There’s something truly special about the San Diego running community. With sunshine year-round and a coastline that begs to be explored on foot, it’s no wonder our city is home to an incredible variety of run clubs—from competitive crews to social squads and everything in between. Whether you’re new to town or just looking to shake up your routine, there’s a group out there for you. Check out our Ultimate List of San Diego Run Clubs to discover your next running crew!
In this month’s Run Club Highlight, we’re headed to Pacific Beach to shine a spotlight on a club that puts connection first and pace second: PB Run Club. Known for its welcoming, no-pressure vibes, PBRC is all about community, consistency, and post-run hangs. With free weekly runs starting from Bonita Cove—Wednesdays at 6:00pm and Saturdays at 8:30am—this club has grown from a three-runner loop in 2020 to a beachside running movement.
Keep reading to meet PBRC’s founder Todd, learn what makes this club tick, and find out why their motto—“a social club that likes to run”—says it all.
Tell us a little about yourself and about how Pacific Beach Run Club (PBRC) started.
I moved across the country in March of 2020 (3 days before the Stay at Home Order), so that I could live in a city that allowed me to be active outside year-round. Without any friends or family in the city, I thought creating a run club would be a fun way to create a community centered around something healthy, inexpensive and with a low barrier for entry. Our first run only had 3 runners, myself included, and was a 2.5 mile loop in PB. My initial goal was to grow to 15 runners within a year, and to have 25 members within 2-3 years.
The first PBRC meet ups in 2020 started with only a few people. Now you see hundreds of runners every week! When was the point you realized this may start to really grow into something special?
In February of 2021, only 4 months after starting the club, my college friends came to visit me for our annual guys trip. That week we hit a record 18 attendees. That same week, the club was featured in an article published in the Beach & Bay Press. With my goal being ‘15 runners by the end of the first year’ this felt like a HUGE success. Around this time is when I started to notice friendships forming between people who met through run club.
What makes PBRC unique?
The biggest differentiator between PBRC and other run clubs is our obsession with member experience and prioritizing the social element of running, rather than the training portion. We run accordion style, meaning we have 3 pre-designated stops along the route (not including stop lights) where we wait 2-3 minutes before continuing the run. This allows most runners at a slower pace to catch up and stay with the group.
Your tag line is “a social club that likes to run.” What else do you do besides running?
A ton! We have socials at local businesses in PB after each run, along with pickleball tournaments, PBRC Prom, volunteer opportunities, beach parties and private fitness studio classes throughout the year.
We know you’re a big music fan. If PBRC were a song, what song would it be?
Easy! “Alright” by Supergrass. Classic.
We’re ready to join! When and where do you meet?
We meet every Wednesday @ 6pm and Saturday @ 8:30am. We’re currently meeting at Bonita Cove, but follow us on IG for any location updates or field trip announcements :)
