USA FIT Phoenix, structured as a training program, doesn't mention a social component.
No. Six of the seven Phoenix clubs require no membership at all, so you can just turn up. Only one requires signing up for a paid program in advance.
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.
