Member guide

Running and triathlon clubs in Cambridge, from parkrun to social groups

parkrun, town clubs, social running groups and university clubs: what each offers, how to choose, and who can join.

By the Cambridge Society editorial desk · Updated 20 October 2026

Cambridge is flat, compact and full of runners, which makes it an easy place to start, but the choice of groups can be confusing when you have just arrived. There are free weekly timed runs, long-established athletics and triathlon clubs, informal social groups, and university clubs that only members of the university can join. This guide sorts them out so you can work out where you fit.

Everything below was taken from the clubs' and organisers' own websites when we checked on 20 October 2026. Where a page did not confirm something, we have left it out rather than guess. Session times change, so treat the times quoted as a starting point and confirm with the club.

At a glance

OptionWhat it isOpen to
parkrunFree, timed 5k on Saturday mornings at several Cambridge-area sitesAnyone who registers once
Cambridge & Coleridge ACAthletics and endurance running club with weekly track, tempo and trail sessionsTrial basis available; see the club
Cambridge Triathlon ClubSwim, bike and run club with a senior sectionAges over 16, novice to international level
RunTogether social groupsInformal groups listed by England Athletics, such as Run For Your Life CambridgeSee each group
University clubsCambridge University Hare & Hounds and Cambridge University Triathlon ClubUniversity members only

Start with parkrun

The lowest-pressure first step is parkrun, a free, timed 5k that takes place on Saturday mornings. You register once on the parkrun website, print or save your barcode and bring it each week. Walkers are welcome, and nobody expects a fast time. The event pages for the sites below all list a 9:00am Saturday start.

parkrun also runs a junior version, 2k on Sundays for ages 4 to 14. Use the events directory to find the nearest one. It is a good way to find out how often, how far and how fast you want to run before committing to a club.

How to choose a club

Clubs in and around Cambridge differ more than their names suggest. Some are traditional athletics clubs with track and cross-country teams; others are relaxed road-running groups that meet after work. Decide what you want first: company on easy runs, structured training, racing, or a mix.

England Athletics, the governing body for the sport in England, has a Find a Club tool for affiliated clubs. For triathlon, British Triathlon has a club finder on its own website at britishtriathlon.org. We could not load that site when we checked, so look it up directly rather than relying on this guide for the full list.

Cambridge & Coleridge Athletic Club

Cambridge & Coleridge Athletic Club (C&C) runs training for endurance runners on several evenings a week, mainly at the Cambridge University Athletics Track, with Carver Barracks, Coton and Magog Down also used. Its endurance running page lists a weekly pattern that, when we checked, included:

The club says times can change and that a head torch and hi-vis are required from September to May. See the training page for the full picture, including other groups.

The join page says you can join on a trial basis, lists membership categories and a joining fee for new members, and sets out a hardship policy. In summer, C&C is one of eight clubs in a Summer 5K Series from April to September, alongside Cambridge Triathlon Club, Ely Running Club, Haverhill Running Club, Newmarket Joggers, Saffron Striders, Histon & Impington Runners and Royston Running Club, according to the club’s road running page. Those other clubs also welcome runners; use the England Athletics finder above to reach their own pages.

Cambridge Triathlon Club

Cambridge Triathlon Club says on its senior join page that the senior club is for people over 16, from novices to international level, and that membership starts in January with discounts for late joiners. The page lists membership options with and without England Athletics membership; check it for current figures.

The senior training page says sessions are open to non-members, possibly at a cost, so you can try before joining. It also sets out some basic requirements: no non-swimmers, and cyclists need to be able to ride non-stop for an hour. The page lists a Saturday swim at Impington Village College, Tuesday and Thursday swims, and a Sunday steady run of 60 to 90 minutes with the venue announced weekly, which it describes as an unofficial session.

The club also runs races. The Cambridge Aquathlon is a mixed team event for three to five people at Impington Village College, described as a friendly introduction for novices; the 2026 edition took place on Sunday 20 September, and the 2027 date is not yet published, so check the club. The club’s site also lists an Arkwright 5k League, a Sunset Series, the Hereward Relay and a Cake Ride, but we have not confirmed 2027 dates for any of them.

Social running groups

If a club feels like too much commitment, England Athletics’ RunTogether scheme lists groups offering what it calls fun, friendly, safe and inclusive running for people of all ages and abilities. Three Cambridge groups have pages on its ClubSpark system:

Group sizes, meeting points and fees are on each page and can change, so read the current version before you turn up.

University and college clubs

These clubs are for university members only. They are included so you know they exist, not because a newcomer from outside the university can join.

If you are not part of the university, the town clubs above are the right starting point. We have not covered individual college running or triathlon groups.

Getting started

For somewhere to run on your own, our parks and green spaces guide describes Jesus Green, Midsummer Common, Parker’s Piece and the river meadows. If you also want to try the river, see our rowing and river swimming guide.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to be fast to join a running club in Cambridge?

No. The clubs and groups in this guide describe sessions for a range of abilities, and parkrun welcomes walkers. Cambridge & Coleridge says its tempo session suits people who can run 30 minutes continuously, so ask about the session you are interested in.

Is parkrun free?

Yes. parkrun is free; you register once and bring your barcode. Some venues charge for parking, such as Wimpole Estate, so check the event page.

Can I try a club before I join?

Several offer this. Cambridge & Coleridge says you can join on a trial basis, Cambridge Triathlon Club says its senior sessions are open to non-members, possibly at a cost, and South Cambridge Striders says you can try three sessions.

Can I join the university running or triathlon clubs?

Only if you are a member of the university. Cambridge University Hare & Hounds says it may admit outsiders exceptionally at the Captain’s discretion, but that is not the normal route.

How do I find a triathlon club?

Cambridge Triathlon Club is listed above. British Triathlon also has a club finder at britishtriathlon.org, which we could not load when we checked.

Sources

Join the Society

This is an independent member's guide compiled by Cambridge Society. We are not affiliated with the clubs, organisers and venues mentioned; dates, sessions and arrangements change, so always confirm details on the official websites before making plans.

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