For many Gen Z young people, social life is changing. Instead of spending more time on SNS, they are choosing real-world activities, especially running. In Strava’s Year in Sport 2025 report, released on December 3, 2025, the company said Gen Z is “logging off and lacing up.” Strava’s data came from billions of activities and a survey of more than 30,000 people. The report also said that more than half of Gen Z plans to use Strava more in 2026, while most expect to use Instagram and TikTok the same amount or less. (press.strava.com)
Running clubs are a big reason for this shift. Strava reported that new clubs on its platform nearly quadrupled in 2025, and running clubs grew 3.5 times in one year. This was not a sudden one-month fad. In Strava’s 2024 report, released on December 4, 2024, running club participation had already risen 59% globally. That same report found that 58% of respondents made new friends through fitness groups, and nearly one in five Gen Z respondents had gone on a date with someone they met through exercise. (press.strava.com)
Why is running so attractive? One reason is that it mixes health, fun, and clear goals. Strava’s 2025 report says Gen Z is 75% more likely than Gen X to say that a race or event is their main motivation for exercise. At the same time, U.S. race data shows that people in their 20s are joining more races than before. From 2021 to 2024, the share of finishers aged 20 to 29 rose from 16.4% to 24.5% in marathons, and from 17.1% to 26.2% in half marathons. (press.strava.com)
In other words, running clubs are not only about speed or calories. They offer something many young people want very badly: connection. Strava’s 2024 report found that activities done with groups of more than 10 people were 40% longer than solo activities, and they included three times more downtime, which suggests more time for chatting, coffee, and friendship. For Gen Z, the new “cool” place may not be a nightclub. It may be a Saturday morning run. (press.strava.com)










