Run clubs in Kamloops you should know about

Kamloops offers a number of activities, groups, clubs and more to hone crafts and practice hobbies. From book clubs to art collectives, there is something for everyone to help build community and keep active. 

As warm weather moves in and more folks opt for outdoor recreation, there is one activity taking over the Thompson-Nicola Regional District: running.

“Running is an absolute reflection of what you put into it,” Kirah Janzen, co-founder of the TRU Law Run Club says.

Janzen is one of many runners in Kamloops who has seen running make a difference in their lives. 

“I think it has been extra good for community building because especially as a woman, I don’t feel comfortable running places I haven’t run before by myself,” Janzen says. Being part of the TRU Law Run Club, which is exclusive to law students, has even helped her train for marathons. 

More run clubs are popping up in town, highlighting its popularity. A survey by Statistics Canada showed that 55 per cent of people 15 years or older participated in sports like running. Out of those people, 27 per cent participated in running, making it one of the most common activities. 

Strava, a popular app amongst athletes and active people, reported that running has remained their top sport in many countries. 

“Running is such a singular sport that it can feel lonely,” Nicole Aracki, the president of Runners Sole says, adding run clubs can be helpful for those who seek to belong to a group and find community. 

Here are a few local options for folks looking to run with others.

So Far So Good Run Crew

Greg Hanycz is one of the four founders of the So Far So Good Run Crew, which he originally took up after the COVID-19 Pandemic. 

“I know for some people running is a very individual thing and they really enjoy the solitude and the sort of escapism,” Hanycz says. “I’m a social person… I really wanted to build a group where I could show up at a set time on a set day and just have people to run with.”

Brock Fraser and Jill Neufeld became co-founders along with his spouse Rachel Lewis, who helped create the logo of the run club.  

“We hosted our first run April 14, 2024, and we had 12 people show up and it was the best thing in the world. I’ll never forget that day,” Hanycz says. 

The run club meets at Logjam Coffee then heads towards McArthur Island Park.There are three distances routed, three, five and 10 kilometres, but folks are always welcome to experiment when they attend. 

“We have a great running community in Kamloops. It’s a smaller town, but we have a large running footprint,” Hanycz says. 

The club has grown, with 110 people attending the one year anniversary. Normally the number of attendees is around 40 people depending on the time of year. 

“There’s a lot of friendships that have blossomed out of that. We see people running together outside of the crew and they’re training for a race. All of a sudden, they’re having a game night at someone’s house,” Hanycz says.

So Far So Good will mark its two year anniversary soon and it runs throughout the year unless weather conditions are unsafe. 

“We honestly, truly believe that anybody who wants to just come and try this out, will probably have a good time and enjoy it.”

Folks can attend weekly runs every Sunday at 9 a.m. starting at Logjam Coffee or follow on Instagram for updates.

Continuum Club

Jacob Patton started running last year, taking on his first marathon to push himself. 

“Once I left high school and stopped playing competitive sports, I needed a new way to challenge myself, so that’s kind of where I fell into running,” Patton says. 

While training for his first marathon he met folks in the community that trained with him and now have become the founding members of Continnum Club. 

Josh Brace, Bailey Henry and Patton wanted to share their love for running with others and give people something to look forward to every week. It was built on four pillars: commitment, community, movement and mentality. 

“With running you have to be committed, because it’s such a long process that if you don’t commit to it and just do it very sporadically, you just won’t make any progress,” Patton says. 

Each of its co-founders have a different relationship with running. 

“Bailey’s been sober for the past two years now, and running was something that helped get him through that,” Patton says. 

The run club has been an opportunity to challenge themselves and also accommodate those with different schedules. 

“It almost gives you purpose, because you’re constantly working towards some goal, and it gives your life a lot more structure,” Patton says. 

Although it was recently created, they hosted their first run on March 11 gathering 29 people. Currently their numbers average between 30 to 40 people. 

The run starts at McDonald Park where attendees do a five kilometre run with different pace options. It is beginner friendly and folks can show up to their weekly runs every Wednesday at 6 p.m., more information is available on Instagram.

Kamloops Ridge Runners

The Kamloops Ridge Runners Club is another group dedicated to bringing folks together, with a variation of running, walking and hiking. 

“Tuesdays and Thursdays are more structured runs, a variety of speeds, but more definitely workout focused and our coach sets those up for us,” club president Matt Norton says. 

The flexible structure allows for beginners to join and build both good habits and friendships.

“Run clubs are a great way to connect with people. It’s very unique in terms of the level of the relationships that you have with people in running communities,” Norton says. 

Folks who run together are able to see the best or worst in each other, allowing them to make close connections, Norton adds. 

“It’s quite lovely that run clubs have that sense of community and you can build some of those quite close relationships with individuals because you see them in ways that not everybody gets to see another person in sort of regular settings of where relationships would be developed.”

The club has a registration fee or $50 per year, which also includes the access to a coach and BC Athletics insurance. 

“[For] people who want to get into running I think joining a club is a great way to do it,” Norton says. “Running is hard, especially in the beginning and often a lot of people are not successful because they try to do too much too quickly.” 

When this happens most beginners end up giving up or getting injured, but building a sense of community helps. 

“The second thing is just finding your peeps,” Norton says. “Who are you most comfortable with? And sometimes you can just run with multiple groups. It’s what I do all the time.”

Registration for 2026 is open. Weekly runs are posted on their calendar with options on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Riverside Parkrun

The volunteer-led Riverside Park Run started in 2023, and it has hosted at least 115 events. 

Event director Julia Sudworth had no running background until she became a casual runner in her twenties and thirties, then in her forties she started doing more races. She moved to Kamloops from the UK in 2022 and trained with other groups in town allowing her to build community. 

“[The Riverside Park Run] is not a race environment, but it is useful for people to practice,” Sudworth says.

Park runs happen globally, offering a free community event where attendees can walk, jog or run. In Kamloops, a five kilometre run takes place every Saturday at 9 a.m. for free. 

“It’s all about well-being and encouraging movement all year round, and building a sense of community and really removing barriers to running,” Sudworth says. “You don’t have to come every week. You can just drop in when you have the time, and you can go at your own pace.”

For Sudworth, the park run helped her get back into running after a break, connect with others and tap into Kamloops’ volunteerism.

“I’ve met a wonderful group of people from Kamloops, and we have a great volunteer community who are the heart and soul of Park Run.”

The group normally sees 30 to 50 people every event and the biggest had 98 people show up for its 100th run anniversary. 

Anyone can show up to a parkrun at ​​the Rivers Trail path between the river and the Tennis Courts parking lot on the west side of the park. More information is available on their website.

RUNClub Kamloops

Jo Berry is the coordinator of the CFJCTV Boogie the Bridge and founder of RUNClub and has been running for a few decades. 

“‘Movement is change,’ is our mantra and this is what running and walking is to me,” Berry says. “[It] has always been about my mental health, and sharing that with others is the greatest gift and a huge honour.”

RUNClub offers structured programs for different levels from the ground up especially for those who have not run before and want to get into it. 

“Being a runner in Kamloops is amazing. The scenery is beautiful, but the community is what really makes it special. There’s so much encouragement and positivity,” Berry says. 

RUNClub seeks to create a space where folks can connect, support one another and work on their progress together. 

“It makes running feel joyful and shared instead of something you do alone,” Berry says. 

The cost for RUNClub varies depending on the yearly or monthly commitment, and virtual or in-person participation. There are several distances covered by the club based on the pace of the individual and with training that suits each of them. 

To join RUNClub email membership@runclub.ca or visit the website which has all the registration information.

Chai Run Club

Iknoor Atwal is the founder of Chai Run Club, open exclusively to only women to foster a safe space and have beginner level options without expectations.

“There were less people who looked like me, people from my community and I know that they are serious about active lifestyle but maybe it’s the outdoor aspect of it that was kind of hinder some people,” Atwal says. 

Atwal liked running at a beginner level without tracking her pace or improving it and after moving to Kamloops she wanted to pick it up again. 

“Sometimes run clubs might be intimidating and that has been a friction point for me that I might be the slowest one there,” Atwal says. 

She started a Facebook page and Instagram account for the run club to get started.

“I used to take a jar of chai that I made at home and then everyone just shared after the walk or run,” Atwal says. 

This group normally only runs during the summer and fall time. The distance of the route is normally five kilometres hosted at Riverside Park although they have experimented with other locations. 

“I started this page to also bring in women from my community to get out of their house and do something on their own.”

Atwal is currently planning setting dates for May or June, weather dependent. 

Women can join the run club by joining the Facebook group and keeping up to date with posts on planned runs.

Editor’s note: A previous version of this story stated a different schedule for the runs of the Kamloops Ridge Runners and this was corrected.