Run clubs have arrived in Hong Kong to combine exercise and community

Most evenings, Hong Kong’s Central piers are a flurry of activity as commuters spill out of Asia’s commercial centre, though recently there seem to be more groups of runners cutting through the throngs of ferry passengers, dodging posing tourists and darting past hobby fishermen and beer drinkers. They might be chatting among themselves, blasting music from mobile speakers or looking far too serious to be enjoying themselves.

Globally, the post-Covid fitness world has been marked by the rise of run clubs, a concept that offers informal, (mostly) relaxed exercise and a sense of community. While trailing cities such as New York, London and Sydney, Hong Kong has now seen its own uptick in run clubs over the past couple of years, and being Hong Kong, it’s become a way for sportswear and luxury brands to reach active and upwardly mobile professionals.

Jason Lam, a branding strategist who has worked with Nike, Matchesfashion and Lululemon, founded Shelter Athletics in 2022, and running was far from the club’s sole purpose. He had been approached by luxury hotel The Upper House to collaborate on a wellness event and decided to “put a name on it” to help connect people “outside their usual social circles”.

“In an uncertain time, running represented an achievement measured by the effort put in,” he says. “I started hiking alone to clear my mind, which became road running and I shared it online for fun, and people messaged me wanting to do this together.”

Shelter Athletics now hosts three weekly runs: Sunday Service, a 20km run offered since its launch; Girls Night, a shorter Monday-night run for women; and most recently, Run Kowloon, created by two members who wanted to offer middle-distance runs on the north side of the harbour.