Bangkok’s top 5 running clubs

What is it? A fitness community with a refreshingly honest motto: ‘We run a little, and socialise a lot.’ What started as a local crew has grown into one of the world’s largest social run clubs. 

How it all started: Three friends who hated running took on their shared dislike together. Steve Lim, one of the three, told us, ‘We thought, if we could bring enough people together to do something we all disliked, maybe we’d start to enjoy it. And we did.’ While racking up kilometres, they aimed to change Bangkok’s image. Beyond the usual chaos and traffic, they wanted to show the city as a space where movement, community and true well-being come alive. Then there’s the chili logo. An elephant almost made the cut but the spicy chili won out. ‘We wanted something playful that feels familiar and represents Thailand.’

What's the energy now? ‘Always positive, warm and wholesome.’ Their crowd reads like a beautiful Bangkok melting pot: 65% Thai locals mixing with 35% international faces, from long-term expats to wide-eyed travellers. Sabai Sunday morning runs pull around 400 runners while their legendary Friday night sessions explode to over 1,000. Runs clock in at just 18-30 minutes sometimes. People literally fly in just to join.

How to join? Tap in on their Instagram. They wanted us to tell you to just rock up and ‘Run Sabai, it’s the only way to do it.’

What is it? Meet the punk-spirited crew shaking up Bangkok’s running scene. Ugly Running Training Club – URT for short – is less about lap times, more about theatre in motion. At Benjakitti Park, they trade performance metrics for eyeliner, loud playlists and chipped polish. It’s gritty, messy, oddly stylish – part run, part runway. Where others bring neon Lycra and polite nods, URT shows up with sequins and safety pins, turning each stride into a statement.

How it all started: As one of the original members, Pu Wongwaiwit tells us, it started with a loose circle of friends who laced up around the same time and ran simply because they felt like it. Once or twice a week, no pressure, no plan. What set them apart wasn’t distance or discipline, but a shared instinct for mischief – styling themselves somewhere between early-2000s indie band and post-party stragglers. The name stuck because it fit. Ugly wasn’t about looking rough. It was about rejecting the polished, protein shake version of running. 

What’s the energy now? There’s the faint echo of a subculture here – part music, part running crew, part found family. They’re not interested in conformity or curated lifestyles. What binds them is shared pace and politics: a refusal to separate style from sport or softness from strength. Arrive at Benjakitti on a URT day and you’ll find bodies moving in imperfect unison, matching each other beat for beat, not to win but to witness. There’s no hierarchy, no coach, no one yelling about hydration. Just movement and mood.

How to join? There’s no onboarding, no membership tier, no awkward icebreakers. If you fancy a run, just turn up – most mornings around 6.30am, Gate 3, Benjakitti Park, by the stretching zone. No one will ask your pace or your PB. There are occasional events too – equal parts chaos and charm – announced via cryptic Instagram posts at @ugly_running_training_club. Just lace up and show up. Everything else falls into place.

Time Out tip: On June 15 at 6.30pm, Pickle and URT team up for a one-night-only run that’s anything but quiet. In honour of Pride Month, this is for those who move loud, dress bold and show up with spirit. Expect a three kilometre night run through the city, games, giveaways and a live set from Gene Kasidit to close it all out. Register by June 10 via here. Confirmed runners will be notified by email – no walk-ins, no exceptions.

What is it? Bangkok’s sneaker-savvy YouTube friend with their very own running community and a famous saying: ‘If you like sneakers, we're neighbours.’

How it all started: It all started with Noparat Monchaitanapat and his YouTube channel Neighbourfoot, where he gives straight-talking recs on which running shoes actually work for your run, what's worth the hype and what's just hot air. Then came the lightbulb moment: organising proper hangouts is a nightmare, but getting friends together for a run is easy. So runners and non-runner friends started gathering for casual jogs and sneaker testing sessions.

What's the energy now? ‘It's low pressure, super chill and all about sharing good energy,’ says Noparat. The club exists for anyone still finding their feet in fitness, with zero egos in sight. The crew also keeps things interesting with sneaker tryouts, urban runs, hill climbs and the occasional brand hookup.

How to join? Keep an eye on Neighborfoot for upcoming runs and casual meet-ups. Most routes need no sign-up. Just show up on time and you’re in!

What is it? Cruise Control Run Club breaks the mould of typical running groups, being a streetwear culture within a running community. It’s a reflection of who the founders are: gear heads and sneaker enthusiasts who’ve always believed performance wear should look as good as it feels.

How it all started: A casual run led to the start of another great community. ‘My wife and I went for a run exploring Bangkok’s streets on foot for the first time,’  reveals founder Kantapong Angsuphant. ‘It felt like a fresh way to see the city. Then we invited friends to join, took photos and reels, and suddenly people were asking when the next run was. From there, it naturally grew into something more.’

What’s the energy now? The energy welcomes everyone from first-time runners to seasoned marathoners and ultra runners alike. What makes their approach so authentic is that the creators say they aren’t coaches or experts either, and that's exactly their strength. 

How to join? Connect with them through Cruise Control Run Club and just show up. If you’re second-guessing your ability to run, here’s their take: ‘We’re not coaches or experts. If you’re doubting yourself or thinking you can’t run, just try. The hardest part is getting up for that first run. It takes courage and consistency, but once you start, you’ll be surprised how far you can go. Just take that first step.’

What is it? SarDine is a Bangkok-born run crew that’s become more than just a weekly fitness meetup. It’s a movement powered by connection: a rotating Saturday run club that attracts a mix of regulars and new faces, plus city-based pop-up events. It’s free, unpretentious and driven by pure love for the run.

How it all started: ‘It started with a few of us.’ One of the founding members, Krittin Yoopongpitak, remembers it being quiet at first – just a group of friends running for the joy of it. But word spread fast. Crews from across the city began reaching out, and suddenly SarDine turned into a city-wide pulse. A simple jog snowballed into the kind of movement that builds itself when the vibe is right.

What’s the energy now? It’s never just about pace. People come for the endorphins, stay for the chats and leave with new friends. Whether you’re sprinting or strolling, the common thread is that everyone here actually likes running. And that shared mindset makes all the difference. 

How to join? There’s no signup and you’ve got two ways in: show up for the Saturday runs rotating between Suan Rot Fai, Lumpini and Benjakitti or join their buzzy city events.