We’ve pulled together a guide to help get you running, a List of Manchester Running Clubs.
Since we opened at Pall Mall Medical in Manchester City Centre we’ve seen lots of the city’s runners for physio and massage.
Sometimes we get asked about local sports clubs, and in Manchester about running in particular. We’ve pulled together a list of the top seven we have discovered. Please email us at manchester@truephysio.co.uk if you would like your club added to our blog: “List of Manchester Running Clubs”.
Mikkeller Running Club Manchester
Gosh we were slightly confused if this was a drinking club or a running club.
Their Facebook profile, that you can find here, set us straight. The club meets on the first Saturday of the month. They go for a 5k or 10k run then have a beer! From the photos on their page there seems to be a good camaraderie with a gang of them sporting medals from the Manchester half marathon and 10k events. A bit of digging revealed that Mikkeller is a “gypsy” brewery based out of Copenhagen – their running club is throughout the world!
The club organiser, Steve, says:
I started the Manchester chapter just over three years ago, have always liked beer and wanted to join a running club, but couldn’t find one that suited me. The guys at Mikkeller themselves, and the folks running the Liverpool chapter helped get the Manchester one going. We started with about 8 of us, but get close to 30 each month now.
The club meets at Beer Nouveau on North Western Street.
Hive 22
The tragic events of the Manchester Arena attack remain etched on the nation’s memories. One of the many good things that has sprung from that tragedy is the Hive22 running club. The club, that remembers the 22 victims of the attack, welcomes all abilities.
There is now a Hive22 chapter in Brenan in Germany, so we’re chuffed to report that they are expanding! The fabulous yellow kit sports the Manchester Bee. Two founding members Aaron and Kevin are modelling Hive22 running kit the photo below. It’s available to purchase here. £2 from each item of kit sold will go to the trusts and charities set up by the families of the 22.
Manchester Harriers
This amateur sports team has more than 300 members, including junior school children and retirees!
As well as road running, they participate in cross county and track & field. The club offers weekly meets at various locations at different times. They also have training at the weekends and social runs. You can find full details here. If you are a beginner, don’t be put off. Anybody who can’t run 5k in around 23 minutes gets to go in the beginner group!
From their professional-looking website we can see how well the club is organised. The home page tells us:
Manchester Harriers welcomes all abilities and accepts members from the age of 7 years and upwards. We have a number of different groups and you can try out our sessions for 3 or 4 weeks before deciding if you would like to join the club.
Manchester Road Runners
MRR is organised completely by volunteers. If you are looking for somebody to run with on Wednesday evenings, you have found the right club. With 5k, 7k, 8k and 10k runs every Wednesday, they set off shortly after 6.30pm from The Wharf pub in Castlefield.
The club’s Facebook page says:
We are all about trying to be inclusive for everyone, aiming to give people the opportunity to get fit with like minded people and meet new friends whilst doing it. We don’t charge anything to run with us, so just head along and join the fun.
You can also expect a pint and a chat after the run, organised runs at the weekend and a social programme.
Belle Vue Racers
This UK Athletics-affiliated running club is based our of Sportcity in Manchester. They focus on road running on Tuesdays and stay at the track on Thursdays.
Eddie Cheetham, sporting legend from rugby, running and cycling, founded the club in 1989. You can contact their membership secretary Phil Wilcoxon on membership@bellevueracers.com. And Emma Kirwen, the club’s social secretary says
There’s more to life than running! We meet up twice a year for the presentation of awards, often with a few drinks and a curry involved.
Follow them on Twitter here:
Walk 2 Run
If you have never run before then this is the one for you!
Qualified run leaders lead the sessions that start from Plant Hill Park in Blackley. North Manchester Fitness say:
We offer a Walk to Run group aimed at complete beginners to Advanced. Walkers/Runners & Pram pushers.
There’s more details on Walk 2 Run and loads of other local activities on MCRAcctive. You can search by activity, post code and date here.
Parkrun
A national event every Saturday. The organised runs start at 9am so your run fix is out of the way and you can crack on with your weekend! There are a few to choose from including: Platt Field, Longfield Park and Sale Water Park. Check out the full list on the interactive map here.
Instructions on their site say:
Please register before your first run. Only ever register with parkrun once. Don’t forget to bring a printed copy of your barcode, if you forget it, you won’t get a time.
Starting Running
Just like any new sport, taking up running can seem daunting. If you are determined to get fit and make new friends, we wholeheartedly encourage it. There is also a proven link between exercise and good mental health.
We give the following advice for newbies:
- Don’t overdo it to begin with, slowly and steadily build up your distance and time; focus on distance first.
- Rest days are essential!
- Invest in the best pair of running shoes you can afford. Be aware of the difference between trainers and actual running shoes!
- Regular massage can help keep you in tip top condition.
- If you have unexpected aches and pains lingering after a few weeks, come and see us. Aching knees is a great example of something we might be able to help with by simply placing the correct insole in your running shoes.
and
- Join a running group!
