Beginner-Friendly Run Clubs in Los Angeles
66 clubs, 91 weekly runs
These Los Angeles run clubs go out of their way to welcome people who are new to running, new to the city, or coming back after a long break.
What they have in common: more than one pace group or a no-drop rule, a route short enough to finish at an easy jog, and regulars who expect to see new faces every week. You do not need a race history, a watch or a certain pace to show up.
Clubs
- Monday 7PMWilshire/Oxford
- Thursday 8PMLove Hour
- Wednesday 6:30 PMThe Crab Pot
- Saturday 7:00 AMSan Pedro Fish Market Long Beach
- Sunday 8:00 AMAlamitos Beach (spot in IG highlight)
- Tuesday 6:30PMMorgan Park Community Center
- Saturday 7:30AMMorgan Park Community Center
- Monday 5:15 AMThunderbolt Pizza
- Wednesday 5:15 AMThunderbolt Pizza
- Friday 5:15AMThunderbolt Pizza
- Wednesday 7:45PMMariachi Plaza
- Wednesday 6:15PMBrews Brothers
- Monday 7:00 PMSherman Oaks (spot posted weekly)
- Wednesday 6:30 PMDog Haus Canoga Park
- Monday 6:30PMHoly Grounds Coffee
- Wednesday 6:30 PMDog Haus Biergarten Burbank
- Saturday 8:30 AMFleet Feet Burbank
- Wednesday 6:30 PMFleet Feet Encino
- Saturday 7:00AMPrimo Passo Coffee Co
- Saturday 8:00AMPlaya del Rey (spot posted weekly)
- Tuesday 7PMVeterans Park
- Thursday 7PMSip & Sonders
- Saturday 6:45AMLA Leggers meetup, Ocean Ave
- Saturday 7:00AMTotem Pole
- Saturday 7:00AMShane's Inspiration, Griffith Park
- Sunday 7:00AMSepulveda Golf Complex parking lot
- Monday 6:45PMPlaya Vista Elementary School
- Wednesday 7:00PMSanta Monica High School track
- Saturday 7:00AMTotem Pole in Santa Monica
- Tuesday 6:30 PMDowntown Long Beach (start varies)
- Thursday 6:30PMLong Beach
- Saturday 9:00 AMOcean Blvd & Redondo Ave
- Thursday 6:30PMBoxx Coffee
- Sunday 9:00AMTerasaki Budokan
- Tuesday 7:00PMBurton Chace Park
- Wednesday 7:00 PMNorthridge Recreation Center
- Wednesday 6:30AMCalifornia Incline
- Thursday 7:00PMOn Store Abbot Kinney
- Tuesday 7:15AMWoodbine Park
- Saturday 8AMWoodbine Park
- Thursday 6:30PMPlaya Provisions
- Thursday 6:30PMRedondo Pier
- Sunday 10:00 AMPage Against the Machine
- Wednesday 6:30PMThe Starting Line (MDR Sports)
- Tuesday 6:30PMCivic Center parking lot (City Hall)
- Saturday 9:00AMPaseo del Mar near Point Fermin
- Tuesday 5:45AMCrystal Springs parking, Griffith Park
- Tuesday 7:00PMRed Lion Tavern
- Thursday 7:30PMMemorial Field, Burbank
- Sunday 7:00AMMakisupa Coffee Bar
- Monday 6AMMidnight Mission
- Thursday 6AMMidnight Mission
- Thursday 6:15 PMSports Basement Long Beach
- Thursday 6:30PMPlaya Vista (spot posted weekly)
- Saturday 7:45AMVenice (spot posted weekly)
- Tuesday 6:30 PMLakewood High School track
- Thursday 6:15 PMStearns St & Palo Verde Ave lot
- Sunday 8:00 AMEl Dorado Park Tennis Center
- Tuesday 6:45 PMDowney (spot posted on Instagram)
- Thursday 6:45 PMHome Depot, Signal Hill
- Tuesday 6:00 PMBirmingham High School track
- Thursday 8:00 PMSan Fernando Valley (spot changes monthly)
- Monday 6:30PMPalm Park
- Wednesday 6:30PMPalm Park
- Saturday 6:45AMPalm Park
- Monday 7:00 PMlululemon Studio City
What to expect
- A quick hello at the start, often with a call for first-timers so someone can run with you.
- Routes of roughly two to five miles, with a shorter loop or turnaround point on many runs.
- Walk breaks are normal. Nobody checks your pace, and the group regroups at corners and lights.
Common questions
How fast do I need to be to join a beginner-friendly run club?
You do not need any particular pace. The clubs on this page either run in pace groups or wait for the back of the pack, so a 12 or 13 minute mile, or a run-walk, is fine.
What should I bring to my first run?
Running shoes, water if it is warm, your phone and a light layer for after. Most clubs meet somewhere with restrooms nearby. Our guide to running essentials covers the rest.
Other kinds of runs
New to run clubs?
- What Is a Run Club? How They Work in Los AngelesWhat a run club is, how a typical run works from meetup to coffee after, what it costs, and the different kinds of run clubs you will find in LA.
- How to Choose the Right Run Club in LAA practical way to pick a run club in Los Angeles: start with where and when, match the pace and the vibe, try a few, and keep the one that feels like your crew.
- Running Essentials: Shoes, Gear and What to Bring to a Run ClubWhat you actually need to start running in Los Angeles: how to choose running shoes, what to wear for LA weather, and a short checklist for your first run club.
- How to Start Running: Pace, Breathing and Your First Few WeeksA simple way to start running: the run-walk method, how to find an easy pace, breathing techniques that help, how to handle a side stitch, and a four-week starter plan.