A little peer pressure can be a good thing when it comes to running and fitness. Rather than braving the trails alone, you can find plenty of sweat-filled comradery and community in Colorado Springs thanks to an abundance of running clubs.
Take Jack Quinn’s, a running club that meets year-around on Tuesday afternoons. The 5K course starts downtown and winds scenically through Monument Valley Park and past Colorado College, climbs up Uintah Street, and heads back past the tree-lined Victorians of Cascade Avenue and bustling storefronts of Tejon Street. Waiting at the end is a nice, cold pint of beer at Jack Quinn’s—or a warm hot toddy, depending on the temperature Colorado happened to go with those past 30 minutes.
But there’s a wide variety of clubs all over Colorado Springs. Here are eight options to explore:
1. Jack Quinn’s Running Club
The Scene: The Jack Quinn’s Running Club is a popular downtown community of walkers, joggers, runners or crawlers that always welcome new members. All ages and abilities are welcome, with about 1,200 people hitting the downtown loop each week. Strollers and children always in the mix. And you can hang out at Jack Quinn’s Irish Pub afterward.
The Route: A 5K walk, jog or run thru downtown. Sign in, start and end at Jack Quinn’s (21 S. Tejon St).
The Time: Tuesdays any time between 5:15 and 7 p.m., year-round.
The Perks: After your run, enjoy $1 tacos, $3 Odell’s Brewking pints and other discounted food. After 10 runs, you’re eligible for a $10 Jack Quinn’s Running Club T-shirt. If you make it to 100, you can join the coveted Century Club and purchase the Jack Quinn’s Running Club long-sleeve shirt for $40. After 200, well, you join the elite Double Century Club. If you have to ask about the perks for this, you haven’t run enough yet.
2. Garden of the Gods Social Runners
The Scene: The group meets Tuesday and Thursday mornings in the Juniper Way parking lot. Runs start at 6 a.m. usually, but 6:30 a.m. through the winter. There is a variety of skill levels and styles: running, walking, hiking, road and trail lovers. Group runs last an hour; then many runners to coffee or breakfast afterward.
The Route: Trails are the preference, but the route varies each time. From April to June the garden runners meet up with PPRR for a 10-week training for those signed up for the Garden of the Gods 10K/10 miler.
The Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6 a.m., 6:30 a.m. in the winter
To Join: You must show up for a run and introduce yourself before you are added to the private Facebook group.
3. Achilles International Pikes Peak
The Scene: Disabled and able-bodied athletes train together in this encouraging and inspirational community. Some run; some cycle. All are welcome, including kids.
The Route: Meet at Colorado Running Company, University Village Center (5262 N. Nevada Ave.) for weekly workouts. Follow the Facebook page for other events.
The Time: Mondays at 5:30 p.m.
The Perks: Confidence, friendship and inspiration from achieving dreams—yours or others’.
achillesinternational.org/pikes-peak
4. Attack Pack
The Scene: An hour run with a group pace around 8- to 10-minute miles. In April the group becomes the middle of the pack group for Garden of the Gods training runs. After the GOG race, the group rotates monthly to different parks and locations. All runners welcome.
The Route: One hour trail runs at various locations
The Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6 a.m.
The Perks: A shirt—when the group deems you ready.
5. Pikes Peak Road Runners Sunrise Striders
The Scene: This group of fast trail runners meets rain or shine, blizzard or drought for structured mostly-trail tempo runs, hill repeats and interval workouts. The workouts are designed for runners wanting to train better and get faster. The group partners with the PPRR Garden of the Gods and Summer Roundup training runs from April to July.
The Route: One-hour runs around the city at locations that vary by season.
The Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6 a.m.
The Perks: Challenging routes with a great community.
But Wait! There’s More
From the Incline to the Mountain Post and Widefield to Palmer Lake, there are many more group runs and running clubs all around Colorado Springs. Check out this list on the Pikes Peak Road Runners website.
This article was updated March 2025.
