I Convinced Total Strangers to Run With Me Across Europe

Running with strangers in Europe was the challenge I set for myself this summer. I know a lot of runners in America. I could probably go to any of the 50 states and find someone to run with me. But for this challenge, I flew to Europe for a running with strangers Europe adventure, with two rules: I could not miss a single day of training with the season coming up, and I had to find someone to run with in each of the four countries I visited — Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. Whether that meant a run club, a stranger from Instagram, or someone I literally picked up off the street, I had to make it happen.

Running With Strangers in Europe: Switzerland Edition

I slept through the entire flight and landed in Zurich with a few hours to kill before our hotel check-in. I had seen some amazing running spots on Strava, so I laced up and headed out along the river. The scenery was unlike anything I had ever run through — old European architecture, clean streets, and paths that felt like they were made for runners. My first attempt at finding a running partner came when I spotted someone jogging near the river, but approaching a stranger in a foreign country where you do not speak the language is more intimidating than any race I have ever run.

I eventually met a guy named Sivan who not only gave me directions when I was lost but pointed me toward a coffee run club happening later that evening. That run club turned out to be the highlight of Switzerland. Everyone I met was amazing and they just accepted me like I was one of them. The running community really does transcend language barriers and national borders.

Germany — Olympic Park Intervals in Munich

Munich was my second country, and I had already located a track and another runner from Colorado who happened to be training there. Unfortunately, we got kicked off the track before I could join him. But I found something even better — a football stadium with a track around it. I ran my entire interval workout there in the pouring rain. It was a 9 by 3 minutes on, one minute off session, and the stadium setting made every lap feel special. Running through the covered tunnel section on each lap added an element of fun that made me forget I was doing a hard workout alone in a foreign country.

I also connected with a runner I had met on Instagram who showed me around the Olympic Park where the 1972 Olympics were held. We talked about training, the differences between American and European running culture, and the fact that most European runners do their long runs on Sundays. Running about 65 miles a week at that point, I had to balance my training with the travel schedule, which meant getting creative with when and where I ran.

Austria — Running Where Kipchoge Made History in Vienna

Vienna was supposed to be a rest day, which created a problem. Rule number one was that I could not miss a day of training, and my scheduled run fell on a day when I had no contacts in the city. I made a last-minute decision to swap my rest day and take an extra running day in Vienna instead. A local runner pointed me toward the Prater park, the same stretch where Eliud Kipchoge ran his legendary sub-two-hour marathon. Running on that path was an experience I will never forget — knowing that the greatest distance runner in history had covered the same ground beneath my feet.

I eventually stumbled into a local run club and met some incredible people, including a runner named Cassaba who showed me around the city on a run. We talked about training, life in Vienna, and the universal bond that runners share. The fact that I randomly showed up and was immediately welcomed reminded me why I love this sport.

Czech Republic — Attending a Running School in Prague

Prague was the final stop and the most challenging one for finding a running partner. The city felt less runnable than the others — hilly terrain, confusing traffic laws, and fewer obvious running paths. I had low expectations, but I used Strava to find the best spots and eventually signed up for a running school session. The coach, Radek, turned out to be a former semi-professional athlete who had competed in the European Championships in steeplechase. He taught me drills I had never seen before, and the group session pushed me in ways I did not expect.

After the session, I talked with several runners from the group about what running means to them. One runner shared how running helped him through depression and how it became the foundation of his community when he moved to a new city. Another said running was the first space where she connected with new people after relocating, and two years later, those running friends had become family. Their stories reinforced something I already believed — running is about so much more than fitness.

What This Trip Taught Me About the Running Community

Whether I did not know a single person, felt uncomfortable in the city, or could not speak the language, the running community was always accepting every single time. In a world where it can be hard to connect with people, running bridges that gap in a way nothing else does. I went to Europe not knowing if this challenge would work, and I came back with new friends, incredible training memories, and an even deeper appreciation for what makes this sport special. If you ever get the chance to run in a foreign country, do it. Find a local run club, ask a stranger to join you, or just lace up and see where the roads take you.

Watch the Full Video

Check out the full video above to see every country, every run, and every stranger-turned-running-partner from this European adventure.