Run Clubs Are Surging, Especially Internationally, New Data Shows
Run clubs are growing quickly as the social side of fitness continues to drive engagement, according to Strava’s latest data
With four months left in 2025, Strava is sharing a mid-year look at how its global community is progressing toward fitness goals through the halfway point of the year.
According to the data, 41% of Strava subscribers are on pace, or already ahead, of meeting their annual goals. Cyclists are slightly ahead of runners, with an average of 53% of goals reached compared to 51% for running. From joining clubs to monitoring gear, Strava data shows how small habits are helping athletes sustain consistency.
Strava’s social features continue to drive engagement. Run clubs in particular are growing quickly: the number of new clubs has tripled compared to last year at this time, with Brazil seeing an almost 800% increase. Popular group running times are holding steady, with Saturday mornings at 9 a.m. and Tuesday evenings at 6 p.m. emerging as peak hours. Group activities also tend to generate more recognition, with twice as many kudos as solo efforts
The most-logged shoe brand globally is Asics, followed by Nike and Hoka. In the U.S., Brooks leads, while in Brazil, Olympikus continues to dominate.
Gen Z athletes are more likely than older groups to upload activities from an Apple Watch, demonstrating a broader adoption of wearables. Strava also notes that the average walk logged on the platform is just under 4,000 steps, while the average run covers about 6,300 steps, figures that align with new research suggesting 7,000 steps a day supports long-term health.
Friendly competition also drives progress. Sixty-six percent of runners and cyclists have achieved a new personal record on segments this year, though generational differences stand out: 80% of Boomers hit a PR compared to 56% of Gen Z.
Marathon season may push numbers higher, but so far, 42% of runners have recorded personal bests across distances from 5k to the marathon. Only about one-third of 10k runners have posted a PR. Cyclists chasing Strava’s most common goal of 5,000 km are close to the mark, needing an additional 67 km per month, while runners targeting 1,000 km need just 17.4 km more per month.