London

Newsdesk

Race Listing for London

About the area

Running in London is big business. Not only does the city now hold the legacy of the 2012 Olympic games to bolster enthusiasm for running, the city already plays host to many running clubs, innumerable running groups, which give rise to a plethora of running-centric stores. Of course, the main date in the running calendar in London is the marathon - but there are also more frequent communal running events, with over 40 parkruns taking place each Saturday across the city.

We've complied a list of running groups, clubs, stores and facilities in London. If you would like to add information to our listing please get in touch with us.

Running clubs in London

Central London

• 23 Mile Club
• BBC Running Club
• City Runners
• Imperial College Cross Country & AC
• King's College London Cross Country RC
• London Business School RC
• London FrontRunners
• LSE Cross Country and Athletics Club
• Ravens Runners
• Run Dem Crew
• Run Fast, Camden
• Serpentine RC
• UCL Athletics & Cross Country Club
• University of London AC
• University of London Cross Country Club

North London

• Barnet & District AC
• BoxFit Tri
• Defra AC
• Enfield & Haringey AC
• Enfield Hash House Harriers
• Edmonton Running Club
• Hackney Hawks AC
• Hackney Hurricanes AC
• Haringey Jogging Club
• Harrow AC
• Highgate Harriers
• London Heathside Runners AC
• Metros Running Club
• Mornington Chasers
• Orion Harriers
• Queens Park Harriers
• The Running Bug Club
• Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers
• The South Cyprus Flyers RC
• Sudbury Court Running Club
• Synergy RC
• Trent Park Running Club
• Walthamstow AC
• WILLRUN

East London

• Barking Road Runners
• Bexley AC
• Dagenham 88 Runners
• East End RRC
• East London Runners
• Eton Manor AC
• Havering AC
• Havering 90 Joggers
• Ilford Athletic Club
• Newham & Essex Beagles AC
• Victoria Park Harriers & Tower Hamlets AC

West London

• Barnes Runners
• Chelsea Running Club
• Ealing Eagles Running Club
• Feltham Puffers Running Club
• Hayes & Harlington Road Runners
• Hillingdon Athletic Club
• Ranelagh Harriers
• St Marys Richmond Athletic Club
• Team Hounslow
• Thames Valley Harriers
• Thames Valley Triathletes
• West 4 Harriers (Chiswick)

South London

• Barnes Runners
• Belgrave Harriers
• Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC
• Bromley Veterans AC
• Clapham Chasers
• Clapham Runners
• Croydon Harriers
• Croydon Running Sisters
• Crystal Palace Fun Runners
• Crystal Palace Triathletes
• Dulwich Runners AC
• Dulwich Park Runners
• Greenwich Tritons
• Hercules Wimbledon AC
• Herne Hill Harriers
• London City AC
• Old Coulsdon Hash House Harriers
• Orpington Road Runners
• Plumstead Runners
• South London Harriers
• Stragglers
• Striders of Croydon AC
• Sutton & District AC
• Sutton Runners
• Thames Hare and Hounds
• Wimbledon Windmilers

Club Focus: Bromley Vets AC

Bromley Vets AC is a popular south London club - home from home for the enthusiastic veteran keen to try their hand at a broad range of events and disciplines ...

BROMLEY VETS AC celebrates its 25th birthday this year and the club for the more mature runner has aged gracefully over the last quarter of a century. The Vets may not be in the first flush of youth but they are a versatile bunch - track and field, triathlon, parkrun 5k and ultras all come as one to these sporting enthusiasts.

The club started life when a nucleus of former members of Bromley Ladies was joined by men and women from other local clubs to set up a group specifically for veterans. Several of the original cast are still in the ranks and giving good service.

As mentioned Bromley Vets AC is a broad church and includes some capable performers in track and field who represent the club in the Southern Counties Vets Division 2. If that sounds quite serious then more relaxed is the club’s presence at Bromley parkrun, the friendly and free local 5k. A regular high-viz showing has meant that a number of older parkrunners have been tempted along to Parklangley on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 7.00pm for the weekly club sessions. Not that the Vets can completely throw off their competitive urges, even at parkrun - they’ve created a Parkrun Cup which members contest with their usual gusto.

Bromley Vets AC can also be found taking part in cross-country - they organise their own annual 5 mile event at Sparrows Den and are stalwarts of the Kent Fitness League; triathlon - Maureen Farish turned in a big performance in the World Age Group Triathlon Championships last autumn; plus road running - the club is well-represented at some of the bigger South London and Kent races (main image shows the Paddock Wood Half Marathon contingent).

The Parklangley Club in Beckenham is the Vet’s well-appointed base, handy for the track at Norman Park and a good location for road and off-road training. 

As you might imagine in a long-established club, characters abound. One is Helen James (79) who enjoys her regular parkrun outings, another former chair Phil Greenfield, never a man to give up a T&F point until the cause is lost!

The Vets are a socially-conscious bunch too. As well as playing their part at Bromley parkrun, they will once again be fundraising in their anniversary year for two good causes - St Christopher’s Hospice and Disability Snowsport UK. Various events are planned, culminating in an anniversary dinner in October.

If you’d like to find out more about Bromley Vets AC visit their informative website at bromleyvetsac.org.uk

Running groups in London

Running groups are aimed at beginners and those whose emphasis is on fun and fitness rather than races and competition, letting people run in a safe and friendly environment, building up a camaraderie with fellow runners.

Run England is England's body for recreational running, with groups all over the country meeting weekly. They organise 5K beginner courses and groups who just run for fun.

• Greenwich Runners
• Run with London Borough of Southwark/ Southwark PCT
• Run with Greenwich Runners (Greenwich Park)
• Run with Range Runner (Crystal Palace)
• Run with Grangewood Park Amigos
• Run with Sutcliffe Park group (Greenwich)
• Run with Reebok Sisters (Sutcliffe Park, Greenwich)
• Run with Karen & Laura's beginners running group
• Run with Norman Park
• Run with West Wickham
• Run with Fox Trotters (Bexleyheath)
• Run with Nonsuch Park Running Group
• Run with Petts Wood
• Run with Womens Running@E14 (Tower Hamlets)
• Run with Newham Leisure Centre Running groups
• Run with West Ham Park Running Group
• Run with Newham Dockside group
• Run with Danson Park, Bexley
• Run with Strawberry Striders (Danson Park)
• Run with Bexley Social Runners
• Run with Midday Milers (Hampstead)
• Run with Highgate Harriers
• Run with Springfield Running Group (Clapton)
• Run with Markfield Park
• Run with Waltham Forest Group
• Run with Broadwater Farm Centre
• Run with Wanstead Flats E12
• Run with Tottenham Marshes Jogging Group
• Run with Hendon Joggers
• Run with Oakhill Park (Barnet)
• Run with Orion Walkers/Joggers/Beginners Group (Chingford)
• Run with Enfield Jogging Groups
• Run with Trent Park Running Club
• Run with Hammersmith Running Group
• Run with Ealing Eagles Running Club
• Run with Hounslow Strikers Running Group
• Run with Perivale Group
• Run with Runny Honeys (Putney)
• Run with Perseverance (Richmond)
• Run with Teddington Trotters
• Run with Kingston Crawlers
• Run with Kingston Runners
• Run with Hampton Common Runners

If you'd like to add your group to our list, please get in touch with us.

Group Focus: Common Runners

WIMBLEDON COMMON, the expansive greenspace in south-west London, is a fantastic resource for the capital’s residents. And since last autumn the Common has been home to a group of enthusiastic runners who have enjoyed its varied facilities. 

Caroline Dunleavy has been running for 6 years although initially she had reservations - am I fit enough to do this? Will I look silly? She took her courage in her hands, pulled on her trainers, headed out the front door and has never looked back.

A high point for her was the Royal Parks Half Marathon in 2012 - fantastic course, great atmosphere. She took part with two friends and they finished within a few minutes of each other and simply had a fantastic time. Around this period Caroline was sending her third child off to school and her thoughts turned to making the most of her new freedom. 

Her own early experiences as a runner plus the enjoyment she’d had since, inspired her to take the Run England Leadership in Running Fitness course. Caroline thrived on the course and at that point decided to start her own group for women. She targeted mums like herself with school-age children, retirees and people who worked from home. The response was positive.

Caroline felt there was a demand from women who were absolute beginners and had all the reservations that brings. She set-up a 12 week programme specifically aimed at those new to running. Her approach was supportive, letting people progress at a pace they were comfortable with. She started with two small groups who met mid-mornings for a 60 minute weekly session that included warm-up, drills, technique practice, stretches and 20 minutes walk/jog.

Caroline was pleased how the early weeks went: “As anticipated the groups were mixed ability despite all being beginners and some made faster progress than others. However we soon created a friendly and supportive environment where members encouraged each other and swopped highs and lows post-session at the Windmill Cafe.

Over the months we became more adventurous - we explored the trails on the common; we ‘practised’ the Wimbledon parkrun course so that members could tackle the timed 5k event with confidence and some of the group entered local races. We had a good turnout at the Santa Run Battersea Park 6K in December and the Run Richmond Park 5K/10K in April.

Things have moved along briskly since the autumn launch and the 2014 summer term programme had expanded to beginners’ groups on Monday and Thursday and also on Tuesday evenings, and improvers’ groups on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. 

Following this promising start Caroline is looking ahead with confidence. A big percentage of her first crop of runners has continued so the improver contingent is increasing. Growing numbers, a presence at local events and a developing sense of identity means the future is bright for Common Runners.

Check out session dates and times at commonrunners.co.uk

Services in London

Wholelife Physiotherapy

Provides physio across East London, including Hackney, Bethnal Green and Mile End.

The Wholelife Physiotherapy Approach

Wholelife Physiotherapy was established with the aim of providing a carefully tailored service that treats each patient as a unique individual. Their aim is to have a real and positive impact, improving the quality and wellbeing of people's lives.

They understand that there's a co-relation between a healthy body and a healthy mind and problems with one will certainly impact on the other. Their aim is to provide a whole-life solution to your health problems.

They are not into a quick-fix approach whose benefits will likely be short-lived, nor are they advocates of recipe-based treatment. They seek instead to get to the very core of the problem and provide a real long-term solution.

However, they're not going to keep you any longer than you need: at Wholelife they believe in value for money - they're going to give you the best treatment in the correct amount of sessions. Getting you going, steering you back to a healthy, happy, wholelife.

Bodylogics

Bodylogics was established and managed by Alison Dodd, a fully qualified sports injury and massage therapist. Alison is a dedicated therapist who will investigate and treat the cause of your injury or problem.

Just one treatment will often alleviate and reduce muscle tension. You don't have to be a sportsperson to feel the benefits! Sports massage can help people from all walks of life who may suffer from muscular tension, stress and fatigue. The versatility and effectiveness of sports massage combined with other massage techniques is an ideal treatment for many everyday aches and pains and is often recommended after physiotherapy treatment in the rehabilitation of injuries.

Sport & Remedial Massage can help with the following conditions:

• Neck and shoulder pain or stiffness
• Back pain
• Hip pain
• Knee pain
• Leg and foot pain
• Sports specific injuries
• Chronic muscular aches and pains

Services for runners in London

Sports Massage

• Vale Sports Massage, Clinics in London & Evesham
• Restore Health & Well Being (Barnet)

Physiotherapy

• Better Body Balance

Podiatry

Please contact us and we will include details of your service

Personal Training

• One Performance UK

Nutrition Advice

Please contact us and we will include details of your service

If you offer a service to runners in the London area and would like to be added to our list of providers please get in touch.