Between freedom and responsibility: Why Run Clubs need to be aware of legal risks
As run clubs grow into cultural and commercial forces, many overlook the legal, financial, and ethical frameworks that come with visibility and influence.
Run clubs are no longer just running groups. They’ve become brands, cultural movements, lifestyle communities. They stand for connection, motivation, inclusivity, visibility — and often empowerment.
But where passion meets public space, certain topics inevitably arise, ones that few like to talk about: laws, permits, liability, and fairness.
This article is not legal advice, it’s a call for awareness.
Because anyone who organizes, leads, or supports a run club should understand the responsibility that comes with it, especially as the scene becomes more professional and economically significant.
“We’re just a few people going for a run” — or are we?
You often hear this when the topic of permits or regulations comes up.
And sure — if five friends meet spontaneously for a jog, that’s fine.
But many run clubs today host regular events, attract growing crowds, and collaborate with brands. At that point, it’s no longer a private meet-up! It’s a public event, with all the legal implications that come with that.
Depending on the city and the scale, such activities may need to be registered with local authorities, the city, the municipality, or the park management. Typical requirements include:
Use of public areas (parks, squares, streets)
Traffic and safety responsibilities
Noise restrictions
Waste and environmental regulations
Even if local authorities don’t object, private park owners or municipalities may have their own rules. Ignoring them can lead to fines, warnings, or even bans from using those spaces.
Music, vibes — and the GEMA factor in Germany
What’s a run without beats, motivation, and good vibes?
Many clubs use music — during warm-ups, while running, or at after-run gatherings.
What most don’t realize: as soon as music is played publicly, it falls under copyright law. In Germany, that means GEMA fees.
Whether it’s Spotify, a DJ, or a Bluetooth speaker, if others can hear it, a license is required. Many clubs assume they’re exempt because their events are free or small.
But GEMA doesn’t distinguish between commercial and non-commercial use — it cares about public performance.
The risk?
Back payments, legal notices, and fines which can quickly become expensive.
And good intentions (“we just wanted to celebrate”) don’t protect against consequences.
Liability, insurance, and responsibility
One topic that many run clubs tend to ignore is liability.
What happens if someone falls? Gets injured? If an accident occurs?
The classic “disclaimer” doesn’t necessarily solve it.
As long as a run is truly private, participants’ personal liability insurance usually applies.
But once it’s an organized event — with registration, branding, or structured organization, the situation changes.
And that’s true for the vast majority of modern run clubs.
In those cases, clubs often need:
Event liability insurance
Accident insurance for participants
Possibly property or venue insurance for rented or used spaces
These protections cost money, but they protect organizers from real risks.
And as clubs grow or become more professional, that professionalism should extend to responsible operations as well.
Run Clubs and Brands: when money enters the equation
Most run clubs start as passion projects by the community, for the community.
But as their reach grows, they become attractive to consumer brands. Shoes, energy drinks, watches… companies are eager to connect with authentic audiences.
That’s great in principle.
But: once money, sponsorships, or product deals enter the picture, responsibility shifts.
A club that collaborates with brands is, in effect, acting as an event partner and should therefore also be legally compliant.
If collaborations aren’t fairly compensated, the club takes on the risk while the brand reaps the image benefits. That’s why financially sustainable deals matter. Not just to cover effort, but to absorb risks — permits, insurance, fees. Or, as someone once put it:
Public space, private tracks — and fair competition
Another topic that deserves discussion: the use of space.
Many run clubs host sessions on public streets or in parks and often free of charge.
Meanwhile, other organizations, such as athletic clubs or professional event organizers, pay rent for tracks or stadiums.
When branded run clubs use public space for free, it creates an imbalance, especially compared to smaller private initiatives or community groups that follow all the rules and pay their dues.
This raises questions of fair competition:
Should public use remain free, even when commercial interests are involved?
How should cities and municipalities respond to this growing movement?
And how can run clubs act responsibly — and sustainably — within this framework?
These questions are uncomfortable but essential, particularly if we want to see run clubs evolve into cultural and economic players that are respected and sustainable, in Germany, across Europe, and worldwide.
Awareness, not bureaucracy
No one wants to see run clubs become bureaucratic.
They thrive on spontaneity, energy, and connection.
But anyone building something visible like leading people, working with brands, organizing events should act consciously, not naively.
The goal isn’t to slow the scene down. It’s to strengthen it. Because awareness protects from risk, from burnout, and from losing the authenticity that makes run clubs so special in the first place.
Conclusion: Running as a conscious IRL Community
Run clubs are symbols of a modern movement culture: free, open, social.
But freedom also means responsibility.
The more run clubs grow, the more professional they become, the more important it is to understand the frameworks: legal, economic, and cultural.
Those who use public spaces should know who owns them.
Those who invite brands should know what comes with them.
And those who lead people should understand what that truly means.
It’s not about limiting passion — it’s about building on solid ground.
So that run clubs can continue to be what they were always meant to be:
spaces for movement, connection, and genuine human energy.
Are you aware of any legal requirements? How do you deal with it?
Best
Gerrit
Gerrit Dokter is an expert in IRL Community building & IRL marketing for consumer brands, creating loneliness solutions for Gen Z and Y, and social entrepreneur based in Munich, Germany. When he’s not exploring the future of friendships and IRL connections, he’s probably diving into the latest research on loneliness, sharing knowledge about IRL community that sparks real-world connection, or curating unique experiences that bring people together. Say HEY on LinkedIn — he’s always up for a good conversation.