Running has surged in popularity over the past few years in France.
Some 13 million people have gone running over the past year, up from seven million in 2017, according to the Observatory of Running, a study conducted by the Union of Sport and Cycling Businesses. And 64% of them run once a week.
One club dedicated to women runners is Women Run Bordeaux, founded in April 2025 by friends Elle Gillard and Sophie Larard.
Building meaningful connections
“As expats, we both understand how difficult it can be to build meaningful connections in a new place, or even in your hometown,” they told The Connexion.
“We wanted to create a safe, welcoming space where women could connect while also enjoying the mental and physical benefits of running.”
For Sophie, who works remotely in the healthcare industry and is originally from the UK, the club was a chance to make important in-person connections.
“It’s an opportunity to meet people face to face, support one another and build something local and lasting,” she said.
“In a world where social media and screens can make us feel more isolated, creating a welcoming community has been really rewarding.
“I’m proud we’ve been able to create a relaxed, inclusive space for women in Bordeaux, somewhere people can get into running, make friends and enjoy being part of a community.”
Elle, originally from Australia, works in marine policy for an international organisation.
“While my work isn’t directly related to running, it was actually the ocean that first inspired me to start,” she said.
“When I moved to Bordeaux in 2021, I began running along the beach, where the soft sound of the waves helped me slow down and embrace my natural pace.”
Elle and Sophie found that mixed-gender clubs tended to be more serious and to run at a quicker pace, so they started their club “to offer a genuinely relaxed, welcoming environment where people can get into running without pressure”.
The group tends to do a weekly 5km run along the quais of Bordeaux or in a city park, finishing with a coffee at a local café. This post-run period is “just as important as the run itself”.
Elle and Sophie make a conscious effort to support women-owned cafés, highlighting that the group is also about celebrating and supporting women in the local community.
While most members are French, nationalities also include women from Spain, Norway, the US and India.
Every six weeks, participants run a 5km route that takes in three galleries, where staff show the runners the current exhibitionWomen Run Bordeaux
“We run our events in both English and French so that everyone feels included. It’s been amazing to see how the group naturally becomes a space for exchange – non-French speakers practising their French, French members practising their English, and everyone building connections across cultures.”
The group has helped both women find a sense of belonging.
“It has made a huge difference, helped us feel more integrated into the local community and allowed us to build friendships with French women, which can often be challenging when you first arrive,” they said.
“Overall, it’s been about much more than running: it’s about connection, support and community.”
A growing number of clubs combine running with other activities, from foodie run clubs to more cultural offerings, such as Art Run in Paris.
The project was devised as a way to combine running and contemporary art, “while opening the doors to spaces that are often perceived as closed or inaccessible,” said Jeanne Couetil, gallery manager of the Bremond Capela gallery, which organises the run.
“I am particularly drawn to the idea of entering a gallery in running shoes, of deconstructing the sense of exclusivity often attached to these spaces, and of reconnecting artists and audiences in a more direct way.”
Every six weeks, participants run a 5km route that takes in three galleries, where staff show the runners the current exhibition.
Organisers often collaborate with running clubs to ensure the audience is as diverse as possible. A session with Further Athletics saw 80 runners take part from France, the US, Mexico, Morocco and beyond.
“A genuine community is beginning to form around Art Run. We now have a core group of participants who return regularly for each edition,” said Ms Couetil.
“We try to make each run as inclusive and personal as possible. Each run ends with a breakfast at the Bremond Capela gallery; it is often there that conversations extend and new relationships emerge.”
