It has now been a few years since the pandemic kept people inside, broke up social groups, and made many of us feel isolated and unhealthy. Getting outside in the fresh air and going for a run will always make you feel better. This is the kind of thing that everyone intuitively knows but not enough people take advantage of. With the rise of social media there has been a surge in running content creators. The pandemic was the catalyst for many people to change their lives and become healthier and more active. In a survey of more than 3,000 current runners, over 28% started running during the pandemic. After a huge drop-off in the sport during the lockdown, Running USA has shown that there are now more race finishers than in pre-pandemic levels, with the largest races in the world taking place in 2024, then again in 2025.
Post-pandemic, the Trinity River Trails started to fill up once again. Just like bars, trails have “regulars,” and they often become friendly with one another. This is how a lot of our current local run clubs started out. Some now draw hundreds to run on weeknights, mornings, and weekends. Now’s a great time to join. All the most popular running events of the year are coming up.
One of the most anticipated runs is the annual Turkey Trot 5k. A classic that takes place the morning of Thanksgiving, it’s many runners’ only race of the year. While some take it seriously, most run it with their families and friends for fun. It’s a great way to get out into the crisp November air and burn off some calories before the upcoming feast. This year, there are almost 20 Turkey Trots across DFW. For people in the heart of Fort Worth, the 44th Annual YMCA Turkey Trot has changed locations to General Worth Square downtown. The first 10,000 people to cross the 5k finish line will receive a finisher medal.
Photo by Jacob Livar, Dream Street Photography
Even if you miss the Turkey Trot, the next big event is New Year’s, where people will resolve to be healthy in 2026 and take up running or jogging. The first week of January is when gym memberships sell out and trails fill up. Sadly, most people with New Year’s resolutions fail in just six weeks. Anyone who has ever made a resolution on January 1 knows that the hardest part is sticking with it. Instead of spending money on a gym membership this year, join a run club. Not only is it free, but there many clubs to choose from, all with different vibes.
There are lots of great reasons to join a run club, and, perhaps not surprisingly, the most popular among the folks I’ve talked to does not involve the act of running itself. Most of the people at Ampersand Run Club said they’re there for the social aspect. Whether they’re fast or content to walk a 3-mile loop, they do what they do because they love seeing their friends.
The truth is that most run clubs function less like fitness groups and more like social communities that happen to be active. In a country facing both a health crisis and an even deeper crisis of loneliness and disconnection, people are craving real relationships and a sense of belonging. Run clubs offer exactly that. They allow members to break the ice naturally, give them a shared goal, and provide a welcoming, nonjudgmental space. That combination of community and movement is mostly what makes run clubs so wildly popular today. Some of Fort Worth’s bigger clubs include Social Running, Mas Millas, and Running Familia, in addition to Ampersand.
Once you find one, no matter the time of year, you’ll hardly go a day without hearing about the Cowtown Marathon. This year’s is Sun, Mar 1, and as with previous years, it’s bound to be huge. It normally attracts tens of thousands of people: participants, volunteers, and fans alike. Maybe the best thing about it is the scenery. The Cowtown Marathon offers a complete tour de Fort Worth: from the Will Rogers complex to the Stockyards, then Sundance Square and TCU before hitting the river and ending up back at Will Rogers.
For many runners, the most emotional moment is coming to the rows of American flags representing our fallen heroes near the finish line. Realizing that so many have given their lives to allow us the freedom to challenge ourselves often gives runners the push they need to finish strong through the hill at the end. Runners have described the final stretch as a mix of exhaustion, pride, joy, and disbelief that they’d come this far. It’s a feeling you cannot buy. You have to earn it.
