The best run clubs in Montreal for open air exercise
Sunrise trails, post-run pints, beginners' groups—these are the Montreal running clubs taking over the city streets.
Wherever you look in Montreal, you’ll find runners: weaving through Parc La Fontaine at dusk, climbing Mont-Royal trails before sunrise, or spilling out of Saint-Henri cafés midmorning, espresso in hand. Consequently, the city boasts a wide network of diverse, welcoming, and sometimes eclectic Montreal run clubs and training crews.
Running clubs can be structured training programmes, complete with coaches and drills, or social hangs for chatting with friends while sneaking in a midweek jog. After the miles come the cool-down moments that make it all worth it, whether that's a coffee at one of the city’s best cafés or a celebratory pint on a laid-back Montreal terrasse.
No matter the pace or purpose, all run clubs offer community—something both record-beaters and slowpokes can benefit from. This guide is your way in: a map to finding your pace, your people, and your new favorite route through the city.
Café Cosé Run Club (C.C.C)
Hosted by Café Cosé, this community-based run club blends movement with connection (and coffee!) in the heart of Montreal. The C.C.C. crew meets at Café Cosé on Wednesday evenings for 7-10km runs and on Saturday mornings for a more relaxed 5-7km. All levels are welcome at these inclusive and friendly workouts. Bonus: a free pre-run espresso from the café to fuel your strides.
6AM Club
6AM Club is an early-morning ritual worth waking up for. This free running community meets once a week at spots across the city to run at a relaxed and inclusive “social pace.” The formula is simple: arrive at 5:45 a.m., warm up, and set off together at 6:00 sharp. Routes usually end at a local café, where runners unwind over lattes and pastries before starting their day. With over 100 chapters—from Old Montreal to Pointe-Saint-Charles, not to mention locations as far as Switzerland and Australia—you’re almost guaranteed to find a meetup near you.
INTRVL
More movement, less intimidation—that’s the energy at INTRVL, a run club built for people who’ve never felt like they belonged at one. Founded by Cath with a clear mission to dismantle the idea that you need to be “good” to get started, INTRVL is about showing up, sweating a bit, and feeling proud of it. Their 4–7 km interval runs are paced for community, not competition, with a tone that’s as encouraging as it is irreverent. Here, “not keeping up” isn’t a failure—it’s just a different rhythm. With messages rooted in accessibility, anti-perfectionism, and shared joy, this club flips the script on who running is for. As Cath puts it: If you moved, you freaking won.
Mont Royal Run Club
One of the city’s most visible and vibrant running clubs, Mont Royal Run Club meets at Parc Lafontaine every Wednesday evening for community runs through Montreal. No signup, no pressure: just show up and join the pack. With thousands of followers and an ethos of inclusivity, this social run club is perfect for anyone looking to workout in good company, from first-timers to veterans.
Run in Montréal
Run in Montréal has been weaving together Montreal’s running community since 2017 with one mission: to keep running fun, social, and inclusive. With up to 18 outings a week, this club meets everywhere from Parc La Fontaine to Mont-Royal trails and the streets of Verdun. Schedules and events can be found on their Instagram and Strava. Supported by community partnerships and collaborators, the club organizes free, accessible runs for all levels—welcoming both casual joggers and those looking to push their pace. The atmosphere is friendly and flexible: join when you can, leave when you need, no pressure.
Late Bird Running Club
Not a morning person? Late Bird might be your flock. This inclusive, easygoing run club meets every Monday at 8:30 AM outside BarBara Vin in Saint Henri for a roughly 7 km social run at what they affectionately call the pace du bonheur—the happiness pace. Afterward, runners stick around for coffee and quick chats before diving into the rest of their week. Deeply rooted in the southwest community, Late Bird brings together runners of all stripes at no cost, proving you don’t have to wake up at the crack of dawn to be part of a running group.
Club Trail Montréal
Since 2014, Club Trail Montréal has been guiding runners off the pavement and into the rugged trails of Mont-Royal. As the city’s first dedicated trail running club, it offers a mix of group runs (May-September, meeting at the Monument George-Étienne Cartier) and coached training sessions designed for all levels. Weekly sessions include a relaxed “Happy Trail” group, social-paced climbs, and fast, no-mercy intervals for advanced runners. Seasonal strength and technique workshops round out the program. Beyond the mountain, CTM builds a vibrant community through outdoor adventures—while some events are open to all, membership is required for most sessions.
Beer Run Run Club
Beer Run Run Club strikes a perfect balance between staying active and staying social. Every Tuesday, runners of all paces meet somewhere in the city for a roughly 5 km jog that ends at a brewery or beer-friendly spot. With a conversational pace spilling into even better conversation over pints, BRRC is as much about exploring Montreal and making friends as it is about the run itself. Locations rotate weekly, come rain or shine, so you’ll discover new breweries and neighbourhoods while earning your post-run drink.
Courcelle Run Club
Every Tuesday at 6:30 AM, Courcelle Run Club brings together early risers for an energizing 7km group run through the streets and parks of Saint-Henri. Founded in 2020, this friendly, no-pressure community welcomes runners of all levels, operating with three pace groups to suit everyone. Runs start at Parc des Hommes-Forts and end with instructor-led stretching. With an emphasis on connection over competition, CRC has become a beloved weekly tradition for locals. No registration required!
East Laurier Running Club
East Laurier Running Club has been lighting up Montreal’s streets since 2012. Still going strong, the club has evolved into an inclusive crew that balances serious running with socializing. Runners of all levels meet at the corner of Laurier and Brébeuf every Tuesday evening for a spirited group run through the Plateau and beyond, often sticking around afterwards for beers and camaraderie. Members take part in races and events across the city, and the club’s Instagram bio sums up the spirit of the community perfectly: If you don’t run, you cheer.
Ultra Run Club
Montreal’s self-proclaimed “most reckless run club,” Ultra Run Club pairs steep trails with a healthy dose of chaos. Weekly Tuesday evening runs meet at the Rue Peel steps to tackle Mont-Royal via “reckless routes,” along with events ranging from silly challenges to daring stunts organized by the club. Beyond the city, Ultra Run Club offers free road trips to farther trail adventures with transport and food included. Expect steep climbs, sore quads, and a big dose of community spirit.
Les Pélicans de Rosemont
Since 2010, Les Pélicans de Rosemont have been making running and fitness accessible to all with free group runs and activities in parks around Rosemont and beyond. The club offers road and trail running year-round with a varying schedule (updates can be found on their website). Values of camaraderie, inclusion, and fun guide everything they do: beyond runs, the community club offers yoga, meditation, youth programs, and more, led by a dedicated team of volunteers. A $12/year membership helps support the club and gives access to partner discounts, but runs are open to everyone.
Le Social Run Club
Le Social Club is an inclusive, queer-owned group offering group workouts in the heart of the city. Their weekly social 5km run starts at Lululemon Eaton Centre on Wednesday evenings and welcomes all levels for a fun-paced, friendly run. Led by certified coaches (and former elite athletes), the club also runs functional training and sports performance sessions designed to make high-quality coaching accessible to everyone. Come for the fitness, stay for the camaraderie.
Phoenix Runners Club-Montreal
For marathoners, half-marathoners, and 10k runners of all ages (though primarily a 30+ crowd), Phoenix Runners Club offers structured group runs, coaching, and plenty of social events. While the tone is friendly and welcoming, the exercise is serious. Weekly workouts include track sessions, weekend long runs, and casual “Horsemen” runs. Coach Bill provides personalized training plans to help members reach their goals. The group meets at several West Island locations; check their Facebook for up-to-date times and locations.
Les Cerfs
Les Cerfs is a warm, spirited community of runners and outdoor enthusiasts who meet twice a week to move together. Tuesday mornings at 6:30 AM, they gather in Longueuil for an 8–10 km urban run at a conversational pace. On Fridays, the group heads to the trails at dawn for something a little wilder. Friendly and open to everyone—“Tu cours? Tu es bienvenue!”—the club is about more than kilometres.
Boutique Endurance Running Clinic
Since 2006, Boutique Endurance Running Clinic’s coaching has helped Montreal runners train with structure, support, and a personal touch. Led by kinesiologist and owner Pierre Léveillé, the club offers 16- or 44-week packages that include semi-personalized training plans, group runs (intervals on Wednesdays, long runs on Sundays), and perks like discounts and a team tank top for $200 or $400. Designed for those already running 12 km comfortably, this is the ideal clinic if you’re chasing a personal record or tackling your first longer race.
Nomad Runners
Nomad Runners is a casual, friendly West Island community group running weekly on Wednesday evenings. Expect about 45 minutes of running at a social pace, open to all levels and completely free. If you’re looking for accountability, new running buddies, or just an excuse to move midweek, Nomad Runners keeps it light and welcoming. Check their Instagram for meet-up locations and updates.
Slowpokes Montreal
This low-pressure, high-community club is ideal for Plateau-based runners of all levels and paces. Slowpokes meets twice weekly: Wednesdays at 7 p.m. (women-only) and Saturdays at 10 a.m. (open to everyone). The vibe is social and inclusive; no need to be fast or experienced, just show up and move with the group. Part of a Canada-wide collective with chapters in other cities, Slowpokes is all about making running feel welcoming and fun.
YAMAJO/She Runs
Founded by David Joseph in 2014, YAMAJO is one of Montreal’s pioneering running crews—inclusive, social, and rooted in Little Burgundy. With 75+ runners of all levels, the club meets Wednesday evenings from Atwater Market and Saturday mornings from Little Burgundy Sports Centre, blending varied paces, good vibes, and a strong sense of community. In 2022, Yamajo launched She Runs, a women-only group aimed at making running accessible and fun, especially for beginners. She Runs meets Monday evenings at Little Burgundy Sports Centre for relaxed 5K runs, helping female runners build community. Both groups welcome new members with openness and energy, proof that starting out doesn’t have to feel intimidating.
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