As the winter drags on and the sun begins to set before most people leave campus, a small but motivated group of students gather at the Dalhousie sign on University Avenue. There are no stopwatches, records to break, or expectations to run the entire time.
Instead, the Dalhousie Run Club’s beginner run/walk program offers something unique: an invitation to move, connect, and get through the winter blues together.
Designed for complete beginners and those returning to the sport, the program's goal is to help others gain confidence and improve their endurance through weekly sessions.
Low stakes, high impact
Lucy Hill, a second year Biology student found herself filling more than just someone else's running shoes, stepping up as club president this past fall.
“I wanted to make the club more beginner focused then it has been in the past,” she says.
By highlighting enjoyment and social connection, the program reflects a broader shift away from hustle-driven fitness culture. The approach works especially well in a university setting, where students across campus are already facing academic pressures.
Winter, wellness, and showing up
While the Dalhousie Run Club operates from September to May, its winter program is unique in its aim to get students out during a time many would otherwise be spending inside.
One of the club's pacers, Isaac Passovoy, reiterates this sentiment. “I think it's great that during winter especially, people can get out and about and get some fresh air instead of being stuck in Dalplex for months in a row,” he said.
I think it's great that during winter especially, people can get out and about and get some fresh air.
Community plays a central role in the program's structure. For many students, this program offers a way to meet others, the club even putting on social events that tie directly in with their scheduled runs.
Hill described this as a key feature of the club.
“We're big into the physical health and activity side of it, but also the social aspect and mental health aspects,” she says, noting the program could in turn positively impact the broader community.
Moving through winter
By having inclusion and accessibility central to the club’s foundation, the program challenges traditional ideas of what a run club might look like.
“The biggest goal I have as president is making the club as welcoming, as inclusive, as friendly as possible,” says Hill. Seeing increased access to running as benefiting both mental and physical health.
In a season defined by the cold and academic pressures, this kind of consistency and kindness may very well be the most vital aspect to accessible fitness and mental health during the winter.
The Dalhousie Run Club’s beginner run/walk program meets every Monday at 6:00 p.m., starting February 2, at the Dalhousie sign on University Avenue and Robie Street. All paces and abilities are welcome, and no prior running experience is needed.
For general inquiry, president Lucy Hill suggests students reach out through their Instagram (@dalrunclub) or email, which can be found online through the Dal portal.