8 Birmingham running clubs to help you reach a new personal record
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Running is hard, y’all. Especially running in Alabama. It’s hot, humid, has so many hills you could cry, and did I mention it’s hot?! Keep reading to learn about eight Birmingham running clubs that will keep everyone from kids to seniors encouraged and motivated to hit those running goals.
1. Birmingham Track Club
Running nerds, did you know Birmingham has its own version of the BTC (for non-nerds: Bowerman Track Club)? Except ours is the Birmingham Track Club and the team requirements are a little less strict (no need to run an Olympic qualifying time, unless you want to).
The Birmingham Track Club aims to spread the love of running and jogging throughout the Birmingham community. The Club is open to anyone, from beginners to marathon hopefuls and more.
BTC also hosts several races throughout the year, including the upcoming Peavine Falls Run.
- Ages: All ages, and they offer family memberships
- Meetings: Most groups meet on Saturdays
- Website | Facebook | Instagram | Contact
2. Birmingham Ultra Trail Society
BUTS is Birmingham’s premiere ultra running club for those looking to stretch their legs a little farther than a marathon. The Birmingham Ultra Trail Society helps members train to run ultra marathons, which usually last anywhere from 50 minutes to two hours.
- Ages: All ages, but most members are 18+
- Meetings: Meets Tuesdays, Wednesday, Thursdays and Sundays
- Website | Facebook | Contact
3. Trak Shak
Birmingham’s favorite place to get new trainers, Trak Shak also hosts a weekly group run. Each run starts at one of their stores around the city and they have weekly groups focused on different goals. They offer 5k training, general fitness training and several other groups tailored to specific running goals.
- Ages: All ages
- Meetings: Group runs are held Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, and Saturday mornings
- Website | Facebook | Instagram | Contact
4. Fleet Feet
Another popular local running store, Fleet Feet, hosts weekly group runs to help you train towards your goals. Running distances range from a couple miles to marathon training, and you can sign up online or at any of their locations.
5. Cahaba Distance Project
This running group isn’t for the faint of heart, or the beginner for that matter. The Cahaba Distance Project is a collective of elite, post-collegiate athletes training to crush it on the trail, track and road. The Project trains daily, all aiming for medal finishes in chosen distances, from the 800m to marathon.
6. Birmingham Running and Track Society
If nothing else, Birmingham has some excellently acronym-ed running groups. BRATS is a large, diverse running group focuses on specific runs like 5Ks, marathons and general fitness. You can primarily find them on Facebook, and group runs are organized from there.
- Ages: All ages
- Meetings: Runs are scheduled by group members
7. Iron City Speed
If you have a future Emma Coburn or Usain Bolt on your hands, check out Iron City Speed. Iron City Speed is a USA Track and Field (USATF) youth track club in Helena. The club competes from March to July across the Southeast in USATF youth track meets, and also participates in the National Junior Olympics meet each July. Iron City Speed athletes compete in running, jumping, throwing and the heptathalon/decathalon.
8. Over the Mountain Track Club
Another youth track club, Over the Mountain Track Club is based in Hoover and trains athletes ages 6-16 in the full range of track events (running, jumping, throwing). Over the Mountain will have around 135 kids participating this year, and like Iron City Speed, they compete in USATF youth track meets across the Southeast and the USATF National Junior Olympics.
Slip into your trainers and get ready to hit the trails this summer with these running groups. If you need more motivation to train, check out these upcoming races and places to get new running shoes.
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