While running is undoubtedly an individual sport — only you can push yourself to put one foot in front of the other — athletes often yield the best results when they come together. From helping each other stay accountable to offering words of encouragement when hitting that mid-marathon mental block, running with a buddy — or many of them — can be motivating and downright fun. Locally, plenty of runners are onto the benefits of a group mentality and participate in weekly running clubs across the region. Here are just a few.
Ann Arbor Running Company
Stop by Ann Arbor Running Company in Kerrytown twice a week for this store’s take on group runs. Every Tuesday evening, participants can join the group for a hour-long hill and track workout. On Saturday morning, opt-in for a longer run with water stations, marked courses, and corrals geared toward every pace level. There’s a $5 drop-in fee for runners who are not members of Run Ann Arbor. Ann Arbor Running Company, 200 N. Fourth Ave., Ann Arbor; 734-997-5223; annarborrunningcompany.com
City Sneakers
The City Sneakers group is open at no cost to runners and walkers in downtown Mount Clemens. The group meets in a new spot in the city every Tuesday evening with upcoming runs taking off from spots like Terry’s Terrace, O’Halloran’s, and Eastside Tavern. Group members have the option of following a two-mile, four-mile, or six-mile route. After the run, participants are encouraged to hang by the week’s venue and enjoy food, drinks, and the company of other runners and walkers. Mount Clemens, visit citysneakersclub.com for weekly location
Detroit Local Run Club
The downtown Detroit location of Lululemon hosts free community classes geared toward exercise enthusiasts throughout the year. This summer and fall, the store is offering a club where participants will get the chance to run alongside Lululemon ambassadors. Run Club will meet every Friday evening at the Lululemon store. Special runs, as well as recovery workshops, yoga classes, and post-run happy hours, will also be held throughout the coming months. Lululemon Downtown Detroit Local, 1459 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-965-0806; lululemon.com
Royal Oak Area Runners Club
For more than 10 years, the Royal Oak Area Runners Club (also known as ROAR) has met up with the goal of bringing local runners together at no cost to its participants. Today, the group meets four times a week, with a range of runs available on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Organizers note that this isn’t your typical group run — sometimes participants partner up while running, sometimes they go solo — but ROAR still makes time for its community with food outings and the always-important coffee run. Downtown Royal Oak, visit meetup.com/ROARunners for locations
RunDetroit
A staple of the Detroit running scene, this group meets at the RunDetroit store in Midtown every Saturday morning throughout the year with minimal exceptions — the day of the Detroit Free Press marathon is appropriately one of them. Various takes on three-mile, six-mile, and 10-mile routes are available, so participants can get in on the action at any skill level. A weekly evening track run is also available with workouts geared toward marathoners. Run Detroit; 441 W. Canfield St., Detroit; 313-638-2831; run-detroit.com
From The Archive: The Positive and Negative Health Effects of Long-Distance Running
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