In the bustling heart of Delhi, a fitness revolution is sweeping through the city’s youth, transforming the way Gen Z approaches health, socializing, and even dating. At the forefront of this movement is Bhag Club, a running collective that has captured the imagination of hundreds of young adults in just a matter of months.
Founded by two enterprising Delhi University graduates, Jyotiraditya Thakur and Krishbir Singh, both 22 years old, Bhag Club has quickly become a phenomenon. Since its inception just over a year ago, this innovative running club has grown from a small weekend meet-up among friends to a community that draws over 500 participants every week. They have also gained momentum by combining community runs with post-run coffee socials, offering a unique alternative to traditional nightlife. This approach creates a judgment-free space for fitness and socializing, attracting a large following. Unlike typical clubbing and raves, Bhag Club promotes a healthy lifestyle, aligning with the sober curious movement and providing an inclusive environment for networking and forming connections.
We at Ascendants had the privilege of sitting down with the founders of Bhag Club to uncover their journey, future plans, and the unique philosophy behind their thriving community. Join us as we dive into the story of how two young Delhi University graduates have redefined fitness and socializing for Gen Z, creating a vibrant, judgment-free space where running not only fuels health but also sparks connections, friendships, and even romance—all while breaking a sweat.
“What inspired the creation of Bhag Club, and how did the idea of a running club specifically tailored to Gen Z and Millennials come about?”
“Bhag Club was born from our college days,” shares Jyotiraditya. “Krishbir and I always aimed for more—whether it was skipping classes to run or work on creative projects. After graduation, we didn’t follow the traditional job path. A trip to Bali and meeting UFC fighter Anshul Jubli pushed us to step out of our comfort zones. We returned to Delhi with the idea of starting a run club, which quickly grew from a small concept to something bigger. By week two, we saw its potential and decided to go all in, leaving behind traditional career paths. Bhag Club became more than just running—it’s about creating a community.”
When discussing the challenges of launching Bhag Club, the founders explained that the running community was mostly made up of middle-aged or older individuals running long distances, leaving a gap for younger, beginner-friendly options. “We had to make running cool for our age group, who were more into partying and drinking,” they said. “We focused on creating a space where young people could get into running and enjoy it. Many new run clubs have popped up because they saw our growth, but we started with a clear vision and faced challenges as we paved the way ourselves.”
“Everyone is into, drinking, partying, and all that stuff. So we had to make running into a cool, cool sport that people want to do out of FOMO or for actual you know, to actually get fit and be active. “
Bhag Club remains a bootstrapped business, with the founders choosing to turn down multiple investment offers from Venture Capitalists.“This is our vision, our baby“ says Jyotiraditya. “While I come from a finance background and understand the benefits of raising funds, it doesn’t make sense for us right now. We’re in the early stages and want full control over our decisions.”
The club operates on a self-sustaining model, with monthly revenue reinvested back into the business. “We don’t take anything for ourselves; we just focus on growing the business,” they explain. Bhag Club differs from traditional businesses as its primary goal isn’t profit, but rather providing value to its community. Every week, they focus on keeping the community engaged, without the pressure of hitting revenue targets, ensuring the business remains aligned with its mission.
While running remains free for the community, things may look different for events like Hyrox.
“For Hyrox, you need a gym, equipment, and other resources, so we’re still figuring that out,” they explain. “However, our weekend social runs will always be free. Running is a community activity, and we don’t believe in charging people for it. You need shoes, and the road is public, so it’s not something we want to monetize.”
While discussing about women safety they told how the concept of Bhag Club filters out people with bad intentions. “No one with bad intentions is going to wake up at 6 AM on a Sunday after a Saturday night,” they explained. “The people who come to Bhag Club share a similar mindset—growth, meeting motivated, active, and fit individuals.” They also mentioned the success of a recent Women’s Day run, which saw an impressive turnout of 300-400 women. “A lot of brands host run clubs, but the number of females we had surpassed any brand’s event,” they said. The key to this success, they believe, is the safe environment they’ve cultivated. “People know Bhag Club is a safe place, and we ensure that by having people on watch to maintain security. If something goes wrong, we take immediate action.”
Bhag Club does plan to expand beyond Delhi NCR, but they are committed to maintaining the same energy and experience in other locations. This is one reason they chose not to pursue a franchising model, as they cannot maintain control over something they don’t have direct involvement in. They emphasize the importance of repeat attendance, noting that many events see people attending once but not returning. Bhag Club aims to create an environment where participants come back every week, regardless of weather conditions, ensuring a loyal and consistent community.
“The runners’ sense of loyalty comes from us being loyal to them, us providing value to them, us providing entertainment to them”
When asked about catering to older adults and children, the founders emphasized that while Bhag Club primarily focuses on Gen Z and millennials, they welcome people of all ages. “The youngest person we’ve had here couldn’t even talk — yet their mom brought them along, and we love that,” they shared. “We’ve also had people in their seventies join us, a couple who attended for a few weeks. We believe in creating a space where everyone feels welcome.” While their social media content targets Gen Z to attract that audience, they made it clear that Bhag Club is inclusive and open to all ages.
Finally, the founders shared their vision of making it the ‘Gospel of running‘. “We want that when someone decides to start their running journey, they think of Bhag Club,” they explained. “The founders envision a holistic approach to running, offering everything from the right gear to the perfect training plans and supplements. “When people think of luxury bags, they think of LV. We want Bhag Club to have that same association with running.” They emphasized that the core focus will always remain on an active lifestyle, but Bhag Club will adapt and evolve with market trends.
Above all, the founders stressed the importance of community. “We’ve turned down many brand deals that didn’t align with our values. For us, the community comes first, and we’ll always prioritize brands that add real value to it.”
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