FUN NOT FAST: The Birmingham Crew Running on Community and Coffee
During the lockdown in June 2020, an avid runner named Daniel, inspired by the sense of community he saw in running clubs worldwide, noticed a lack of such groups in his own area of Birmingham. He decided to take matters into his own hands and created FUN NOT FAST. He set up an Instagram account, designed a logo, and began spreading the word, creating a new and much-needed space for social running in the UK's second city.
The philosophy of FUN NOT FAST, driven by founder Daniel, is to combine easy running with community building and a love for local culture, especially coffee. The goal is to create a space that prioritizes social connection over pace or mileage. Daniel's vision includes using the crew's runs to showcase the beauty of Birmingham, exploring its extensive canal system and parks, and discovering the city's diverse food and drink offerings by incorporating stops at local cafes and restaurants.
FUN NOT FAST is a crew with a strong sense of social responsibility. From the beginning, they have focused on finding ways to give back to their local and broader community. Their first charitable initiative was to collect donations for a local food bank, with plans to introduce more contributions and ideas as the group continues to evolve and grow. This commitment to making a difference is a core part of their identity.
The culture of FUN NOT FAST is relaxed, friendly, and consistent. The group meets for its main run every Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. in Sutton Park, a massive urban park that provides a beautiful backdrop. They meet at the Banners Gate Park entrance and run at a social pace of around 5:00 to 5:30 minutes per kilometer. This weekly ritual is the perfect way to combine fitness and socializing to kick off the weekend.
FUN NOT FAST extends a warm invitation to any runner in Birmingham who is looking for a community that values fun and social connections. You are welcome to join them for their fun and social run on a Saturday morning, which combines running, community, and exploring the beauty of Birmingham.
The industrial heritage and sprawling canals of Birmingham, UK, offer a unique contrast. As a major city in the West Midlands of England, Birmingham is a multicultural hub renowned for its history as a pivotal center of the Industrial Revolution. A key feature of the city is its extensive canal network—famously said to have more miles of canal than Venice—which provides a fantastic and unique urban landscape for runners to explore.
The home base for FUN NOT FAST's weekly run is Sutton Park, a massive National Nature Reserve and one of the largest urban parks in Europe, offering a vast network of paths and trails through woodlands, heathlands, and wetlands. In line with their mission to explore the city, the crew also plans to use Birmingham's extensive canal system for future routes, connecting different suburbs and showcasing the beauty of these historic waterways that wind through the heart of the city.
The running calendar in Birmingham is highlighted by several major events that bring the entire city together. The premier event is the Great Birmingham Run, a huge half-marathon that takes participants on a tour of the city center. The city also hosts the Birmingham Marathon as part of the same festival, providing a full-distance challenge for the region's thousands of dedicated runners.
