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As people become increasingly weary of drinking and traditional clubbing, we're entering an era of wellness-centered socializing—reference the rise of supper clubs, sober raves at saunas and run clubs that also serve as IRL dating apps.
In the past year, Peak and Pace, which combines running with partying and sometimes even comedy, has become one of the more popular wellness-centered communities in the city, with over 30,000 members and counting.
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So, if you're looking to make some new friends before the start of the summer, you might want to consider joining the club, which was founded by one Owen Akhibi Herrera in July 2024. Herrera moved to NYC from London and pretty quickly realized that, despite living in a massive city, many locals actually felt pretty lonely. He decided to start his own run club—with a twist.
"We see ourselves as a social club that just happens to run," Herrera tells Time Out. "Music is a huge part of our community, and we saw how much people love to dance and have fun, so we created events that reflect that energy. Comedy was another natural fit—it’s such a core part of NYC’s culture, and we wanted to bring that into our space."
Peak and Pace also plans ski trips in the winter, hikes when it's warmer out and is currently flirting with the idea of dinner parties.
Herrera believes that his project has resonated with New Yorkers because it offers range, which is essential to keeping easily bored New Yorkers hooked. If phones promise to solve all of our human needs—from socializing to dating—then we're going to need to start coming up with IRL social clubs that are just as dynamic and address many of our fundamental desires. That is, if we have any hope of ever getting off our phones.
No two Peak and Pace events are the same. One day, you might be running a 5k at Prospect Park followed by an afterparty with music and food. Another event might involve going to a comedy club before heading to a party, and some events are just for socializing with no running at all. The point is to offer variety and as many excuses to see people in different contexts, especially when we've been conditioned to think that meeting strangers can really only happen in a bar.
Herrera emphasizes that he doesn't want people who don't consider themselves runners to be intimidated by the term 'run club.' Just show up with an open mind and a willingness to meet people.
"We’ve had members who never considered running before now training to join different pace groups," says Herrera. "And while we’re not a dating run club, we’ve definitely seen it become a way for people to step away from dating apps and build real, in-person connections."
To to stay up-to-date on upcoming events, follow Peak and Pace on Instagram and purchase tickets to its various happenings here.
Here is a list of events that Peak and Pace is organizing in April:
- Saturday, April 12 – Prospect Park 5K + After Party
- Tuesday, April 15 - Track Day at McCarren Park
- Saturday, April 19 – Run of Nations 5K in Prospect Park
- Friday, April 25 – Afrobeats, R&B, and Hip-Hop Party at Lillistar in Williamsburg