As the adage goes, if the zombie apocalypse comes after leg day, the ‘fittest’ will be the first ones to go. That said, when your odds of survival rest on your ability to head for the hills (and actually make it there), it makes sense to put the leg work in today.
While the treadmill may not be the most enticing way of working up a sweat—not even when it’s a fancy one with one of those “immersive” forest videos—here at Urban List, we could be persuaded to join a pack run for a weekly scarper. And with run clubs being touted as the new Tinder, hearts might also be racing.
Here are 9 of the best run clubs in Auckland to swipe right on.
Run4Auckland
Sundays 9am, Victoria Park, Auckland
Image credit: Run4Auckland | @itsralphlee
We’re not calling favourites, per se, but Run4Auckland does have cookies. Social and lively, clubbers meet at 9am for chit chat, Flight Coffee and the aforementioned cookies—by Bad Baker, to be specific—before being led through a dynamic warm-up and making a dash for it by 9.30am.
The course, which tends to be around the 5-6km mark, changes every week with everybody encouraged to run at a pace that lends itself to conversation. Expect more coffee and cookies post-run, as well as No Ugly Wellness drinks for that sweet, sweet recovery. Register here.
parkrun
Saturdays 8am, Cornwall Park, Auckland
Run yourself ragged (or not) around Cornwall Park in great company with parkrun. The global run club has just celebrated its 20th birthday and, to date, has a massive contingent of over 2,200 parkruns spanning 23 countries.
Starting and ending at Cornwall Park Cafe, you’ll run, walk, or jog 5km through gorgeous woodlands peppered with sheep, then celebrate all that hard mahi with chats over coffee. And if you’re curious about the vibe, know that on May the 4th (be with you) clubbers were galloping around brandishing lightsabers. Say less.
Monday Underground
Mondays 6.40pm, Northcote Tavern, Auckland
Image credit: Monday Underground | Facebook
In a stunning display of Kiwi ingenuity, if you ask where the official start line for the winter iteration of Monday Underground is located, you’ll be directed to a crack in the pavement outside a tavern. (The summer course is slightly more classic with clubbers taking off from a car park.)
The course, which clubbers are encouraged to tackle at an amble or a bound whilst clad in bright colours (for safety but also for vibes, we’re sure) is one to two laps around the locale, finishing at a bus shelter and then the tavern, obviously. Cheers to that.
Auckland Joggers
Tuesdays & Thursdays 5.30pm & Saturdays 7am, Cornwall Park, Auckland
Possibly the most wholesome run club in Tāmaki (which is saying something—run clubs are some of the most adorable clubs, period) Auckland Joggers’ slogan is ‘fitness with friendship’.
Beginning as a “motley bunch of about 30 unfit men” led by former New Zealand Commonwealth Games reps, Arthur Lydiard and Colin Kay, Auckland Joggers has a six-week, 8km-builder beginner programme during the summer months, and an all-levels Saturday meet-up.
261 Fearless
Tuesdays 6am, Howick & Thursdays 10.15, Beachlands, Auckland
Marathons used to exclusively be the realm of men… until Kathrine Switzer, that is. In 1967 she overcame stigma (and attempted removal by an official mid-race) to become the first woman to run the Boston Marathon, creating space for women runners, one step at a time.
261 Fearless, a global women's-only run club, has proudly adopted her bib number and continues to provide women with run support and coaching. There are two active clubs in Tāmaki: Howick on Tuesdays at 6am and Beachlands on Thursdays at 10.15am. There’s a North Shore club too but it’s currently on hold.
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Balance Run Club
Thursdays 6.30pm, Various Locations Around Auckland
Image credit: Balance Run Club | Instagram
Described as a club “for those who like to run and rave”, Balance Run Club stole our attention from the get-go. This crew’s about more than just pounding the pavement with clubbers flexing their leg muscles by making a beeline for a local eatery or bar post-run. Talk about functional fitness. Better still, they’re all about cross-training with clubbers lighting up the dance floors together at concerts and festivals too. Cute.
Just Another Run Club
Saturdays 7.45am, Auckland Domain, Auckland
There’s no mistaking the iconic architecture of Auckland Museum. And don’t get us started on the Auckland Domain which surrounds it. Together, they form one helluva backdrop for Just Another Run Club (formerly known as We Are Movement).
Meeting by the steps of the glorious building itself for a stretch and a chat, each session has 7-8km and 15km options, both of which conveniently end at Billy Cafe. Prefer your jaunts with a dash of mystery? These folks do a monthly one of those, too.
445 Run Club
Friday 4.45am, Ōrākei, Auckland
Image credit: 445 Run Club
If you didn’t wince at the 4.45am meet time, 445 Run Club might just be your perfect pack. With the tagline “Every Friday. No Excuses.” this club’s commitment to the cause is unwavering and sometimes that’s exactly what’s needed to get the mahi done. With chapters dotted across the world, the Tāmaki crew meet at Akarana Eatery for a 40-minute run, walk or jog chased by coffee, ocean swims, gratitude and real chats. Love that.
MetroRun
Sundays 8am, various locations & Tuesdays & Thursdays 6.30am, Auckland Domain, Auckland
Back in 2013, it wasn’t uncommon to see blue banners emblazoned with the word ‘TempoFit’. Everybody who was anybody who considered themselves a Serious Runner was a convert. But then the owner moved to Taranaki in 2017 and a void opened up in Auckland. Enter: MetroRun. Offering free Sunday pace-led group runs from 5-30km+ and free speed and endurance-focused group training during the week, MetroRun has become a top-tier run club in its own right.
Looking for more things to do in Auckland? Check out:
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Main image: Run4Auckland | @leila__ann
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