Welcome to MERC — Your Multi Ethnic Running Club
MERC is the UK’s most inclusive community running club — built for all abilities, all backgrounds, and open to adults 18+. Under-18s are welcome to join runs provided a parent or guardian is also a MERC member. Led by local captains at a steady pace, with no one left behind. From Southend to every city in the world.
MERC exists to make running genuinely accessible to everyone — regardless of ability, age, background, or postcode. Our captains lead every session at a pace that works for the whole group, ensuring no one is ever left behind.
As a Community Interest Company (CIC), every pound we generate is reinvested into the club, our communities, and our expansion across the UK and beyond. MERC is built to be transparent, accountable, and community-first from the ground up.
Sessions capped at 45 mins with structured breaks. Every pace is respected. No fitness requirements.
A dedicated captain in every city, representing every community — from Southend to the world.
Community Interest Company structure — transparent, legally accountable, and reinvesting in communities.
Expanding internationally — one captain, one city, one chapter at a time. Every country, one movement.
From first sign-up to captain status — everything you need to run, compete, connect and lead in the world’s most inclusive running movement.
Your entire MERC world in one place. Track your run history, view upcoming sessions, access leaderboards, chat with your chapter, and manage your membership — all from your phone.
Every member carries a unique barcode. Your captain scans you in at each session — instantly logging your attendance, awarding your points, and updating your streak. No manual registers. No disputes.
Each city chapter has a dedicated in-app chat. Coordinate sessions, celebrate milestones, share routes, and stay connected with your local MERC community between runs. Your chapter, your conversation.
Two parallel systems. Only a captain-led session scan awards leaderboard points. XP is earned from everything and drives your level badge.
Every MERC chapter has its own leaderboard ranking all members in that city. Accumulate sessions, referrals and event points to claim the top spot in your home city. Your city, your title.
Chapters are ranked against each other nationally on a combined city score. Every attendance lifts your city up the board — your run doesn’t just count for you, it counts for your whole city.
Captains compete on a separate global leaderboard — scored on member retention, session frequency, chapter growth and community engagement. The definitive global ranking of MERC leadership excellence.
MERC captains don’t just lead runs — they build communities. You are the face of MERC in your city: organising sessions, welcoming new members, maintaining the culture, and growing your chapter from the ground up.
No professional athletic background required. No elite fitness needed. What matters is genuine leadership, a passion for community, and a commitment to the MERC standard.
You plan the schedule, set the route and pace, and lead every run. You set the culture of your city’s chapter.
Captains have barcode scanning rights in the app — check members in at the start of every session with a single scan.
Full chapter analytics — attendance, member growth, points history, streak data and your real-time city leaderboard position.
Appear on the exclusive worldwide Captains Board — scored on your chapter’s performance, member retention and growth rate.
Complete 6+ months as a MERC captain and receive an official reference letter from the MERC Director, recognising your verified leadership, community management and people skills.
Regular, accessible physical activity is one of the most clinically effective interventions available for both physical and mental health. MERC is designed to deliver exactly that — at community scale, at no barrier to entry.
Regular moderate-intensity running significantly reduces risk of cardiovascular disease, depression and anxiety. Our 45-minute format aligns with NHS weekly physical activity recommendations.
MERC directly addresses social isolation, low physical activity, and community disconnection — key NHS social determinants of health.
All MERC captains are trained in welfare, inclusion and equal access principles. Every session is a safe, welcoming environment for all.
Attendance data, membership growth and session frequency provide fundable evidence of sustained community health engagement.
“Physical activity is the closest thing we have to a wonder drug. Community running magnifies every benefit — physical, mental and social — while tackling isolation simultaneously.”Aligned with NHS Active 10 & Sport England Together Active
MERC’s captain model places a team of qualified local leaders in every city — multiple captains per chapter, unified under one standard, one set of values, and one global identity. Every major UK city first, then every city in the world.
Chapters marked gold are active or in active development.
Premium quality running shirt with official MERC branding. Available in embroidered and printed versions. Contact us with your name, size and style to place your order.
MERC captains are the backbone of this movement. You will lead sessions, build your local community chapter, and carry the MERC identity in your city. No professional athletic background required — just passion, commitment and genuine leadership.
£20 a year. No prerequisites. No gatekeeping. A movement that believes every person — regardless of speed, background or postcode — deserves a place at the start line.
