SPANISH residents are forgoing afterwork pints and replacing them with a healthier alternative: lacing up their trainers and hitting the pavement for the latest social trend.
Social life is no longer dictated by which bars people plan to meet up with friends.
UK-education charity found that 43% of professionals feel there is too much pressure to consume alcohol when socialising with colleagues or friends.
A solution has come in a form that’s both wholesome and fit for physical conditioning: running clubs.
When it comes to working out, running is considered one of the most accessible options due to its low cost and flexibility.
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Given its position as a country with year-round sun and its variation of views from mountains to coastal promenades, Spain has become a hot spot for athletic groups like run clubs.
A study by the Sociological Research Center found an increase in running practices in Spain, citing that over 5% of the population considers themselves runners.
In fact, around two million people over 15 practice running or jogging regularly.
One of the most unexpected outcomes of running in a post-COVID society is the cultural phenomenon of run clubs.
Spain’s Real Federacion de Atletismo (RFEA) had 1,323 registered running clubs in 2023, a number that only continues to grow.
“Running together is just a more natural way to connect – you’re outside, doing something healthy, and meeting people without it feeling weird,” said Blaz Rogelsek, creator and photographer/videographer of Run Club Marbella.
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Spain hosts running clubs in just about every city.
Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Sevilla, Bilbao and Marbella all have their own clubs and social groups.
Madrid alone has over 200 active groups running across the country’s capital.
Dictated through online pages or Instagram accounts, runners of all levels are welcome to join in for an upbeat workout with old and new friends.
It’s meant to be a no-pressure, yet supportive pack for all paces.
Some clubs focus on casual runs featuring coffee and easy conversation, while others are goal-oriented and have structured training plans for competitive marathon training.
In Barcelona, groups like Good Soles Run Club host Meetup events in collaboration with local businesses, like its Run & Rave event with El Noa Noa and Foundation Coffee.
No one is obligated to sign a contract like at a gym – just simply show up for a run whenever they see fit.
One interesting aspect of running clubs is the way they change the shape of a city.
People who run don’t tend to take off in any random direction, but instead map their way around an intended path.
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Apps like Strava have become popular among athletes for tracking their runs and allowing friends to like and share their routes.
The recent boost in these athletic clubs has impacted more than just social habits, but is also generating a new layer to urban planning in the way that streets and parks are used.
Runners in major cities like Madrid and Barcelona have to navigate the hustle and bustle to find routes considered ‘runner friendly.’
For Run Club Marbella, it’s all about social bonding.
When the group first started in November 2024, it just consisted of creators Blaz, Rob Lipsett and a few Irish guys heading out for a casual run.
Within less than two years, the club has grown to host more than 100 people who run together every Sunday.
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What used to be a solo endeavour has now become a way for people to interact while staying fit.
Some even use the practice as a replacement to online dating, with some groups even offering single meetups.
“For us, it’s more about community than running,” Blaz told The Olive Press. “People are tired of awkard networking events, dating apps, and forced ways of meeting people.”
According to Blaz, Marbella is the perfect place for a run club, complementing the year-round sunny weather and wellness-focused residents who are open to meeting new people.
The Marbella crew meets up for a 5k every Sunday, starting from Rachel’s Eco Love near the Golden Mile.
The run club host says their starting point works well because it’s safe, easy for a large group, and is an overall nice route to run.
Expat and international teacher Stephanie Higgs has been running for 13 years, a hobby she has continued since moving to Spain almost two years ago.
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Now residing in Marbella, Stephanie has joined her fair share of run clubs, including both Marbella Run Club and Lazy Mile Run Club.
She attributes meeting new people within Marbella’s global sphere to local running groups, in addition to her solo marathon training.
Stephanie has competed in several of the popular Andalucia races, including half-marathons in Malaga, Marbella, and Torremolinos.
She most recently completed the Zurich Seville Marathon in February 2026, an annual race that features more than 20,000 runners.
In cities like Valencia, running culture surpasses just the simple social club.
The Valencia Marathon is considered one of the fastest races in the world, being judged off its 2025 data as the quickest due to its course profile, participant times, and over winning performances.
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