State running club guide
California running spans coastal boardwalks, downtown grids, and foothill trailheads, sometimes all within the same week if you're willing to drive a little. Twelve cities here have organized clubs, from Bay Area fog belts to Southern California canyons, so the routine you build depends heavily on which waterfront, park, or arroyo you happen to live near.
With 76 clubs spread across the state, the real question isn't whether a club exists near you, it's whether it fits the one night you have free, the money you want to spend, and whether you want a hard workout or just company on an easy loop. That's what this page is built to sort out.
Local guide
San Diego's Mission Bay loop and Balboa Park paths sit a world away from San Francisco's Kezar Stadium track and the Marin Headlands across the bridge, and both feel different again from Sacramento's American River Parkway or the Rose Bowl loop in Pasadena. Wherever you land, clubs here tend to build themselves around one specific piece of ground.
Coastal cities like Long Beach, Santa Monica, and San Diego keep things mostly flat and paved along the water, while Oakland's Joaquin Miller trails, Berkeley's Tilden Park fire roads, and the foothill climbs around Monrovia and Temecula give inland and hillside runners steeper, dirtier options in the same state. Sacramento splits the difference with a flat river parkway running for miles beside the water.
Weather does different things in different pockets. Bay Area mornings run cool and foggy, pushing runs earlier or later, while inland spots like Temecula, Riverside, and Sacramento get properly hot in summer, so clubs there lean into early starts. The coast stays mild enough that Long Beach and San Diego groups run comfortably close to year round.
What they run on
If you can only get out one night a week, check the day breakdown before anything else. Saturday is the busiest day statewide with 30 clubs running, and Tuesday and Wednesday each have 29. Friday is the quiet night, with only 9 clubs meeting, so a Friday-only schedule narrows your options fast.
Cost splits close to two to one: 48 clubs across the state are free to run with, while 28 charge dues or a membership fee. On top of that, 49 clubs say you don't need to join anything, you can just show up, which matters if you're not ready to commit to a season or an annual fee.
If you walk some of it, 43 clubs say walkers are explicitly welcome, and 67 say they welcome beginners outright, so slower paces are common rather than rare. For off-pavement miles, 20 clubs list trail among their surfaces, and if a post-run hang matters to you, 56 clubs mention some kind of social afterward.
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.
Sacramento, California
Free social running club meeting Wednesdays at Capitol Park and Fridays at Marie's Donuts in Sacramento for early morning workouts. Welcomes all fitness levels with fun, inclusive group runs emphasizing community and motivation.
Monrovia, California
A Snail's Pace Monrovia chapter meets at the A Snail's Pace Running Shop and hosts a social group run on Monday evenings. The approximately 5-mile run welcomes runners and walkers of all paces, with light refreshments and post-run socializing at the shop.
San Diego, California
Adams Run Club hosts weekly 3-5k social fun runs every Friday morning at 7 AM from Bica in Normal Heights, San Diego. Inclusive morning runs with good vibes, local community focus, and post-run coffee.
Los Angeles, California
Angels City Run Club is a community-powered running club in Los Angeles with regular Wednesday evening and Friday morning runs. Wednesday runs meet at Angels Flight Railway in downtown Los Angeles at 7 p.m., while Friday runs depart from a Starbucks in Culver City at 6:30 a.m.
Sacramento, California
Arete Women's Running Club is a nationwide community for experienced women runners of any pace seeking structure, speedwork, long runs, and social events. Sacramento chapter meets frequently with local leaders guiding workouts and races.
Berkeley, California
Berkeley Running Club is a free, inclusive community group with 4,455 members organizing regular Tuesday runs at Berkeley Marina (mornings at 7:00 AM and 6:30 AM earlybirds) and Tilden Park (evenings at 6:00 PM beginner trail and 6:30 PM main runs). Distances range from 2 to 8 miles on roads and 5 to 10 miles on trails, with groups splitting by pace and distance.
San Diego, California
Birch Road Run Club is a community-focused social run club in Chula Vista, offering weekly runs on Mondays evenings and Saturdays mornings starting at Otay Ranch Town Center. Inclusive for various paces, participates in local races like San Diego Beach & Bay Half and Seaport Village 5K.
San Diego, California
Black Men Run San Diego promotes health among Black men with weekly Thursday 6-mile runs at Liberty Station and rotating Saturday 3-mile runs. Open to all abilities, focuses on fitness culture, monthly unity runs with Black Girls Run.
Sacramento, California
Sacramento's oldest and largest running club since 1974, welcoming all levels with structured workouts on Tue/Thu speed/tempo, Sat/Sun long runs on roads/trails near American River Parkway. Beginner-friendly, family memberships available.
Sacramento, California
Cap Tappers is Sacramento's fun Monday night shakeout run club at Capitol Beer and Taproom. Meet at 6:30pm for 1-3 mile runs or walks, followed by $5 beer specials and social time. All paces welcome, making Mondays enjoyable.
San Diego, California
Carlsbad Run Club offers coastal 5K runs every Wednesday in Carlsbad, part of San Diego's North County running scene. Social-focused group runs welcoming various paces, with potential post-run gatherings at local spots like Road Runner Sports.
San Francisco, California
City Beer Runs hosts supported fun run events starting and ending at San Francisco breweries, with 5K and 10K distance options. Each event includes a post-run social with complimentary beer and raffle.
San Diego, California
Social running club in North County San Diego offering three weekly coastal runs along Hwy 101 in Cardiff and Leucadia. All paces welcome with flexible distances, post-run coffee chats, and inclusive vibe for beginners and social runners.
Sacramento, California
Latino-led run and walk club founded in 2022, centering wellness and voices of people of color. Inclusive for all abilities, meets 3x weekly with flexible distances, fostering community in Sacramento parks.
San Francisco, California
DSE Runners (Dolphin South End Runners) hosts low-cost races nearly every weekend of the year at scenic San Francisco locations including Golden Gate Park, Crissy Field, and Lake Merced. The club welcomes runners and walkers of all ages and abilities, with distances typically ranging from 2 to 6+ miles.
Los Angeles, California
DTLA Running is a free, community-based running club in Downtown Los Angeles established in 2008. The club meets Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings at The Bloc, welcoming runners of all ages and paces with different routes each week.
San Diego, California
Encinitas Run Club hosts welcoming Tuesday evening runs of 3-5 miles along coastal rail trails from Culture Brewing in Encinitas, followed by brewery socials. Monthly trail runs on last Sunday. Inclusive for all paces with strong community vibe.
San Francisco, California
Excelsior Running Club is a long-established PAUSATF-affiliated running club based in San Francisco since 1973. The club organizes three scheduled weekly runs: Tuesday and Friday dawn runs through Golden Gate Park at conversational pace, Wednesday track workouts with structured intervals and tempos at Kezar Stadium, and weekend long runs coordinated via Discord.
San Francisco, California
Fat Boys Run Club is a gender-inclusive social run club in San Francisco with weekly meetups Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings around Golden Gate Park, Haight & Stanyan, Presidio, and Kezar Stadium. The club welcomes all paces and distances, from 2-mile walks to 7-10 mile runs, with a casual, social atmosphere and post-run hangouts.
San Diego, California
Fleet Feet San Diego hosts weekly Wednesday night runs at 6:15pm from their Carmel Valley store, plus Tuesday/Thursday training sessions. Offers inclusive group workouts for 5K to half marathon prep, suitable for beginners to experienced runners seeking structured training.
Los Angeles, California
Founders Running Club :: Los Angeles is the Los Angeles chapter of Founders Running Club, a weekly social running and networking group for entrepreneurs, founders, investors, and startup enthusiasts. Runs meet on Saturdays at 7am from Primo Passo Coffee Co in Santa Monica, followed by coffee and post-run conversations.
San Francisco, California
Founders Running Club is a free weekly social running and networking group meeting Saturdays at Rideout Fountain in Panhandle park. Runs feature conversational pace 5K or 10K options with pace groups, followed by coffee or brunch.
San Francisco, California
Golden Gate Running Club is a long-established San Francisco running club with Sunday morning group runs at Crissy Field and Wednesday evening track workouts at Kezar Stadium. The club emphasizes inclusive, easy-paced running with no-drop format and multiple distance options, plus social gatherings after runs.
Sacramento, California
Golden Valley Harriers is a nonprofit running club in Davis, CA open to all paces and ages, offering speed workouts, tempo runs, and longer runs on roads and paths. Emphasizes injury prevention, camaraderie, and community support with weekly group runs.[1][3]
Los Angeles, California
Good Vibes Track Club is a performance-oriented yet community-focused training group based in South Central Los Angeles, primarily meeting for track sessions at Rancho Cienega Sports Complex with additional tempo and long runs. The club hosts monthly community runs at the Hoxton Hotel in Downtown LA featuring chatty-paced miles and post-run social gatherings.
Los Angeles, California
Keep It Run Hundred is an inclusive, Black-led run club based in Inglewood and Culver City offering free, community-oriented runs on roads. The club welcomes walkers, joggers, and runners of all levels with a strong emphasis on wellness benefits and community support.
Los Angeles, California
LA Craft Runners is a free, all-paces social running club that meets Tuesdays at 7 pm at rotating craft breweries and brewpubs across Los Angeles. The club organizes short runs followed by post-run beers at the host venue.
San Diego, California
La Jolla Track Club hosts weekly track workouts at UCSD Triton Track in La Jolla, San Diego. Offers 4-6 options from beginner to advanced levels every Tuesday at 5:30pm, welcoming new and returning runners for structured sessions.
Santa Monica, California
LA Leggers is a welcoming running and walking community in Santa Monica that has been training runners since 1989. The club meets Saturday mornings year-round with a core season from August through March, offering pace-group training from 2 miles to marathon distance culminating in the LA Marathon.
Los Angeles, California
LA Road Runners is the official 26-week marathon training program for the ASICS Los Angeles Marathon, operated by The McCourt Foundation. The program offers coached pace groups, weekly long runs, and special meetup events across multiple Los Angeles locations including Santa Monica, Griffith Park, and Encino.
Los Angeles, California
Latinos Run LA is the Los Angeles chapter of Latinos Run, a community uplifting the Latino population through fitness and representation. Weekly Wednesday gatherings at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Mall feature a 6:20pm HIIT class followed by a 5K run or 2 mile walk, free to join.
Sacramento, California
Free casual 5K (or 2-mile) run/walk club meeting Wednesdays at 6:30pm at At Ease Brewing Co. in Midtown Sacramento. All levels welcome, varying routes posted on Instagram, $5 post-run pints, community-focused with chill vibes.
Long Beach, California
Long Beach Frontrunners is an LGBTQ+ oriented running and walking club offering three weekly runs on Tuesday evening, Thursday evening, and Saturday morning centered on the Long Beach shoreline bluff. Typical distances range from 3-6 miles with annual dues of $25 and regular post-run social events.
Long Beach, California
Long Beach Run Club is a free, community-oriented running group that meets every Tuesday at 7 PM at the corner of Ocean Boulevard and Coronado Avenue. The club welcomes runners of all skill levels for social runs along the beach path with post-run refreshments at various spots around town.
Long Beach, California
Long Beach Running Club brings runners together for group runs in the Long Beach area, preferably along the beach. Runs average 5 miles but can be shortened or lengthened depending on participant interest. The group focuses on socializing while maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles Running Club is a nonprofit, all-volunteer running club offering year-round structured workouts including Monday evening runs, Wednesday track training, and Saturday long runs across Playa del Rey and Santa Monica. The club serves all levels with multiple pace options and organized race training programs.
Los Angeles, California
Mikkeller Running Club LA is a free, all-levels social run club that meets Monday, Thursday, and Saturday at multiple Los Angeles locations for approximately 5 km runs followed by post-run socializing and beer. All paces and faces are welcome.
San Diego, California
Mikkeller Running Club San Diego meets first Saturday monthly at Mikkeller Brewing Miramar and third Saturday at Little Italy for ~3-mile runs. All paces welcome with strollers and dogs. Post-run beers at the clubhouse.
San Diego, California
Milestone Run Club North Park hosts free weekly Hump Day social runs from the North Park store, offering 3-5 mile routes for all levels. Currently paused until 2026. Inclusive vibe with store discounts for participants.
San Francisco, California
Non-Binary+ Run Club is an identity-based running group in San Francisco that organizes inclusive group runs for trans and non-binary athletes near Golden Gate Park. The club celebrates and uplifts gender-diverse runners through its training community.
San Diego, California
November Project San Diego delivers high-energy free workouts blending running and bodyweight exercises at 6:29 AM Mondays (rotating locations) and Wednesdays (fixed at Balboa Park). Emphasizes fun, inclusivity, positive vibes, and community connections in the global fitness movement since 2013.
Oakland, California
Oakland Beer Runners is a casual social beer run club that meets Tuesday evenings at local East Bay breweries for 2-6 mile untimed runs, primarily around Lake Merritt. Runs are followed by post-run drinks and socializing at the starting brewery or bar.
San Diego, California
Ocean Beach Run Group is a casual social running club in San Diego's Ocean Beach neighborhood. Meets Tuesdays evenings and Thursdays mornings at Dog Beach with 30-45 runners. Flexible distances, inclusive paces, beach and neighborhood routes, fostering community and fun.
Temecula, California
Old Town Temecula Run Club is a social, all-levels run club that meets every Wednesday at 6:00 PM from Quail Beer & Wine in Old Town Temecula. The club welcomes runners of all paces and distances in a self-paced, inclusive format.
San Diego, California
Pacific Beach Run Club is a welcoming social running group in San Diego's Pacific Beach, emphasizing community over speed with free weekly 5K runs from Bonita Cove on Wednesdays at 6pm and Saturdays at 8:30am, followed by hangs at local spots.
Pasadena, California
Pasadena Pacers is a free, beginner-friendly running club in Pasadena meeting near the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center with Saturday morning runs, Tuesday and Thursday evening runs, and Sunday trail runs at Griffith Park. The club offers structured training programs for various race distances and welcomes all paces and abilities.
Pasadena, California
Pasadena Run Club is a free, community-oriented run club that meets Wednesday evenings at lululemon Pasadena with 2.5 mile walk and 3 and 5 mile run options. The club also hosts a monthly Sunday morning run from Neighbors and Friends Kitchen in South Pasadena.
Sacramento, California
Sacramento-based RRCA-affiliated running club founded in 1994 for runners of all abilities. Offers track, tempo, long runs, and fun/beer meetups weekly. Competition-oriented, fun-focused group with 60+ members emphasizing performance improvement and racing.
Riverside, California
Riverside Craft Runners is a social run club in Riverside, California that centers runs around breweries. The club meets on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month at 6:45 pm at a rotating location.
San Francisco, California
Run Club SF is a coached, seasonal training program described as a social club with a running problem, offering multiple weekly group runs and workouts centered on Golden Gate Park, Kezar Stadium, and various SF locations aimed at helping beginner and intermediate runners progress to half marathon distance.
San Diego, California
Run Dirty Club is a welcoming South Bay social running group in Chula Vista exploring parks and neighborhoods. Inclusive for all paces with Saturday 7am runs at Sunridge Park and midweek options, fostering community through diverse, fun group runs.
San Diego, California
Run North County is a nonprofit connecting North County San Diego runners with 1-2 daily group runs across Carmel Valley, Carlsbad, Encinitas, San Marcos, Solana Beach, and Vista. Offers 2-8 mile road runs, trails, and training for all levels in a welcoming community.
Temecula, California
Run Temecula is a vibrant running club based in Temecula that welcomes runners of all ages and fitness levels. The club meets every Saturday at 8am, with runs that explore scenic neighborhoods.
Pasadena, California
Run With Us Pasadena organizes free Monday evening group runs from its Pasadena running store, offering 4 and 6 mile routes plus a 2 mile walk for all abilities. On the first Monday of each month, runs depart from the Rose Bowl instead of the store.
Riverside, California
Running Club at UCR is a free, casual, and social running club based at the University of California, Riverside that meets outside the SRC Monday through Friday in the late afternoon for 1-7 mile group runs. The club welcomes all experience levels with multiple mileage and pace groups.
Los Angeles, California
Running Mamis is a Latina-led, women-centered run crew in Boyle Heights / Eastside Los Angeles that meets early Saturday mornings twice a month at Los Angeles State Historic Park. It offers varied distances and paces from short stroller-friendly loops to marathon training long runs in a supportive environment for mothers and women of color.
San Francisco, California
Running Wylder is a woman-owned running lifestyle store and community hub in Noe Valley that hosts free, beginner-friendly group runs including Slow Jam Sundays and regular Thursday evening runs. Routes start from the shop and cover roughly 3-mile flat-ish urban paths at an easy, social pace.
Sacramento, California
Sacfit is Sacramento's largest fun running and walking training group offering half marathon, full marathon, and fitness programs with coached weekly workouts at William Pond Park. Social, inclusive for beginners to advanced, targeting regional races like CIM and Urban Cow.
Sacramento, California
Sacramento Run Club is a diverse, inclusive group welcoming all levels for weekly runs and social events to promote a healthy, fun lifestyle. The club meets Wednesdays at 6:00 PM for 3- and 5-mile runs (led by the SRC team) at Sacramento Running Company, and Saturdays at 8:00 AM for a 3-mile run in collaboration with Miles Due at Temple Coffee - building community and connection beyond just running.
San Diego, California
Non-competitive social running group in Central San Diego for all speeds and abilities. Weekly runs capped at 5k on Wednesdays and weekends, followed by food and drink socials. Varies locations like Mission Bay, Crown Point, South Park.
San Diego, California
San Diego Running (SDR) Meetup Group is a welcoming community for all levels of runners, offering track workouts, trail runs, and social events across San Diego locations. With dedicated organizers, it provides a full calendar of free events to meet running partners.
San Diego, California
San Diego's oldest running club since 1954, supporting distance running and track with coached workouts Tuesdays/Thursdays at SDSU and Saturdays various locations. All levels welcome, experienced coaches, low-cost races, over 750 members.
San Diego, California
Trail running group in San Diego's Mission Trails Regional Park offering weekly runs alternating between Kwaay Paay parking lot and 11499 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. All paces welcome on technical trails, focused on community and trail exploration.
San Diego, California
San Diego Ultra Running Friends (SURF) is a nonprofit supporting trail and ultra runners through training runs, race aid, trail maintenance, and social events. Focuses on diverse community with long-distance group runs across San Diego trails and nearby areas.
San Francisco, California
San Francisco Road Runners Club is a large, established volunteer-led running club founded in 2001 that offers multiple weekly group runs across road, track, and trail terrain with various pace groups. The club runs five days per week (Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) with organized runs in different parts of San Francisco and the surrounding area.
San Diego, California
Latina-led running club for women of color in San Diego, offering inclusive 1-mile and 5k runs every Thursday at 6pm in Balboa Park. Welcomes all paces, walkers, kids, pets, strollers; leads from the back to ensure no one is left behind.
San Diego, California
Seek Beer Run Club meets every Monday at 6pm at Seek Beer Co. in North Park for at-your-own-pace 5K/10K runs on changing routes through the neighborhood, followed by beers and socializing at the dog- and family-friendly brewery taproom.
Sacramento, California
Sloppy Moose Running Club in West Sacramento is a relaxed, all-levels running group built around community, beer, and consistency. They meet every Thursday at 6:30 PM at Bike Dog Brewing Co for a free 3-mile run, welcoming everyone from beginners to ultra marathoners.
After the run, participants can use "Sloppy Tokens" (4 beers for $24 on run nights) so you can enjoy a post-run drink without carrying a wallet. There's also a simple reward system - run five times and you earn a free Sloppy Moose running t-shirt. It's essentially a no-pressure, social running group where the emphasis is just as much on community hangouts as it is on the miles.
San Francisco, California
Slow Runners Club is a San Francisco-based community run group that welcomes all experience levels and paces, with weekly Sunday morning runs from the Panhandle through Golden Gate Park. Most members run between 10 and 15:00 min/mile, and each run includes a warm-up and optional post-run coffee.
San Diego, California
Sunday Runday Club hosts welcoming weekly Sunday morning runs at rotating scenic locations across San Diego, blending running with yoga, supportive community vibes, and post-run social hangs for runners of all levels.
Los Angeles, California
Trail Runners Club is Southern California's oldest trail running club, founded in 1988. It meets every Sunday morning at 7:00 am at rotating trailheads primarily in the Santa Monica Mountains for hilly, non-competitive trail runs typically 8-15 miles with options to go shorter or longer.
San Diego, California
Free community social run club offering scenic 3-5 mile waterfront runs every Tuesday at 6 PM from Waterfront Park in downtown San Diego. All paces welcome with post-run stretching, drinks, and tacos.
San Francisco, California
Unseen Run Club is an inclusive San Francisco run crew that meets primarily in the Mission District and around Golden Gate Park for community-oriented runs of roughly 3-6 miles at all paces. The club welcomes runners of all backgrounds and ability levels with a no-fee, drop-in format.
San Diego, California
Urban Trail Runners SD fosters love for trail running in urban San Diego environments, emphasizing community, nature appreciation, and social good. Weekly Wednesday runs at Morley Field in North Park, with additional weekend events. All paces welcome with inclusive vibe.
Los Angeles, California
Venice Run Club is a free, community-led running club based in Venice with three weekly runs: Tuesday track workouts in Culver City, Wednesday evening runs, and Saturday morning long runs. The club offers multiple distance and pace options for all levels.
San Diego, California
San Diego-based marathon and half-marathon training club offering coached group runs, track sessions, walking options, and seminars. Two seasons yearly with locations across city including Mission Bay and parks. Official pace team for local races.
Something to train for
718 upcoming races across California. A club gives you the training; a date on the calendar gives you the reason to keep turning up.
San Diego has the most, with 26 running clubs, followed by Los Angeles with 13, San Francisco with 12, and Sacramento with 11. Smaller cities like Berkeley, Monrovia, Oakland, and Santa Monica each have exactly one club, so options thin out fast outside the bigger metro areas.
Mostly, yes. Of the clubs across the state, 48 are free to run with, while 28 charge dues or some kind of fee. Separately, 49 clubs say you don't need any membership at all to turn up, so cost and commitment are two different things worth checking before you go.
Five clubs list trail running as their category: Berkeley Running Club in Berkeley, San Diego Trail Runners and San Diego Ultra Running Friends in San Diego, Trail Runners Club in Los Angeles, and Urban Trail Runners SD in San Diego. Beyond these, 20 clubs statewide include trail among their running surfaces.
Weekdays actually dominate: 62 clubs run on a weekday somewhere in the state, compared with 44 on a weekend. Saturday is the single busiest day with 30 clubs, and Friday is the quietest with just 9, so a weeknight run is often easier to find than a Friday one.
Four cities here have exactly one club each: Berkeley (Berkeley Running Club), Monrovia (A Snail's Pace), Oakland (Oakland Beer Runners), and Santa Monica (LA Leggers). If you live in one of these, that club is effectively your only local option unless you're willing to drive to a bigger city nearby.
Unlikely. 67 clubs across the state say they welcome beginners, and 43 explicitly say walkers are welcome too. Only 9 clubs don't specify beginner-friendliness and 33 don't mention walkers either way, which just means they haven't said, not that walkers or beginners aren't welcome there.
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.
