Local Running Groups
Pacers:
Pacers running store has lots of free running groups for a variety of pace groups. With locations in Fairfax City, Arlington, Old Town Alexandria, and DC there is a plethora of groups to choose from. There are early morning running groups, after work evening groups, track workouts, long runs, and trail runs. See their website for specifics https://www.runpacers.com/social-runs/
Potomac Runners:
This running store has free fun-runs in the evenings Monday-Thursday. All the runs start at the PR stores which have a variety of Virginia locations, Burke, Ashburn, Arlington, and Fairfax. For more information check out their fun-run page http://potomacriverrunning.com/fun-runs/
They also have a long run group that meets in the Mt. Vernon trail.
http://www.potomacrunners.org/index_files/page0001.htm
Reston Runners:
I’m not too familiar with this group, this is the one out of this group that I have not personally run with. Judging by their website, they have a variety of weekly runs in the morning and evening and long runs on the weekends. All are welcome to attend their group runs, but there are paid memberships available as well. https://restonrunners.org/
MRTT:
“Mom’s Run this Town/She Runs this Town”, is a running group for women (but you don’t have to be a mom!) This group has chapters all over the country with several local chapters in Fairfax, Burke, and Arlington. They appear to communicate mostly over facebook, so look up the local chapter’s facebook pages and communicate directly that way to see when they are running. The group appears to have some regular weekly organized groups and a lot of individual member-organized runs. To find out if there is a group near you look at their group locator http://momsrunthistown.com/local-running-club/
Shirlington Running Group:
This group meets Tuesday nights at 6:30 pm at “Samuel Beckett’s”in Shirlington Virginia. This is a social running group that runs about 3 miles and then goes out for dinner/drinks at “Samuel Beckett’s”. This is a well-attended, long-standing group, with all pace groups. Get more information on http://shirlingtonrunningclub.com/
Capital Area Runners:
I would consider this an “advanced” running group. The group tends to have on average faster runners than the other groups I have been too. They have group runs for members but you can trial the group for free for a social run on Wednesday evenings (from Road Runner sports in Falls Church) or a long run on Saturdays and Sundays starting at Fletchers Boathouse in Georgetown. Check out their website for more information http://www.capitalarearunners.com/home.html
Meetup.com:
Still haven’t found a group that works for you? Check out meetup.com for more running groups or go start one yourself!
Why run with a group?
If you missed it, visit last week’s post on 10 reasons why you should run with a group.
