Will Run for Food (and Beer): 5 Philly Running Groups for Foodies
October ’tis the season for prime running weather: You no longer start dripping enough sweat to fill a Big Gulp container the minute you step foot out of your door, and it’s not yet cool enough to enter into hibernation mode. But if a perfectly cool breeze isn’t enough incentive for you to stick to your running schedule, we know what might be: The promise of food, beer and/or coffee at the finish line.
Sold? Thought so. And these Philly running groups, perfect for the food and beer-driven among us (my hand is raised), each end with at least one item on that list. Read up, foodies!
Team Humane League Meatless Monday Running Crew
When: Mondays at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Start locations change weekly.
Distance: 3-ish miles.
Consider your Meatless Monday plans covered from here on out: Every Monday, this crew meets at a different spot for a three-ish-mile run, ending at a vegan-friendly dinner spot to chow down on animal-free eats — like these waffle fry nachos (!!) from Loco Pez.
Fishtown Beer Runners
When: Thursdays at 7 p.m.
Where: Meet at 2346 East Susquehanna Avenue, Fishtown.
Distance: 3-5 miles.
If the thought of an ice-cold craft beer waiting for you three miles down the road is just about the only thing that will get you to run three miles, rest assured: The folks at Fishtown Beer Runners, the weekly, all-paces running group, end every single run at a bar that boasts a good beer selection. Fishtown Beer Runners is the OG of beer running, but there are a number of other beer-running groups around town if Fishtown isn’t convenient for you, including the Manayunk Beer Runners, the Torresdale Beer Runners and the new Elkins Park Beer Runners.
Shack Track & Field Philly
When: Second Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m.
Where: Meet at Philadelphia Runner, 3621 Walnut Street, University City.
Distance: 3-5 miles.
Who wouldn’t run to Shake Shack? No one. The is the answer. And every second Tuesday of the month, Shack Track and Field hosts a free community run to their University City location at 3200 Chestnut Street, and everyone who runs gets a free (yep: FREE) drink at the finish line. And, I mean, while you’re there, you may as well get a ‘Shroom Burger, too. You’ve earned it.
Passyunk Beer and Java Runners
When: Tuesdays at 7 p.m. and Thursdays at 6:30 a.m.
Where: Meet at Passyunk Fountain at Passyunk and Tasker, South Philly.
Distance: 3-5 miles.
If coffee is your morning lifeblood and beer is your evening lifeblood (I am nodding my head vigorously), then this South Philly running crew is for you. They meet twice a week, on Tuesdays for a post-work run to a South Philly bar and Thursday mornings for a coffee and breakfast run to Black N Brew. Their Tuesday runs are a bit slower (9 to 10-minute miles) than their Thursday runs (8 to 9-minute miles).
Honeygrow Run Club
When: Last Tuesday of every month.
Where: Meet at Philadelphia Runner, 1601 Sansom Street, Center City.
Distance: 3-5 miles.
Want 25 percent off your noodle bowl at Honeygrow? Of course you do. Well, Honeygrow’s run club meets for a run on the last Tuesday of every month and after pounding the pavement, runners get 25 percent off their order at Honeygrow, which is right next door to Philadelphia Runner’s Center City store. And lucky for you, they’ve got a special mural-themed run coming up next Tuesday, October 25th.
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