Growing the Running Community, Together: Celebrating 1 Year of Run Parlour-London!

Parker Doig
Jul 24
3 min read

On July 20th, we had the chance to celebrate an exciting milestone for our friends at Run Parlour London – their first birthday!

The event brought together local runners for a community 5K run, live music, giveaways, and a whole lot of fun. We were thrilled to be part of the festivities, setting up a booth in-store to meet new faces, answer race-day questions, and take new registrations for the 2025 Railway City Road Races.

But this wasn’t just an anniversary celebration. It was also a chance to spotlight our growing partnership with Run Parlour and reflect on what we’ve accomplished together in just a few short months.

About Our Partnership

While the partnership is new for 2025, it was officially announced back on March 10th. Since that time, Run Parlour has become the Official Run Specialty Partner of the Railway City Road Races, and a key factor to our races' growth in our 11th year.

Run Parlour is a community-driven run shop with locations in London, and Clinton. On-top of offering running gear from all the top brands, they host weekly group runs, training clinics, community events, and workshops designed for all levels – from first-timers to seasoned racers. Their mission resonates deeply with our values:

“We celebrate each other’s accomplishments, provide a listening ear during challenging times, and offer words of encouragement when needed. Together, we create an atmosphere of inclusivity, where everyone feels welcomed and supported, regardless of their pace or experience level.”

This philosophy of genuine community building caught our attention because it mirrors what we strive for in every Railway City Road Race event. We believe running should be accessible and welcoming to everyone, whether you’re chasing a personal best or simply looking to cross your own personal finish line.

By partnering up, we’re blending the best of both worlds: Run Parlour supports runners in their training journey with their community-first approach and deep grassroots connections, while Railway City Road Races provides the stage to put that training to the test on race day with our operational expertise and professionally managed events.

Growing Together

Since the partnership began, we’ve seen a massive impact – registrations are up over 78% compared to July of last year!

Thanks to Run Parlour's community spirit and connections, we’re reaching more runners than ever. This growth validates our belief that when you prioritize genuine community building, everyone wins. Runners get more meaningful experiences, and we get the privilege of serving an even more engaged and enthusiastic community.

We’ve loved seeing new faces join the Railway City Road Races community as a result of this partnership. What excites us most is what these numbers represent: more people feeling welcome in the running community, more first-time participants taking that brave step to register, and more experienced runners finding events that align with their values and running goals.

What’s Next?

This special anniversary event was just the beginning. Over the coming months, we’ll continue working with Heather, Pete, and the rest of the Run Parlour team on new opportunities and community outreach leading up to race weekend in the fall - so lace up and stay tuned!

Let’s Keep Running Together

We’re proud to partner with a team that shares our passion for movement, community, and making running accessible to all. Whether you’re training with Run Parlour or racing with us this fall – this partnership is here to support every step of your journey. Here’s to many more miles, many more celebrations, and many more opportunities to welcome new runners into this incredible community we’re building together.

Ready to be part of what we’re building? Check out our upcoming events and see how the Railway City Road Races and Run Parlour partnership can enhance your running journey. Whether you’re a seasoned racer or considering your first event, we’re here to support you every step of the way.