It feels like everyone in Glasgow has suddenly become a runner. Walk along Great Western Road on any given evening and you’ll find yourself dodging multiple running clubs. And yes, I’m one of them.
By Eva Curran
Somewhere along the way, fitness stopped being just about exercise and became about meeting people, trying something new and spending more time outdoors. If you’re looking to move your body and find your people, here are a few places to start.
Join a Run Club
If you’ve been thinking about giving running a go, don’t do it alone. One of the friendliest places to start is Juicy Run Club, which meets every Saturday at 10.30am.
Open to all abilities, it’s the perfect introduction whether you’re training for a half marathon or simply wanting to make your Couch to 5K runs more interesting. Better yet, runners get 15% off the Juicy menu afterwards, which somehow makes the kilometres feel much more achievable.
It’s completely free, making it one of the easiest ways to improve your fitness while meeting new people.
If you’re looking for something a little more structured, Achilles Heel is a brilliant option. Sessions are led by the shop’s head coach and focus on interval training, endurance and technique.
Don’t let that put you off, though. Every session caters to a range of abilities, and nobody gets left behind. At just £3.50 a session, it’s a great choice if you’re keen to build confidence.
Of course, these are just the beginning. Glasgow is full of running communities, from university societies to groups organised through Instagram. If there’s one thing I’ve learnt, it’s that running is far more enjoyable when you’re doing it with other people.
@juicy_uk
achillesheel.co.uk/pages/achilles-heel-run-club-glasgow
Give Climbing a Go
My friends have spent the last year trying to convince me to try climbing. Until writing this article, I’d somehow resisted. Now I’m wondering why.
The Climbing Academy in Maryhill has built a reputation as one of Glasgow’s most welcoming fitness communities. Alongside huge bouldering walls and climbing routes for every ability, it’s the atmosphere that keeps people coming back.
Climbing naturally encourages teamwork, problem-solving and cheering complete strangers on. Add in a café, regular social events and dedicated sessions for women and LGBTQ+ climbers, and it becomes much more than somewhere to exercise.
It’s somewhere to meet people, build confidence and challenge yourself in a completely different way.
I think I’ve finally talked myself into booking a session.
