Words: Amelia Cousins
Part fitness, part friendship, part post-run coffee (or pint), they’ve become the new way to sweat and socialise. No longer just for “serious runners,” they’ve opened up into communities where pace matters less than participation.
Jersey’s no exception. From waterfront loops to cliff paths, the island now has its own buzzing run club scene, drawing in everyone from couch-to-5k first-timers to sub-three-hour marathoners. Beginners worry about keeping up or fitting in; seasoned runners want to know about routes, structure, and PB potential.
I had my own questions too. Pilates had been my routine, with the occasional shaky treadmill 5k. But moving back to Jersey in May left me facing the roads, nerves and all, and in need of structure, motivation, and maybe a community. So, in the name of cardio, curiosity, and a cheaper hobby than Pilates, I signed up for four of Jersey’s run clubs.
Wolf Pack
Wolf Pack is less a club, more a family. The ethos is simple: a safe space where running is about connection, not competition. Wednesday evenings bring interval sessions at the Freedom Tree, while Thursdays are a casual morning run from Trenton Square that ends with coffee. Everything is measured in time, not distance, so there’s no pressure to chase numbers. Add in monthly socials -padel, volleyball, darts, pétanque – and you have a crew that values people as much as pace.
The Rundown
When: Wednesdays (6 PM intervals), Thursdays (7 AM 30-min run + coffee)
Where: Freedom Tree & Trenton Square
Distance: Time-based
Pace: 5:00/km to 8:00/km, plus walk/jog options
Vibe: Friendly, sociable, inclusive
Training benefit: Builds consistency and confidence
My Take
I joined Wolf Pack on a Thursday morning, with 20–30 runners buzzing before sunrise. The loop along the marina and piers was pre-set on Strava, so no one had to think about directions. Scott, the organiser, ran at the back to keep the group together, setting a relaxed, welcoming tone. Groups formed naturally, conversations carried the miles, and the whole thing felt more like a catch-up than training. It’s the kind of run that keeps your legs moving without feeling like “work.”
Want to join?
Visit wolfpackjsy.com or find them on Instagram at @wolfpackjsy
Jersey Run Club
Jersey Run Club brings structure backed by credentials. Free to join and run by UK Athletics qualified coaches, sessions have a professional edge without being intimidating. Mondays are for intervals at the Freedom Tree, or hill reps up Westmount, or beach sessions in summer. Weekends are looser, with members meeting for unofficial long runs or trails. The membership is diverse, from Couch to 5K graduates to marathoners, all encouraged to push themselves at their own level.
The Rundown
When: Mondays (6 PM intervals), informal weekend runs
Where: Freedom Tree in winter, beaches & Westmount in summer
Distance: Around 40 minutes including warm-up and cool-down
Pace: Couch to 5K runners to seasoned marathoners
Vibe: Structured but welcoming
Training benefit: Speed and stamina
My Take
I dropped into their Monday interval session, where about 20 runners gathered with one goal: work hard. The coaches struck a balance of encouragement and intensity, leading us through two minutes at 80% effort, two minutes’ rest, repeated in a closed loop so no one slipped behind. The effort was tough but flexible, with rest meaning anything from walking to jogging, and the mix of marathoners and beginners made it clear everyone belonged. Conversation took a back seat mid-rep, but before and after, the group was warm and welcoming. It’s structured training done right – a proper workout that will make you faster.
Want to join?
Visit jerseyrunclub.je or find them on Instagram at @jerseyrunclub
Rock N Road
Rock N Road are a well-established part of Jersey’s running scene, with sessions for runners of every pace. Their ethos, “If you run, you’re a runner,” runs through everything they do. Thursdays are for intervals, Saturdays for scenic trails, Sundays for long road miles – and always coffee at the end.
The Rundown
When: Thursdays (6 PM intervals), Saturdays (8 AM trails), Sundays (9 AM road runs, 50 or 90 minutes)
Where: Freedom Tree on Thursdays, rotating trail locations on Saturdays, varied Sunday start points
Distance: Intervals vary; weekend runs 5k–20k
Pace: No prescribed pace – walk if you need, push if you want –-with lead, middle and tail runners
Vibe: Inclusive, lively, community-driven
Training benefit: Endurance and variety
My Take
I joined Rock n Road for a Sunday road run with around ten others, and their ethos was clear from the start. The group spread into natural packs, the climbs kept it challenging, and the downhill back into town felt earned. We ended at The Lookout with coffee and cake – a finish that balanced effort with community. The changing routes make long runs less repetitive, and running together makes them more motivating.
Want to join?
Visit rocknroad.je or find them on Instagram at @rocknroadrunners
Every Mile
Every Mile makes running feel like a social plan rather than a training block. Trails on Wednesday evenings often finish in a pub, Fridays start with a 5k from Fenn & Co, and Saturdays bring conditioning sessions on the beach – sea swim optional. In summer, their Café Series came with a bespoke Rocket Fuel flat white; by autumn, sessions move indoors to Jersey CrossFit. Add in crossover events – surf days, pilates, even goat yoga – and you see why it’s as much about mates as miles.
The Rundown
When: Wednesdays (6:30 PM trails), Fridays (7:15 AM café 5k), Saturdays (9:30 AM workouts)
Where: Trails rotate weekly, Fenn & Co for café runs, beach workouts (indoors for winter)
Distance: 5k runs; 60-min workouts
Pace: Jog-walk to fast-but-chatty
Vibe: Social-first; coffee, pints, swims, extras
Training benefit: Variety and balance
My Take
The 7 AM café run drew about 15 of us outside Fenn & Co with coffees waiting after. The route circled the marina, climbed Pier Road, then cut through town and back along the Esplanade – mostly flat, with just enough stairs to test the legs. The group naturally split into faster runners and a steadier bunch mixing in walk breaks, but no one was left behind. Coffee and conversation back at Fenn & Co made every step worthwhile. It’s a run that doubles as a reset button – good miles and the best way to start your Friday morning.
Want to join?
Visit everymile.komi.io or find them on Instagram at @everymilerunning
Conclusion
After a few weeks of run clubs, I realised what had been missing from running alone: motivation, structure, and people to share it with. Each club had its own personality, but the common theme was clear – running feels more enjoyable when it isn’t just you against the road. Jersey’s clubs have built easy-going communities out of strangers in trainers, where the miles matter, but the company often matters more. Either way, you end up turning up for more than just the miles.
Other Run Clubs to Try
Jersey’s running scene is bigger than you might think. If you want more options, check out: Parkrun Jersey, Trail Monkey, JSAC, Jersey Running Beans, Jersey Girls Run, See Her Run and The Lost Boys.
Run Club Extra: Lost Boys
Words: Ben Davies
Wolf Pack is less a club, more a family. The ethos is simple: a safe space where running is about connection, not competition. Wednesday evenings bring interval sessions at the Freedom Tree, while Thursdays are a casual morning run from Trenton Square that ends with coffee. Everything is measured in time, not distance, so there’s no pressure to chase numbers. Add in monthly socials -padel, volleyball, darts, pétanque – and you have a crew that values people as much as pace.
The Rundown
When: Wednesdays (6 PM intervals), Thursdays (7 AM 30-min run + coffee)
Where: Freedom Tree & Trenton Square
Distance: Time-based
Pace: 5:00/km to 8:00/km, plus walk/jog options
Vibe: Friendly, sociable, inclusive
Training benefit: Builds consistency and confidence
My Take
I joined Wolf Pack on a Thursday morning, with 20–30 runners buzzing before sunrise. The loop along the marina and piers was pre-set on Strava, so no one had to think about directions. Scott, the organiser, ran at the back to keep the group together, setting a relaxed, welcoming tone. Groups formed naturally, conversations carried the miles, and the whole thing felt more like a catch-up than training. It’s the kind of run that keeps your legs moving without feeling like “work.”
Want to join?
Visit wolfpackjsy.com or find them on Instagram at @wolfpackjsy
Run Club Extra: The Lost Boys
Words: Ben Davies
For years I hated the idea of running. My inner monologue would repeat, “Why are you running? Get on a bike, it’s quicker,” as I stamped my way around the bay. Then, unexpectedly, some post-lockdown treadmill time at the gym changed my habits. I found myself combining an hour-long run with a Netflix documentary and, in addition to the time flying by, I actually started enjoying the run itself. This weakening of my reticence, combined with my status as a “yes man” for a challenge, meant that when a friend asked me if I wanted to do the London Marathon next year, I had no choice but to become a (very amateur) runner.
As soon as Amelia started attending clubs, our office WhatsApp group became quite a run-centric chat, much to the chagrin of the non-runners. Every time she let us know that a run was planned, it made me feel guilty and I found myself going along. I’d been running on my own, but the boredom bug did creep in now and again, even with the most rousing of soundtracks. My first tentative attendance was the group run for all the clubs, next I was up at 7am for a casual 5km run with Every Mile, then came Wolf Pack. Suddenly, without realising it, I’d become someone who goes to run clubs.
I first heard about The Lost Boys while running with Wolf Pack, which sounds like I’m some sort of wannabe gang member in 1970s L.A. The whole description of their activities was a little mysterious—a club that’s not a club in the traditional sense—which piqued my interest. When I ran into one of the founding members, Max Burnett, he had heard we were reviewing run clubs and invited us along. My suggestion that Amelia attend was met with a bit of a tumbleweed moment. I wasn’t aware this was not a one-size-fits-all setup, and more of a mental and physical men’s support group. In the days of brands such as ReformHER, SheLikes and Eve, it’s not often you see groups oriented towards just the hairier of the sexes. Not wanting to leave them out, the only solution was for me to go along. “Sure, I’ll come,” I said, only to find out that the 7am starts I’d been getting used to were coffee time for Lost Boys. Max told me they meet at 6am. Bel Crout was the start point.
As I looked out over my pitch-black garden, a trail run in the dark at 6am seemed a bit intense. Reaching an eerily quiet Bel Crout and waiting for the others to arrive felt a bit like being on some clandestine mission, which I liked. Max arrived with his fellow founding member, Tom Le Lievre, and a small group of like-minded “boys.” I’d foreseen the need for coffee but I couldn’t find a headtorch. Thankfully Max was on hand with a selection. We set off with a warm-up up the hill before upping the pace and heading off on the trails towards Portelet Common. The pace was gentle and conversation was very much part of the run. Max was sporting a newly designed Lost Boys singlet marked with a MAKE SLOW RUNNING COOL AGAIN graphic.
As we ran, it was good to chat to the other guys and hear about the activities of the Lost Boys, which is a group set up for more than running. Designed more as a men’s wellness community, the group have been up at 6am running, surfing, doing bodyweight circuits, yin yoga—any activity that unites an active mindset with a commitment to early rising. Once back at Bel Crout after a 45-minute trail run, we were treated to a perfect sunrise as we beat the locals into the water for a post-run swim. The post-activity coffee is as much a part of the process as the run, and Max even shared around his new, all-organic protein smoothie recipe (forget the powders—eggs and banana alone make a damn fine pick-me-up).
When you’ve run, swum and coffeed by 7.30am, you can’t help but feel a bit smug that you’re winning at the day. As an eternal night owl, a 6am start seemed crazy, but I’ve found myself up pre-7am to do something active in the week since. As Max told me, it’s the discipline that’s half the battle. It’s Thursday and I’m setting my alarm for 5.30 tomorrow morning.
@thelostboys_jsy
