Transitioning to a new country can be an isolating and lonely experience. In response, an Abu Dhabi resident has established a social running group exclusively for women seeking to forge friendships. British national Chloe Wilson, 28, launched the 'Stronger Together' running club in June of this year. Initially, her Friday morning runs attracted only three to five women, but the group now draws up to 50 participants per session. The accompanying Instagram page has also swelled to over 2,500 members in less than four months.
Wilson recounts, “It began when I posted on Instagram to see if any women wanted to join me for a run. I was anxious that no one would show up, but those who did were wonderful, and we had a great time.” She continued, “I then made some videos about our activities, and suddenly, the group exploded in popularity. I started receiving hundreds of messages from women eager to join, and my follower count surged from 4,000 to 10,000 in just two months. We began as a group chat, but it quickly became too large to manage, so I created a dedicated page for us.”
Wilson emphasizes, “The interest we’ve garnered indicates a genuine need for a group like ours. Some of the city’s other running groups can seem intimidating or overly serious, but we focus on casual conversation and relaxation rather than intense training. It’s a welcoming environment where women can feel at ease, and we often follow our runs with coffee or breakfast. It’s an incredible way to start the day.” She adds, “We often receive smiles and waves while running, as large groups of women running together are a rare sight in Abu Dhabi.”
The group was born out of Wilson’s desire to help herself and other women in Abu Dhabi connect with like-minded individuals and make running in the heat more enjoyable. Wilson admits, “In my early 20s, I was quite the party girl. However, I stopped drinking three years ago as it was affecting my mental health. During the pandemic, I moved back to the UK and fell in love with running. When I returned to Abu Dhabi, I lost my motivation to run in the heat. I found solo running boring and was lonely as many of my old friends had moved away. I wasn’t interested in brunches or ladies’ nights and struggled to make new friends with similar interests.”
The group welcomes women of all abilities and meets every Friday at 6am at various locations, including Yas Island, Reem Island, Saadiyat Island, and the Corniche. Each session lasts about 40 minutes, with participants free to run as far as they wish. Wilson plans to introduce weekend runs starting in October and even running retreats. She notes, “I’ve grown close to many of our regular runners in a short time, and it’s wonderful to see friendship groups forming within the club. Many members have recently moved to the city, and the sessions also serve as a great networking opportunity. Managing it all is time-consuming, but it has brought immense joy to my life.”
Wilson juggles managing the running club with her marketing job and her role at Crank Abu Dhabi cycling studio. In addition to the runs, she organizes beach days, spinning classes, and other social events, with local businesses now partnering to offer discounts and freebies to members. She ensures, “We encourage walking and running at one’s own pace. I always position myself at the back to ensure no one feels left behind and arrive early to welcome first-timers.”
During the group’s August hiatus, Wilson initiated a six-week summer challenge to keep everyone motivated. The winner reduced her best 5km time by 10 minutes and sent Wilson a heartfelt message expressing gratitude for the group. Wilson reflects, “I’ve received tremendous support from other running groups and individuals. Every message has been positive, and I’m excited to see how we will continue to grow.”
