How to Find a Running Club for Trail Running (UK)

Feeling a little lost with this game of trail running? 

Then potentially joining a running club could be a smart move. Not just for fitness, but to build confidence and understanding, consistency, and community. Trail running is growing exponentially and traditional road running clubs are often branching out to accommodate runners looking to get off road - and not just via a cross country event!

For fairly inexperienced runners curious about trail running and/or potentially curious about developing the ability to run ultra distances, being around the right people in the early phases can be invaluable. 

To be clear, I don’t want to confuse trail running with ultra running, it’s perfectly fine to run shorter on trails with zero aspiration to run long distances, there really is no compulsory distance progression needed. But it makes sense to mention both here as they can be linked.

Why bother with a club anyway?

Experience and shared runs have the potential to really sharpen the learning curve and of course make training more social. You’ll also likely gain access to safe, well-planned trail routes with the advantage of local knowledge. In addition to this you’ll no doubt gain a bit of accountability for when motivation dips. Even if you train solo most of the time, having a community around you can be a game-changer.

So how do you actually find a running club in the UK that:

• runs off-road on trails
  

• understands long-distance trail training
  

• and ideally has experienced trail &/or ultra runners you can learn from?
  
  

Here’s how;

Step 1: Start with Official UK Club Directories

RunTogether (England Athletics)

RunTogether (https://www.englandathletics.org/runtogether/) is England Athletics’ official group finder. It’s a national programme that offers friendly and inclusive running opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. It allows runners to search by:

• location
  

• postcode
  

• club or group name
  
  

Many clubs list whether they run road, trail, or mixed terrain, along with contact details.

Note: Don’t dismiss a club just because it doesn’t say “trail” outright — many road clubs quietly have strong trail contingents.

In the South, this website may also help - ‘Trail Runners’ -  https://www.trailrunnersclubs.co.uk/ 

Step 2: Look Beyond “Road Running” Labels

Some of the best trail and ultra runners in the UK belong to clubs that don’t advertise themselves as trail clubs.

Instead, look for clues such as:

• weekend long runs
  

• off-road or “mixed terrain” sessions
  

• hill training
  

• social posts featuring mud!
  

Having a browse of a club’s website or perhaps more useful these days their Facebook page, can be very informative. Look for posts about trail runs, weekend long runs or adventure running. You should be able to get a good feel for whether the club can cater for a trail runner.

Step 3: Use Targeted Searches for Trail Groups

Some trail groups operate independently or as sub-groups within clubs.

Try searches like:

• “Trail running club near [town/county]”
  

• “Trail running group [region] UK”
  

• “Off-road running [location]”
  

These can often lead to:

• Facebook groups
  

• Meetup communities
  

Facebook is again particularly useful here - many trail groups don’t maintain websites as they can be difficult to update -  but they are often very active social media wise. I realise not everyone is on facebook - but my guess is you have a friend that is that would have a look for you!

Step 4: Finding Ultra Runners (Even Without an Ultra group)

The good news? Ultra runners are everywhere, they live amongst us.

Most are hiding in:

• road clubs
  

• trail clubs
  

• fell running clubs
  

How to spot them:

• Check race results from local ultra or trail events
  

• Look for club names next to runners’ results
  

• Browse Strava clubs linked to local groups
  

• Ask directly on social media or at club sessions
  
  

To state the obvious - simply asking if there are any trail or ultra runners in the club is your best bet!

This will usually unlock a wealth of knowledge and conversation. Ultra runners love talking about the trails, maybe a bit too much - you may even be sorry you asked!

Step 5: What to Ask a Club Before Joining

Useful questions to consider:

• Do you run trails regularly?
  

• Are there longer weekend runs?
  

• Are runs pace-inclusive?
  

• Do any members train for ultras or longer races?
  

• Can I try a session before joining?
  

Most clubs are welcoming and happy to help, that’s the entire goal of them - so be upfront about your goals to make sure you’re in the right place.

Trail and ultra running communities tend to be relaxed, supportive, and refreshingly ego-free - but every club has its own personality.

Final Thoughts

Many trail and ultra runners run alone a lot of the time, if not for preference but due to the practical reasons of ‘getting it done’ (the miles run) when they can. That said many will be connected to clubs and attend on occasion, to be a part of the community. 

As someone new to running trails, joining a club could be a hugely positive step to take. In fact this is not limited to beginners at all, trail runners of all abilities glean insight and encouragement from clubs too. 

Run Free

Ronnie