Golden Gate Running Club

The GGRC club has something for everyone! If you are looking for multiple tailored workouts a week to qualify for Westerns, you will not be alone. If you want to simply get through your first half marathon, you will not be alone. If you want to come to the happy hours, you most definitely will not be alone. I’ve learned a ton in the last year in the club (injury prevention, running shoe specs, how hard to push for each race…) and could not love the people more. Highly recommend!

I love this club. The people are awesome, there’s always something going on, and it’s only as intense as you want it to be.
About me: I came to SF about a year ago having completed a few marathons and tired of running by myself. Did a quick search online, found that these guys started at 10 am on Sundays (to allow for hangovers) Like them already. After a few runs and a few happy hours, I was hooked
About the club: There’s a folks of all speeds, so chances are you can find a pace buddy. Wednesday track workouts (Kezar stadium) are great for getting faster and it definitely helps to have teammates around to motivate you. Sunday runs at Crissy Field range from 3-​? miles, with a beautiful backdrop and plenty of trail options. Membership is $ 40/​year. A YEAR.
The people are warm, friendly, and so supportive. Also, happy hours are frequent and fun, even if we inevitably degenerate into talking about running. Since then, I’ve become a regular. I have had massive amounts of fun drinking and karaoking. Oh yes, and I run, too. Since I’ve joined GGRC, I’ve qualified for Boston and NY, and have picked up an minor obsession with trail running. Hanging out with these guys (and chasing Mr. Mason below) around the track has helped me grow immensely as a runner and has kept me from burning out.
Come try us out!

This is an awesome club for both running and socializing. I moved to San Francisco a couple years ago, not knowing hardly anyone and wanting to find a running club for both fitness and a social outlet. GGRC has provided both: there are members of all ability levels, and the club also engages in a variety of social activities — happy hours, barbeques, and more. I highly recommend this club!

love this running club. i checked out a few when i first moved to SF — this one was great as 1) they do Sunday morning runs at the totally reasonable time of 10am at my favourite running area, Crissy Fields (there are Wed track sessions too); 2) group is very friendly, open, mixed levels. 3) they organize fun social events too. i found it to be very welcoming group. there are definitely some serious hardcore runners, but also some casual ones. you show up and just run with whoever at the desired length/​pace. the group seems to change around from week to week though there is a core group of regulars. The president Phil is awesome — organized a fun Wild Boar trail race at Marin a few weeks ago plus pancake brunch at his house afterwards — nice!

After leaving the frozen Midwest tundra behind and moving to the runner-​friendly SF peninsula, I took my running club search very seriously. I even made a spreadsheet comparing the run times, costs, and locations. What can I say, I am a nerd and you get to benefit from my hours of research.
First, the obvious findings:
. There are a lot of running clubs in the city (duh!).
. Most of them run on the weekends either in Presidio or Golden Gate Park
. Most of them have some kind of track workout, usually at the Kezar stadium
. A lot of them are competitive while others are not
Now, to the more interesting stuff:
. There is no good running club representation in the downtown/​SoMa area
. Several clubs in town charge membership fees well in excess of what I am willing to pay
. A lot of the clubs are too large or too small and too tightly knit for a newbie to easily develop a sense of camaraderie
. Most of the clubs either HATE their members and/​or assume they have no life as the weekend runs are scheduled most commonly between 7 and 8 AM
Enter the GGRC: these guys meet at Crissy Field on Sundays at 10 AM which allows for happy-​fun Saturday night shenanigans. They also have Wednesday night guided track workout. All for a reasonable $ 35/​year. GGRC is large enough group that you can find a running buddy for your speed and distance preference and they’re small enough to go have lunch together after the run. What’s even more fun, running is only part of the equation: this group knows how to party and they do that often and on a grand scale! All the club activity gets posted on a Yahoo groups board so it’s easy to know what’s going on in the next few days/​weeks. And the shirts. Their shirts are really cool. Trust me, you’ll want one.
I have run with the group three of four times now and, as long as my cranky knee allows, am hoping to keep coming back.
So, what are you waiting for? Put that beer down and go run