A decade ago, when I first moved to Hong Kong, I was astounded by the city’s vibrant fitness culture. People of all ages were involved in a wide-range of activities: soccer, cycling, tai chi, badminton and dragon boat racing, to name just a few. But strict Covid-19 restrictions curbed social and fitness activities for nearly three years, and the city’s buzzing exercise scene went quiet. During that time, I, like much of the city, started to run.
When restrictions were lifted, running clubs (organised group runs) sprang up across the city, becoming hubs for Hongkongers looking to train with like-minded individuals. They’ve become so popular here that these days you can find one to join almost every day of the week, each with its own angle: some are all about speed, best suited to runners striving to enhance their performance, while others are more social, aimed at making friends or dating.
The trend extends beyond Hong Kong: according to a recent report by Strava, the fitness app, global run-club participation increased by 59 per cent in 2024, and the majority of respondents said they had made new friends via fitness groups.