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The 5 Best Columbia SC Running Clubs To Join Right Now (2025-2026 Race Schedules)

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The Columbia, South Carolina running scene is experiencing a post-pandemic boom, making the capital city one of the most vibrant running communities in the Southeast right now. As of late 2025, the community is diverse, welcoming, and highly active, offering everything from competitive trail running to social, coffee-fueled morning jogs. Whether you are a seasoned marathoner chasing a personal best or a complete beginner looking for a supportive walking group, Columbia’s clubs provide a perfect place to lace up your shoes and hit the city’s scenic greenways and trails. The information below is current, highlighting the most popular clubs, their specific weekly schedules, and the major races to look forward to in 2025 and 2026.

Finding the right running club in Columbia, SC, is less about speed and more about finding your tribe. The local groups are deeply integrated into the city’s social fabric, often partnering with local businesses, coffee shops, and breweries. This guide breaks down the five essential clubs you need to know, complete with their unique focus and where you can find them for your first group run.

The Essential Five: Columbia SC Running Clubs and Their Weekly Schedules

Columbia's running community is anchored by a mix of historic organizations and modern, social-media-driven groups. Each club offers a distinct flavor, ensuring every runner finds a home.

1. Columbia Running Club (CRC)

  • Focus: Longevity, community races, and comprehensive training. The CRC is the oldest and most established group, founded in 1968.
  • Signature Event: The CRC is the primary sponsor of the legendary Tour de Columbia Race Series, an annual calendar of 50+ local races designed to encourage participation across the entire running season.
  • Key Group Run: The CRC hosts a dedicated Sunday Trail Running group. The time is seasonal, but the location is consistently the front parking lot of Harbison State Forest, a major hub for trail runners in the area.
  • Membership: Required to participate in the Tour de Columbia scoring, with 2025 membership available through the end of the year.

2. Columbia Track Club (CTC)

  • Focus: Structured training and speed work, catering to runners looking to improve their pace and form.
  • Key Group Runs:
    • Tuesday Evening Group Run: Starts with stretching at 5:30 PM.
    • Wednesday Evening Run: Leaves from the Fleet Feet Store location, making it a convenient mid-week option for gear and camaraderie.

3. Piecewise Run Club

  • Focus: Social, beginner-friendly, and coffee-fueled community runs. This club embodies the modern, relaxed run-club culture.
  • Key Group Run: They host a weekly, beginner-friendly run every Saturday morning at 8:00 AM.
  • Location: The run starts and ends at Piecewise Coffee Co. on Devine Street, perfect for grabbing a post-run coffee with the group.
  • Fresh Info: Confirmed dates are already on the calendar for late 2025 and early 2026, making this a highly active and current option.

4. Cola Run Club

  • Focus: Inclusivity, welcoming all skill levels, walkers, and runners. Their goal is to create a healthier South Carolina, one pair of feet at a time.
  • Founder: The club was founded by local Certified Personal Trainer, Emma Stoll.
  • Schedule: They host free, weekly runs that cover all levels and distances. Runners are encouraged to check their social media for the most current weekly schedule and location.

5. Blossom Athletics Co.

  • Focus: Cultivating a flourishing community through running, with a strong emphasis on personal growth and connection.
  • Style: This is a unique, Instagram-based run club that uses social media to organize and foster community.
  • Key Activity: They frequently partner with local brands like lululemon for community events, often running in the upscale Forest Acres area.

The Premier Running Routes and Trails in Columbia, SC

To truly understand the Columbia running scene, you need to know where the clubs—and solo runners—go to log their miles. The city offers a fantastic mix of paved greenways and challenging dirt trails. These locations are key entities in the local running landscape:

  • Three Rivers Greenway: This is arguably the city's most iconic and popular running route. It offers miles of paved, scenic pathway along the Congaree, Broad, and Saluda Rivers.
  • Saluda Riverwalk: A specific section of the greenway system known for its accessibility and beautiful river views, offering a great 5-7 mile out-and-back option.
  • Riverfront Park: A paved pathway that is a popular choice for runners seeking a scenic and accessible route close to downtown.
  • Harbison State Forest: The undisputed hub for trail running in the area. With dozens of miles of well-maintained dirt trails, it’s the go-to spot for the CRC’s Sunday trail runs and any runner looking to escape the pavement.
  • Sesquicentennial State Park ("Sesqui"): Located in northeast Columbia, this park offers a fantastic 3.5-mile loop trail that is a great option for mixed-terrain running.

Upcoming Races and the Tour de Columbia Race Series (2025–2026)

The competitive backbone of the Columbia running community is the Tour de Columbia Race Series. Managed by the Columbia Running Club, this series is not a single event but a year-long competition designed to track and reward participation in dozens of local races, from 5Ks to marathons.

For runners looking to sign up for an event, the local calendar is robust, with races organized by groups like Strictly Running and the YMCA. Key races already scheduled for the 2025-2026 season include:

  • Cold Winter's Day 5k: A popular end-of-year race often held in late December 2025.
  • New Year, New Hope 5k: A perfect way to kick off the new year, typically taking place on January 1, 2026.
  • Jeep Rogers Family YMCA Resolution Run 5k: Another early January 2026 event designed to help runners stick to their fitness goals.
  • Run With All Your Heart 5K: An annual charity fun run benefiting Curing Kids Cancer, often featuring a brand-new course layout.

The sheer number of races—with the Tour de Columbia encompassing over 50 events—underscores the depth of the local running culture. This high level of activity is why Roy Shelley, President and Treasurer of the CRC, noted a significant increase in the number of local runners in recent years, a trend that continues to grow post-COVID.

Gear, Coaching, and Other Essential Running Entities

A thriving running community requires more than just clubs and trails; it needs specialized gear and expert support. Columbia is well-equipped with local businesses that serve as vital resources and additional entities for the running community:

  • Fleet Feet Store: More than just a retail store, Fleet Feet serves as a community hub, hosting group runs (like the CTC's Wednesday run) and providing expert shoe fittings and gait analysis.
  • Strictly Running: A local institution that not only sells gear but is also a major organizer and timer for many of the races in the area, including events in the Tour de Columbia series.
  • Todd and Moore Sporting Goods: A long-standing local store that carries a wide range of athletic gear, including specific running brands like On Running.
  • Revival Running: For runners seeking personalized training plans or one-on-one coaching, Revival Running offers specialized coaching sessions to help athletes reach specific performance goals.
  • REI Columbia SC Store: While a national chain, the local REI is a key resource for trail runners, providing specialized outdoor and camping gear necessary for the longer, more remote runs in places like Harbison State Forest.

Whether you're looking for a low-key Saturday morning jog followed by a latte at Piecewise Coffee Co., a challenging trail session in the woods, or a full calendar of competitive races, the Columbia SC running club scene offers a complete and welcoming ecosystem. The city's combination of historic clubs, modern social groups, diverse running routes, and a packed race schedule ensures that every runner, regardless of their background or goal, can find their stride.

The 5 Best Columbia SC Running Clubs to Join Right Now (2025-2026 Race Schedules)
columbia sc running club
columbia sc running club

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