The convivial running shoe store, which opened in 1995, spearheads at least five group runs per week, including Monday trail runs in Forest Park (5- to 9-mile routes), Tuesday interval workouts at Duniway Track, and Sunday morning long runs (5- to 18-mile routes). Even when it’s dark and rainy, Thirsty Thursdays find glow stick–toting runners departing from the shop’s Northwest storefront and gathering afterward at the in-house bar.

“A social club with a run disguised in it” is how Amir Armstrong describes the group he cofounded with Deadstock Coffee owner Ian Williams in 2021. The run club meets Tuesday evenings at Deadstock’s Old Town café (inside the Hoxton Hotel); choose a 2.5-mile or 4.5-mile run or a 1.5-mile walk. “The highlight of my week is seeing this part of Portland come alive for a couple hours,” says regular David Mair. Plus: Saturday-morning runs from Deadstock’s Beaverton location, an annual Chinatown 5k, and regular resource drives.

Launched in 2017, FoPo Run Club boomed post-2020, when founder Natalia Barwegen says people were “hungry for connections.” It meets Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings for 3- to 5-mile runs in the Foster-Powell neighborhood. Spin-offs include a monthly board game night, a book club, and a Dungeons & Dragons group. Close friendships have formed, as have romantic relationships; one couple who met running just had a baby.

National network Trail Sisters welcomes women-identifying, trans, and nonbinary trail runners and hikers. The Portland chapter meets Monday and Thursday evenings for 5-ish-mile trail runs in Forest Park. Accessibility and safety come first: The runs are no-drop (meaning no one gets left in the dust), and the group hosts self-defense classes and workshops on injury avoidance.

Lots of run clubs wrap up with a beer or cocktail. Not this group, which is designed to provide support and community for those in recovery from substance use disorder. A partnership between the Recovery Gym and endurance training company Wy’East Wolfpack, Run TRG meets Tuesdays at the Duniway Track, Fridays in Forest Park, and Saturdays on Mount Tabor. The group’s annual “Move Through Darkness” nightlong run raises money for recovery resources.

Established way back in 1982, this group organizes 4-mile runs and 2.5-mile walks for the queer community and allies three days a week (Tuesdays and Saturdays on the waterfront and Sundays at Forest Park). Expect postrun social hours at spots like Water Avenue Coffee and Pine Street Market. The group also throws the Portland Pride Run & Walk in June and the Bridge to Bridge Fun Run & Walk later in the summer.

Culture organization Juntos PDX organizes this club, which meets monthly at Latinx-owned businesses. Pacers run and walk at varying speeds, so participants can choose where they feel best. “I didn’t think I’d ever get to a place where running felt fun,” says Jessie Cubias, who felt motivated by fellow runners cheering and blasting fun Latin bangers from backpack speakers. Now she’s comfortable running solo and has even competed in races.

New to running? In need of extra support and camaraderie? Healing from an injury? Or just looking to go slow? This group reliably runs about 3 miles on Mount Tabor on Saturday mornings. Reddit users say the pace averages 12–13 minutes per mile.