Running isn’t a new sport that just landed on the Metro Manila scene. Over the years, Manileños have grown familiar with fun runs, races, and the occasional sporty brand activation event. But lately, running has taken on a new life in the city. Just walking around the metro or scrolling through social media, you’ve likely noticed that run clubs are popping up everywhere.
While it may feel like these groups have formed overnight, they’ve actually been around for a while. Miguel Aldeguer, co-founder of EZ Run Club (EZRC), helped establish Metro Manila’s first independent running club. He and a few friends started doing casual Thursday runs in Pasig City during the pandemic in 2022, after the government lifted restrictions on outdoor activities. That same year, he teamed up with co-founder Dean Cunanan to formally launch the club.
“We saw the same vision for community running that we wanted to start here in the Philippines,” Aldeguer says. Soon, their running group grew from around 14 runners per session to up to 200. Today, multiple clubs are running across the metropolis. Independent local running communities now exist in Manila, Makati, Quezon City, and Alabang.
“We kind of gave the blueprint of how an independent running community should be or could be,” says Aldeguer. “I know a couple of people who started their own running community after joining EZRC in our early days. It’s just so nice to see different communities popping up left and right around Metro Manila, because it makes running more accessible. ”
This run club boom might all be a bit overwhelming for beginner runners or for runners looking to join a community for the first time. Here are the basics you need to know:
What exactly is a run club?
Some people see it simply as a workout group, others go as far as to say that it’s a fitness “cult.” But in reality, a run club is best understood as a community. Beyond just running together, these clubs provide a support system that helps you pursue not only your fitness goals but also offers social, mental, and even emotional support.
Aldeguer says “having that accountability and that sense of camaraderie between people” is what makes a run club special. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a high-profile individual or, you know, just a regular person. Everyone gets connected through running.”
Why is joining a run club good for beginners?
All runners have to start somewhere, and a run club might just be the place. Aside from the social element, running clubs are great for guidance. This is especially true since many clubs are run by fitness professionals. They can help coach beginners in terms of their running form, pacing, building endurance, and preventing injury. Aside from regular runs, coaches can also help runners with speed workouts, hill repeats, strengthening exercises, and more. Veteran members, meanwhile, can provide newer members with tips when it comes to training, races, gear, and more.
Run clubs are also a great way to familiarize yourself with running routes around the city. Sometimes, mapping out a safe route for yourself can be a bit intimidating or might prove to be a challenge if you don’t really know the roads well. With a club, you can explore tried-and-tested paths with a group, making it easier and more enjoyable to run with confidence and company.
What run clubs are in my area?
If you’re looking to join a club, it’s always a good idea to choose one based near where you live or work, which will make it easier for you to join regularly. Here are some of the popular groups around Metro Manila:
EZ Run Club
- Instagram: @ezrunrunclub, @ezrc.launion
- Area: Pasig City (and now also La Union)
- As you can probably tell from its name, EZRC is meant to be inclusive, catering to runners of all backgrounds and levels. “That’s why we came up with the tagline, ‘All paces and faces,’ because we really want to cater to every kind of runner,” says Aldeguer. He also offers coaching sessions to interested club members.
- Run Schedule: “Kape at Takbuhan” every Sunday at 5:30 a.m.
- Meet-up Place: 1C Coffee in Kapitolyo
Red Light Run Club
- Instagram: @redlightrc
- Area: Poblacion, Makati
- The Red Light Run Club draws a vibrant, artsy crowd—which makes a lot of sense, given its home base in the hip neighborhood. Aside from runs for beginner to intermediate runners, they also have trail runs for those who want to go on outdoor excursions, as well as a boulder club for climbers.
- Run Schedule: Details on Telegram
- Meet-up Place: Details on Telegram
5AM Gang Run Club
- Instagram: @5amgangrunclub
- Area: Alabang, Makati, Bonifacio Global City, Quezon City
- One of the fastest-growing clubs out there, the 5am Gang Run Club launched in February 2024 and now has over 27,000 members on Facebook. This rapid growth is likely due to the club’s inclusive approach to location, offering weekly runs in various spots across Metro Manila.
- Run Schedule: Details on Instagram
- Meet-up Place: Details on Instagram
RWP Run Club
- Instagram: @rwprunclub
- Area: Details on Instagram
- “RWP” stands for “Run with Pat,” named after the club’s founder, triathlete and running coach Patrick Rubin. Initially focused on Rubin coaching runners and guiding them on their journeys, the group has since expanded to include a roster of other excellent coaches.
- Run Schedule: Details on Instagram
- Meet-up Place: Details on Instagram
Rockwell Run Club
- Instagram: @rockwellrunclub
- Area: Rockwell, Makati
- One of the most popular run clubs in Manila—and on social media—this Makati-based club attracts people from different backgrounds, including expats in the area. The club’s motto is pretty straightforward: “JUST SHOW UP.” To join, all you need to do is just that—no registration necessary.
- Run Schedule: Mondays and Wednesdays at 6 p.m., Tuesdays at 6 a.m, track workouts on Fridays at 5:30 a.m., Sundays at 4:15 a.m., 5 a.m., and 6 a.m. (See Instagram for details and updates)
- Meet-up Place: Mondays and Wednesdays at Ayala Triangle, Tuesdays outside Marks & Spencer Power Plant Mall, Fridays at the University of Makati Track, Sundays depending your group (See Instagram for details and updates)
Afterparty Run Club
- Instagram: @afterpartyrunclub
- Area: Katipunan, Quezon City
- Most of Afterparty Run Club’s members are college students, so this club’s for the young runners in the area. It’s a community that promotes health and fitness for the youth, and even has a bit of friendly competition with a weekly Strava leaderboard for its members.
- Run Schedule: Tuesdays at 5:00 p.m.
- Meet-Up Place: Details on Instagram
UP Night Runners
- Facebook Group: (OFFICIAL) UPNR
- Area: Diliman, Quezon City
- You’ll find a number of people on night shift duty in this club. If you live or work within or near the neighborhood and need to find time to run even with a weird schedule, then this might just be the run club for you!
- Run Schedule: Join their Facebook group for details
- Meet-up Place: Join their Facebook group for details
Run Soleus Club
- Instagram: @runsoleus_club
- Area: Marikina City
- Run Soleus places a strong emphasis on training to prevent injury, hence the word “soleus” in the name. It refers to a key calf muscle essential for running, walking, and overall movement. Coach and professor Yanyan Morrondoz guides members of all levels, and also specializes in helping them gear up for marathons.
- Run Schedule: Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 6:30 a.m.
- Meet-up Place: Details on Instagram
It’s Southerday Run Club
- Instagram: @southerday.rc
- Area: BF Resort, Las Piñas City
- If you live in the South, then look no further. This relatively new run club caters to runners of different levels with easy runs, long runs, speed workouts, and even a full-fledged Progressive Beginners Program designed to teach newcomers the basics of running and help them build endurance.
- Run Schedule: Details on Instagram
- Meet-up Place: Details on Instagram
Are run clubs the new dating apps?
Of course, one of the biggest reasons why run clubs have become the talk of the town is their growing reputation as an alternative to dating apps. Many people are tired of looking for a match online and prefer to meet new people more organically—in short, IRL. That said, running clubs offer a great way to expand your social circle and make new connections.
Aldeguer sees being able to find a significant other in a run club as a happy coincidence, though it’s not the primary intention of founders like himself. “Of course, there are different intentions when it comes to running clubs,” says Aldeguer. “And there’s nothing wrong with meeting people.” In fact, he’s happy for his co-founder Cunanan who found his girlfriend through EZRC.
“[EZRC’s] core is really for the community, and as long as we provide these experiences or for the people, we collaborate with brands, we collaborate with small businesses, that’s kind of like a job well done for us,” Aldeguer adds. “As long as we fulfill that mission, it’s really to bridge people together through running and connect them.”
So if you’re looking to join a run club to date, then by all means—don’t let anyone stop you. But keep in mind that the community is so much more than just a dating pool. It’s a safe space for all runners, and all those who want to try out running. To some, it’s their barkada, or even chosen family. And while you may start with the goal of finding a significant other, you’ll likely gain so much more along the way.
