UAE: Founder of viral all-women running club puts friendship above winning
Moving to a new country can often feel lonely and isolating. That’s why one Abu Dhabi resident decided to create a social running club exclusively for women looking to make friends.
Chloe Wilson, a 28-year-old from the UK, founded the 'Stronger Together' running club in June of this year. Initially, only three to five women joined her Friday morning runs, but today, up to 50 women show up for each session. In less than four months, the club’s Instagram page has attracted over 2,500 members.
“It all started when I put a post on Instagram asking if any other women fancied meeting up for a run. I was so nervous, thinking no one would show up,” Chloe explained.
“But after sharing some videos of what we were doing, it just took off. I don’t know how, but suddenly I was getting hundreds of messages from women wanting to join, and my follower count went from 4,000 to 10,000 in just two months. We originally had a group chat, but it quickly got too big to manage, so I set up a page instead.”
A positive start to the day
Chloe said, “You can see from the response that there was a real need for a group like this. Some of the other running clubs in the city can feel a bit intimidating or serious, but we’re not about going fast or winning races.
“We’re more about having a chat and taking it easy—it’s all very lighthearted. It’s a safe space where women can feel comfortable, and we always grab a coffee or breakfast afterwards. It’s such a great way to kick off the day.
“We also get lots of smiles and waves while we’re out running. It’s not every day you see a big group of women running together in Abu Dhabi,” she added.
The group was inspired by Chloe’s own desire to help herself and other women in Abu Dhabi make like-minded friends, while also making running in the heat more enjoyable.
“In my early 20s, I was a bit of a party girl,” Chloe admitted. “But I gave up drinking about three years ago because it was affecting my mental health. I then moved back to the UK during the pandemic and completely fell in love with running.
“But when I came back to Abu Dhabi, I lost all motivation to run in the heat. It was boring running on my own, and I felt lonely because so many of my old friends had left. I wasn’t interested in brunches or ladies’ nights, and I struggled to make new friends with similar interests.”
Running for fun and friendship
Open to women of all abilities, the group meets every Friday at 6am in different locations, including Yas Island, Reem Island, Saadiyat Island, and the Corniche. Each session lasts around 40 minutes, and everyone can run as much or as little as they like during that time.
Chloe plans to introduce weekend runs from October and is even considering organizing running retreats.
“I’ve grown so close to some of our regular runners in such a short time, and it’s been incredible to see friendships forming within the group. Many of our members have only just moved to the city, and the sessions are also a fantastic networking opportunity. Organizing everything takes a lot of time, but it’s already brought so much joy into my life.”
Making running accessible for everyone
In addition to managing the running club, Chloe balances her marketing job with work at Crank Abu Dhabi cycling studio. Alongside the runs, she organizes beach days, spinning classes, and other social events for the group, while local businesses have started partnering with her to offer discounts and freebies.
“We encourage everyone to go at their own pace, even if they just want to walk. I always stay at the back so nobody feels left behind, and I arrive at least half an hour early to welcome any newcomers,” she added.
Although the group took a break in August, Chloe introduced a six-week summer challenge to keep everyone motivated. The winner managed to shave 10 minutes off her 5km time.
“She sent me a lovely message saying thank you and how much the group meant to her. It was really touching and made me quite emotional.
“I’ve received so much support from other running clubs and people in general. Every message has been so positive, and I’m excited to see how we’ll continue to grow,” said Wilson.
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