Feeling the runner’s high: The growing popularity of Winnipeg’s running clubs

Members of the University of Manitoba Run Club are pictured on a run in this undated image. (Diana Prince)

Running clubs are gaining popularity across Winnipeg, turning what is often seen as a solo sport into a community activity.

The groups meet weekly in different parts of the city and welcome runners of all skill levels, from beginners to marathoners.

And there’s certainly no shortage of options—there’s one group that meets every Saturday in Wolseley, another that comes together on Tuesdays at The Forks, and another that congregates twice weekly in Transcona, among many others.

Though the clubs may vary in terms of where they meet and when, what remains consistent is their shared goal of encouraging exercise, building community and getting people outside.

How they got started

Shona Grewar started her group Fair Weather Runners Winnipeg back in May. She said she was part of a run club in Edmonton and wanted to be part of something similar in Winnipeg.

However, when she looked up what the city had to offer, she noticed a lot of running groups were affiliated with local businesses or running stores.

“They seemed like they were already very well-established and had a lot of members already,” she said.

“So, I wanted to build something that felt more accessible, so I decided to start my own.”

Grewar’s group meets weekly at Andrew Currie Park. She described her run club as “low stakes,” with some people walking and others running.

“It’s just a fun way to see people and move and have a low-pressure way to move,” she said.

Diana Prince co-founded the University of Manitoba Run Club with her sister in 2019. She explained their goal was to meet people around their age with a shared love of running.

“One of our big goals and missions in creating this running group was to make it extremely inclusive,” she said.

“We have an Instagram page and we advertise on that page that we are a group that is welcome to runners of all levels and whatever pace you run at is okay with us.”

Prince’s run club meets every Saturday throughout the school year and provides a female-led environment that is welcoming to all.

“I think sometimes for women, in particular, it can feel daunting to go to different types of exercise groups or clubs… So, I think because we’re a female-founded club, we try to be really encouraging to get a lot of female runners out,” she said.

“I think that helps make things feel a little more welcoming from that aspect.”

Growing popularity

In recent years, run clubs have been gaining traction.

Grewar said she sees more and more of these groups popping up, adding she thinks it’s because people are craving community.

“It’s kind of a low-pressure way to just get out and be around people. I think that’s mainly why,” she said.

“That was one of the main drivers for me, was just having more of an excuse to get together other than just catching up with drinks or stuff like that. So, it’s getting to know more people in the community.”

Linda Bateman and Gordon Guenther, cofounders of the Transcona Trail Trekkers, have also noticed an uptick in people joining their club, attributing it to groups’ focus on getting people moving.

“I think that people just really want to get out, and I think that mental health issues are growing and this really helps people with that coping skill,” Bateman said.

“And it really makes people feel like they have a sense of belonging with other people.”

The benefits of run clubs

The growing popularity of run clubs also has to do with their many benefits.

Prince, who recently finished medical school, explained that running is good for cardiovascular health.

“There’s a lot of research that shows the benefits of engaging in regular physical activity,” she said.

“I think the most benefits are seen when you’re engaging in a mix of things like endurance and things that can work on stressing your heart a bit more, doing more cardio and then also mixing in strength training.”

Prince added that run clubs also help get people outside and socializing with their peers.

“It’s one thing to go and exercise on your own, but then when you’re compounding that with the socialization you get from doing it as a group activity, it can make you more motivated to do it regularly,” she said.

Bateman and Guenther added that run clubs also get people off social media, which can improve their mental health, boost self-esteem, and provide a sense of belonging.

“[Running] has a self-fulfilling prophecy. You think you’re getting better and actually you are. You’re feeling happier, you’re feeling more rejuvenated, you sleep better,” Guenther said.

“All of that makes you want to go do more, so you start to build some momentum with that.”

One woman’s story

One Winnipeg woman who has recently come to understand the benefits of running is Olivia Retter.

After Retter’s father died about three months ago, she decided to take up running – something she’d always disliked – as a way to challenge herself.

“One day I just decided to try going for a run and it didn’t feel good, I won’t lie,” she said.

“Then I just started doing a little bit more research into how to get into running and how to properly do it and in those three months I’ve already done the eight [kilometre] at the relay at the Manitoba Marathon.”

Retter said running has helped her through this hard time because it’s given her a positive outlet to channel her grief.

“[My dad] was a very positive person, so he would love that,” she said.

“I cry quite often on runs, but not in a sobbing way. It’s just kind of like, “Wow, this has happened, and this is why I’m doing this”…I found it really cathartic.”

Getting started

For anyone interested in starting their own running journey but who may feel intimidated, Prince suggested finding the running club that works best for you.

“If you can find people that you feel like you click with or if you even have a friend that you know does running and if you can get a buddy to come out with you to a run club, then maybe it doesn’t feel as scary,” she said.

As for those who find running difficult or painful, Retter said she’s been there before. She added that when things are hard, it’s just an opportunity to find what works best for you.

“That’s kind of the beauty of life is figuring out and making them work for you, because if everything were just easy and there were no ups and downs and things just came naturally all the time, life would be pretty boring.”