Free Running Groups in Newbury and Thatcham: What’s On Each Week
If you’re thinking about getting into running, or just want to meet new people and get out a bit more, there are plenty of free options across Newbury and Thatcham. From relaxed social runs to more structured sessions and even support groups, there really is something for everyone, whatever your pace or experience. A full weekly guide to all the groups is included in the table below, so you can quickly see what’s on each day.
One of the nicest things about the local running scene is how welcoming it is. You don’t have to be fast, you don’t have to have the latest gear, and you definitely don’t have to turn up knowing anyone. Most of these groups are built around community first, with running coming a close second.
A good place to start is Parkrun. If you’ve not come across it before, it’s a free, timed 5k that takes place every Saturday morning at 9am. You can run, jog or walk it, and plenty of people do all three. Locally, Greenham Common Parkrun is well established and takes place every week, while Victoria Park Parkrun is expected to return soon after being paused due to ground conditions. Both events are free, volunteer-led and open to all abilities, and it’s worth keeping an eye on their Facebook pages for the latest updates.
Linked to Greenham Common Parkrun is 5K Your Way, a monthly group for people affected by cancer. It offers a supportive space where people can take part in whatever way suits them, whether that is walking, running or simply being there. Sue Bennett, who helps lead the group locally, explained how flexible it is.
“We’ve had people who run, who walk, who just want to come and say hello, who might just want to have a hug and talk about things. People can do as much or as little as they’re able to.”
Sue is also heavily involved in RunTogether West Berkshire, which has been running for over a decade and now offers sessions across most days of the week. Led by trained run leaders, the sessions are designed to help people build confidence and fitness in a supportive environment.
“The idea was to get people out and active, and it has been really, really successful. We get new people all the time.”
Alongside those structured sessions, there are plenty of informal and social groups. Hi-5 Runners, based in Thatcham, offer a mix of weekly runs including intervals, group runs and trail runs, with different pace groups so no one is left behind. Their focus is very much on encouragement and community.
Runner’s High in Newbury has a similar feel, meeting on Sunday mornings for a relaxed run followed by coffee. It’s open to all abilities, whether you want to run, jog or walk, and has quickly built a strong following locally. As Charlie from Runner’s High Club puts it, “Show up for the run — stay for the laughs, the coffee, and the crew that always has your back.”
For those looking for something a bit more structured or faster paced, Newbury Runners meet on Wednesday evenings for a steady six mile run, typically at around eight and a half to nine minute miles. It’s a good option if you’re comfortable at that pace and want to push yourself a bit more.
There are also smaller, informal meetups happening during the week. Sue Bennett runs a beginner-friendly Tuesday morning group from Pret in Northbrook Street, which is very much a turn up and go session with no pressure or set format.
Occasionally, you will also see one-off or monthly events, such as the 5k coffee run organised by JWS Run Club in partnership with Milk and Bean, which brings people together for a relaxed run and a social catch up afterwards.
What stands out across all of these is how varied and accessible they are. Whether you want a quiet jog, a structured session, or just a reason to get out of the house and chat to people, there is something going on most days of the week.
If you know of a free running group in Newbury or Thatcham that isn’t listed here, you can get in touch by emailing Ali@kennetradio.com
| Day | Group | Location | Time | Distance / Type | Pace / Level | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday (Weekly) | Hi-5 Runners (Intervals) | Henwick | 19:00 | Interval training (~1 hr) | All abilities | Location may vary in winter – https://www.facebook.com/groups/672717909537107/ |
| Monday (Weekly) | RunTogether West Berkshire | Northcroft Leisure Centre | 17:45 | Social run | All abilities | Website: https://clubspark.englandathletics.org/runtogetherwestberks/Coaching Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WestBerkshireRunTogether/ |
| Monday (Weekly) | RunTogether West Berkshire | Waitrose, Newbury | 18:30 | Social run | All abilities | Website: https://clubspark.englandathletics.org/runtogetherwestberks/Coaching |
| Tuesday (Weekly) | Hi-5 Runners (Thatcham Trotters) | Waitrose, Thatcham | 18:30 | ~8–10km | All abilities | https://www.facebook.com/groups/672717909537107/ |
| Tuesday (Weekly) | RunTogether West Berkshire | Newbury Racecourse (Nuffield) | 19:00 | Social run | All abilities | Website: https://clubspark.englandathletics.org/runtogetherwestberks/Coaching |
| Tuesday (Weekly) | Social Run | Pret, Northbrook Street | 09:30 | Social run | Beginner-friendly | Informal, just turn up |
| Wednesday (Weekly) | Newbury Runners | (via Facebook group) | 19:00 | ~6 miles | Faster (8:30–9 min/mile) | https://www.facebook.com/groups/232128336906726/ |
| Wednesday (Weekly) | RunTogether West Berkshire | Newbury College | 18:00 | Social run | All abilities | Website: https://clubspark.englandathletics.org/runtogetherwestberks/Coaching |
| Wednesday (Weekly) | RunTogether West Berkshire | Nature Discovery Centre (summer) / Swings & Smiles (winter) | 18:15 | Social run | All abilities | #runandtalk – Website: https://clubspark.englandathletics.org/runtogetherwestberks/Coaching |
| Thursday (Weekly) | Hi-5 Runners (Main Run) | Henwick Playing Field Car Park | 19:00 | Group run | All abilities (split groups) | https://www.facebook.com/groups/672717909537107/ |
| Thursday (Weekly) | RunTogether West Berkshire | The Bowlers Arms | 10:00 | Social run | All abilities | Website: https://clubspark.englandathletics.org/runtogetherwestberks/Coaching |
| Thursday (Weekly) | RunTogether West Berkshire | The Bowlers Arms | 18:15 | Social run | All abilities | Website: https://clubspark.englandathletics.org/runtogetherwestberks/Coaching |
| Friday | — | — | — | — | — | No regular sessions listed |
| Saturday (Weekly) | Parkrun (Greenham Common) | Greenham Common | 09:00 | 5k | All abilities | Website: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/greenhamcommon/course/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newburyparkrun/about/ |
| Saturday (Weekly*) | Parkrun (Victoria Park, Newbury) | Victoria Park | 09:00 | 5k | All abilities | Website: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/victoriaparknewbury/course/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victoriaparkparkrunnewbury |
| Saturday (Weekly) | RunTogether West Berkshire | Northcroft | 09:00 | Social run | All abilities | Website: https://clubspark.englandathletics.org/runtogetherwestberks/Coaching |
| Saturday (Monthly – last Saturday) | 5K Your Way | Greenham Common Parkrun | Before 09:00 | Walk/run support group | All abilities | Website: https://www.moveagainstcancer.org/5k-your-way/ |
| Sunday (Weekly) | Runner’s High Newbury | BrewBlood Coffee | 09:30 | Social run | All abilities | Website: https://www.runnershighclub.co.uk/ |
| Sunday (Weekly) | Hi-5 Runners (Trail Run) | Various | 07:30 | ~6–8 miles trail | All abilities | Location varies – https://www.facebook.com/groups/672717909537107/ |
| Sunday (Occasional) | RunTogether West Berkshire | Various | — | Social run | All abilities | Website: https://clubspark.englandathletics.org/runtogetherwestberks/Coaching |
| Sunday (Monthly) | JWS x Milk & Bean 5K | Milk & Bean, Newbury | ~08:15 | 5k social run | All abilities | Check calendar: https://www.jwsfitnesswellbeing.co.uk/booking-calendar/jws-x-milk-bean-5k-run |