Steph Claire Smith is one of the best people to ask about the benefits of running and joining a run club. A frequent runner herself, Smith is also the co-founder of online fitness platform KIC which this year launched IRL run clubs KICRUN Club and online program KICRUN Challenge. While she says the physical benefits of running are great, it’s the mental that she most appreciates.
“Running is an incredible stress relief,” she says. “Whenever I feel like my adrenaline is building up, a quick run is the best way to burn some steam. The mental clarity unlocked when moving your body in fresh air is surreal.”
Smith says KIC co-founder Laura Henshaw considers running a form of meditation. She’s also noticed it can help build confidence, which is why inclusivity is important to them. They hope to break down barriers and misconceptions about who run clubs are made for so community members know they can come as they are.
In surveying over 5,000 women and non-binary people to better understand the perceptions and habits of run clubs and running, Smith and Henshaw found that 4 in 5 who hadn’t joined a run club thought run clubs were only for certain fitness levels. In that group, 41% said they thought they weren’t fast enough and 17% said they felt intimidated.
KICRUN Club groups meet every Saturday at parks in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, London and, most recently, Perth. After the run, members can grab coffee at a nearby café. The KIC Challenge is a program that lets runners go at it on their own, choosing their goal of 3, 5, 10 or 21km over eight weeks.
“The greatest impact we see is the confidence a running challenge gives people,” says Smith. “We’ve spoken to so many people who want to run but don’t believe they’re a runner — until they take on the KICRUN Challenge. When you achieve a goal you never thought you could, the pride and confidence you feel is surreal.”
“It’s a holistic approach to well-being that goes far beyond just the physical benefits of running.”
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