The free run club app for organizers

What does a run club app do for organizers?

The quick answer

It replaces the WhatsApp poll. On Event Flo each run gets its own page with a meeting point, a cap and a waitlist. Runners RSVP in the browser with ID checks on by default, you scan them in at the start, and you can see who keeps coming back. It's free for organizers.

• QR check-in: Scan runners in at the start
• ID checks: On by default
• 0% platform fee: Free runs stay free

Why people lead runs

Lead the run, and someone finally has people to run with.

What makes run clubs hard. And how we fix it.

• "WhatsApp RSVPs are a mess." One link per run: Share the run's link in your group instead of a poll. Runners RSVP on the page, the count stops at your cap, and the waitlist takes the rest.
• "I never know who'll actually turn up." Scan runners in at the start: Each runner gets a QR pass by email. Scan them in from your phone at the start, and your Audience view shows who keeps coming back.
• "Early runs need more trust." Know who's coming before the start: ID checks are on by default, so an RSVP waits until the runner's ID is verified. Turn on approval to welcome new runners yourself, and block anyone from your future runs.
• "Nobody finds us outside Instagram." A page people can find: Each public run gets its own page and is listed on Discover and your city's pages. People in your city who haven't switched off event emails hear about new ones.

• How to grow a run club

From post to start line.

1. Post the run: Meeting point, distance, pace, a cap, and whether beginners are welcome. The first time, a public event goes live once your ID is approved, usually within an hour; a private event can go live right away.
2. Take RSVPs: Share the link in your group. Runners RSVP in the browser, the waitlist fills dropped spots, and reminders go out the day before.
3. Scan in at the start: Check runners in from your phone. Then duplicate the run for next week and change the date.

Before your first group run: the short version

Route, pace, safety and the coffee after.

1. Pick a fixed time and place: The same start point and time each week makes it easy to come back. Early mornings and weekends suit most groups.
2. Choose a route that loops: A 5 km loop that ends where it started keeps the group together and lets slower runners cut it short.
3. Set a pace nobody has to fight for: Say the pace on the run page and put a sweeper at the back, so nobody runs alone. Beginners come back when they are not left behind.
4. Make early runs safer: Use lit, busy routes before sunrise, share the route on the page, and keep ID checks on so you know who is coming.
5. Finish at a café: End near a café or chai stall and say so on the page. The coffee after is where runners get to know each other.
6. Count who came: Scan runners in at the start. After a few runs, your Audience view shows your regulars, so you can thank them by name.

• Fewer no-shows with verified RSVPs
• Read the full guide: How to start a run club

Everything for a run club.

Included, free

Get it out there

Your event page, and the places people can find it.

• Your own event page: Cover photo, a full description, the date, the place and an RSVP button, all on one page with one link to share everywhere.
• Listed where people look: Public events appear on Discover and on your city's pages, where people already look for parties, meetups and runs.
• People nearby get told: When your public event goes live, people in your city who haven't switched off event emails hear about it.

Choose your crowd

Who gets in is your call.

• ID-checked guests: ID checks are on by default, so an RSVP waits until the guest's ID is verified. You can switch them off per event.
• Waitlist: When you're full, new RSVPs join a waitlist. Let people in from it yourself, or turn on auto-promotion so the next person moves up when a spot opens.
• Approve each guest: Turn on approval and guests request to join instead of booking straight away. You approve or decline each one, so nobody gets in without your yes.

Run the night

Smooth at the door, and it sets up your next one.

• Scan guests in from your phone: Check guests in with your phone's camera, right in the browser. It keeps working when the signal drops and syncs later.
• QR passes by email: Confirmed guests get a QR pass by email, and you can see whose pass was sent and whose bounced.
• A community page for regulars: Give your regulars a page of their own that lists your events. Members join from it and get a notification when you post the next public one.

Hosting something else?

• For hosts
• Host a house party
• Start a meetup
• Host a singles night

Your next regular is out there.

Post this week's run free. See who turns up.

• Free runs stay free
• ID checks on by default
• No app to download

Frequently asked questions

Is Event Flo free for run clubs?

Yes. There's no subscription and a 0% platform fee, and free runs cost you nothing to post. If you charge for a special session, guests pay you directly.

Can I post the same run every week?

Yes. There's no automatic repeat, so duplicate last week's run from its settings and change the date. Each run keeps its own RSVP list, cap and check-in record.

Do runners need to download an app?

No. Runners RSVP on the run's page in any browser and get a QR pass by email, and you scan them in from your phone's browser.

How is this different from a Strava club?

Strava is built for logging runs. Event Flo handles the part before and at the start: a capped RSVP list, a waitlist, ID checks and QR check-in. You can keep both.

Do run clubs need permission or insurance?

It depends on where you run. Rules for group runs on public roads and in parks differ by city and country, and charging entry can change what you need, so check locally.

How do I get sponsors for a run club?

Show a sponsor who turns up. Your check-ins give you real numbers from your own runs, and you can export each run's guest list as a CSV.

Should a run club be free?

Many clubs keep their regular runs free, and that keeps people coming. Charge for special sessions, like a coached workout or a run with breakfast, and guests pay you directly.

Can a co-leader help scan runners in?

Yes. Once the run is published, invite them as door staff by email. They need an Event Flo account, and they scan from their own phone, so you never share your login.