Run clubs are the new nightclubs, report finds
While dinner and a movie, weekend coffee catch-ups and the occasional big night out all have their place, another space for fostering friendships is on the rise. Millennials and Gen Z are using run clubs, exercise classes and other group activities that facilitate 'making social connections' as the latest place to get together, a new survey shows.
The survey
According to Strava's annual Year In Sport: Trend Report, which this year examined data from more that 135 million people across over 190 countries, there was a 59% increase in running club participation in 2024. The report found that people were using fitness both to get a workout in and to socialise, with 58% of participants saying they made new friends via fitness groups.
Put it down to the pheromones released when getting a sweat on, but people are even skipping the bars and apps, instead using these group sessions to find romantic connections. Of the Gen Z respondents, nearly one in five even went on a date with someone they met through exercise, and were four times more likely to want to meet people through working out than at a bar.
It seems those bonds translated to a better workout, as there was a 40% average increase in activity length (runs, rides, hikes) in groups of over 10 compared to when exercising alone.
More balance, less burnout
In general, the trend of integrating leisure activities – like socialising – with fitness spoke to a larger preference for a more moderate approach to exercise overall. Participants were choosing shorter workouts and rest days during marathon training, eschewing extreme approaches in favour of a more sustainable, long-term view that took their mental health into account. One-fifth of all 'workouts' were under 20 minutes, and 51% of days in the 16 weeks before the race were rest days.
'This year showed that people are taking control of their active lives and moving in a way that works for them,' said Zipporah Allen, chief business officer at Strava. 'The rise of a more relaxed workout routine that’s rooted in social connection proves that working out is no longer about burning out.'
In response to weight training being the fastest-growing sport type among women in 2024, with a 25% increase in uploads, Allen continued: 'We love seeing the data that shows how women are thriving and younger generations are seeking connection through workouts'.
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