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22 Apr 2025
A run club where the emphasis isn’t solely on running? That is Jumeirah Johns Running Club (JJRC) for you.
On the hunt for a relaxed running club to meet new people, unwind and do a bit of running too, is how JJRC was born. The founders, Angus, Ryan and Nathan, realised a club like this was missing from Dubai’s running scene.
Back in 2022, they were quick to draw up the idea and launch. The club has hit the ground running (pun intended) ever since! Today, Angus and Ryan lead the club, and Nathan focuses on their social media content for their rapidly growing list of followers.
The idea behind JJRC is that no running experience is required. If it is your first time, you prefer to walk, or only want to join the post-run socialising, there is something for all capabilities, personality types and body types.
With exercise being such a crucial element to maintaining one's overall well-being, as well as getting out and meeting new people, it is great to have a club that combines the two elements.
If you want to find out more about how the club works and are interested in adding their events into your weekday or weekend schedules, continue reading.
— What made you decide to set up Jumeirah Johns running club?
— A few friends and I started walking down Kite Beach once a week in the mornings before work. We were all feeling the stress at work and found these walks to be a bit of a refuge. At the same time, each of us was starting to get into running in our own ways. We had seen some really cool, social run clubs in other parts of the world and were hoping to find something similar in Dubai. I checked out a few local running or training clubs, but they either felt a bit intimidating or required payment to join. That is when the idea struck — why not create the kind of club we would actually want to be part of?
— How has your own running journey influenced the creation of Jumeirah Johns?
— All of us grew up playing team sports and later transitioned into running or endurance sports. For me, it was a real shock at how lonely training became. You are used to seeing 40 mates at training a few times a week, next thing you know, you are out running on your own, and it becomes very easy to miss that environment. It was a want to exercise and have a laugh with like-minded people, which led to the creation of JJRC.
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— How did you choose the name?
— We get asked this a lot. It was one of those WhatsApp group creations where you add everyone to the group and have to come up with a name quickly. The purpose of the group was to organise the morning walks, which all happened to be in Jumeriah at Kite Beach. It is a play on the terminology “Jumeirah Jane”, which those who have been in Dubai long enough will know. We received a lot of criticism for it at the start, but I am glad we kept it; it is authentic to us.
— The club is for runners of all levels. How do you ensure all abilities feel included?
— This is a big priority for us, and we talk about it all the time. We ensure that all our routes are "out and back", so whether you want to run 1k or 5k, you will end up right where you started. You decide how far you want to go. We don’t do pace groups either, so everyone can run at whatever pace they are most comfortable with. And even if you don’t feel like running, we still encourage you to come down for a coffee — that is honestly the most important part for us! Plus, our Wednesday sessions are led by professional run coaches who are there to guide you if you are new to running (and yes, it is completely free, just like all our sessions).
One of the unique things about the JJRC community is that everyone gets it — we are a social-first, running-second club. People really buy into that, and it is almost self-policing in a way, which is amazing.
— Can you provide an insight into the types of runs you organise?
— We have at least three runs a week in various locations around Dubai, all with a social element afterwards. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, the mid-week session is a coached interval session which is really popular. All the runs are completely scalable, open to all abilities and are socially focused.
We also do collabs with great coffee shops & F&B providers (shout out to Single Fin, Amongst Few, etc.). In the new season, we are proud to be working with some amazing brands like Matter Nutrition, Innermost and New Balance that will help uplift our runs, do giveaways and other activations as well
Outside of running, we do a bunch of other fitness and wellness activities like Hyrox Classes, stand-up paddle board sessions, Padel tournaments and good old-fashioned parties.
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— How do you select the various running tracks?
— We have tried to stick to a few locations which are accessible by big expat communities. We are incredibly privileged in Dubai to have access to some amazing and safe running routes, like Kite Beach, Dubai Canal and the Marina Harbour. We try to stick to these areas because there is plenty of parking, a lot of social venues around, and we can host a fairly big group there.
— There are a few running clubs across Dubai. What would you say are three things that set yours apart from the others?
— It is a great question! I think there are a lot of awesome running clubs in Dubai, each catering to different needs. At JJRC, we try to cover all the bases. We offer a variety of community runs, so there is something for everyone. Whether you are aiming to run your first kilometre without stopping or tackle a 2-hour long run on a Sunday to prep for marathon season, we have got you covered.
I would say we are the best social-run club in Dubai because we are genuinely social. Beyond running, we organise padel tournaments, brunches, wellness days, beach and pool outings, women’s mornings — you name it. That is what sets us apart. Most of our members love to socialise and party just as much as they love to train, and we make sure they get both!
Lastly, we are authentic. People know we are volunteer-led, with a core team putting in a ton of effort outside of our day jobs, all with the goal of making JJRC the best it can be. We try new things, sometimes miss the mark, but we own it, learn, and improve. It is a scrappy, passionate group of people doing it for the love of the sport, and I think that resonates with our community. That is my favourite part of the club, and I’m so grateful for everyone who helps keep the machine running. I love them all!
— How important is exercise in helping one’s overall well-being?
— Exercise plays a big role in overall well-being, and it is a huge part of why JJRC even exists. We started the run club when I wasn’t exercising, and my well-being was really taking a hit. There is a clear connection between exercising in a social setting and the positive impact it has on both mental and physical health. If you are feeling down, overwhelmed, or anxious, even a small amount of movement can make a significant difference. It never hurts to get moving.
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— What would you say to someone who has not run before or been to a club like Jumeirah Johns but would like to start?
— As simple as it sounds, just give it a shot. I understand that trying something new can be daunting, and believe me, I was in the same space when looking at running clubs to join in Dubai. If you have got questions, drop us a DM. We try our best to answer everyone and can give you details, encouragement or pass you onto one of our professional run coaches for any advice.
You don't need to run. Come down for a walk, grab a Careem bike or just meet us for a coffee afterwards. Bring a friend if you fancy it, I think that always makes it a bit easier.
— How would you like to develop the running club in the future?
— Over the summer, we have been busy building partnerships with amazing brands that we believe can bring real value to our members. These partnerships will help us create events and concepts that take our offering to the next level, and you will see that in action this season.
Our goal is to grow and scale the club while staying true to our mission: Making Running Easier. It is always a balancing act between growth and keeping things authentic, but we are committed to maintaining that balance.
We have got a few big, secret projects in the works, so stay tuned for updates on those! In the meantime, it is business as usual — getting people into running and having a lot of fun along the way.
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