FITNESS ‘N’ FRIENDS: AN INTERVIEW WITH THE FOUNDER OF THE SOCIAL SPORTS CLUB

RUNNING, YOGA, PILATES & CO. – THE CLUB SWEATS TOGETHER

Whether you’re a beginner runner or a triathlon pro – at the Social Sports Club in Constance, the focus is on enjoying exercise together. Founder Michael Carl talks about the club’s beginnings, what it offers and his vision for a fitter Constance.

What inspired you to found the Social Sports Club in Constance?

“The Social Sports Club Konstanz has been around since last year, after lots of people asked me if I would like to set up a running club. I had already been following the trend from the USA a bit, you could see on Instagram how many clubs had suddenly sprung up. But because I had just started my own business and didn’t have much time for the project, I gave it a month – in the hope that someone else would come forward. But no one came forward – and then I took it into my own hands. For the first run, I motivated 15 to 20 people from my circle of friends to take part, made videos, created an Instagram account – and the whole thing grew bigger and bigger until we had around 100 people by the summer.”

You have support with the organization and club management. How did this come about and who does what?

“I got support at the beginning of the year because I had moved to Munich in the meantime. Now I’m back in Constance for the summer. My best buddy Jan is helping me – we get on really well, share the same interests, he’s into sports and is also strong in running. He leads the runs, introduces the different speed groups at the start, explains the route and takes over when I’m not there. I’m really grateful to him for that.”

The club combines exercise and community: what is important to you here?

“Exercise, community and quality time, I would say. It’s important to me that people come together and are active in sports. Especially if you’re new to the city, it’s a great way to make friends. Sometimes you don’t feel like running alone, then you can just spontaneously join the group – and maybe make new friends in the process. The club is a project close to my heart because I believe that we should all lead a more active life.”

What sports & activities does the Social Sports Club offer on a regular basis?

“The basis is our social runs – on Tuesdays and Saturdays. We run in different speed groups, from a 4:30 to a 7:30 pace [min per km]. Depending on your own fitness level, you can join one of these groups, which is best done using a smartwatch. The slower group runs 5 km, the others 8-9 km. On Tuesday we run from the Bodenseeforum in the direction of Hörnle. You can turn around at any time along the way and catch up with the group again later – it’s not an issue at all, really anyone can join in. The backdrop of Lake Constance, the old town, Imperia and the cathedral as the sun sets is simply amazing. And on Saturdays we run through the Seeburgpark in Kreuzlingen in the morning. I don’t think any other running club has such a beautiful backdrop as we do here in Constance. On Sunday there’s also the long run with 16 or 21 km. And on Thursdays, depending on the weather, there is occasionally a sunrise run. There’s also yoga (Thursday and Sunday evenings), Pilates (Friday evenings) and additional activities such as Strong Nation or Mobility during the summer break.”

Is there a fixed membership or is participation completely open?

“There is no fixed membership. Anyone can simply join. Sure, it takes a lot of time – especially with social media – but I want it to remain open. If I were to introduce a membership fee of 5 euros a month, fewer people would probably join. There is the option to donate something, but that is completely voluntary. We recently added Hansefit as a corporate fitness provider, which means that members can now take part in our yoga, Pilates and other fitness classes for free.”

What is your personal favorite sport or exercise?

“Because I’m currently in triathlon training, swimming sessions are currently my favorite. I can’t get out of swimming – and it really motivates me to see my progress and improve my technique and times.”

What future plans do you have for the Social Sports Club?

“I want the club to continue to grow, for even more people to take part and for us to keep planning cool events. For example, after-run events with a DJ or exciting collaborations with sports brands. Many people have said that they would like to see an old town run in Constance again – that would be great, of course, but super time-consuming to organize, let’s see.”

Who typically takes part in club offers?

“Mainly people from Constance and Kreuzlingen – but there have also been participants from St. Gallen and Villingen-Schwenningen. Some new running clubs are now being set up there. I think it’s cool, but I can understand that you don’t want to travel 30 minutes for every run. But it’s definitely worth taking part in the special events.”

How long have you lived in Constance – and what do you particularly like about the city and its surroundings?

“I moved here in 2018 to study sports and Spanish as a teacher. The range of sports on offer for students is really fantastic, there’s so much on offer here. And Constance has everything: Lake Constance, of course, the Loretto Forest, you can be in the mountains in no time – I’ve really fallen in love with the city.”

What does your perfect day in Constance look like?

“It’s best to get up early, then go for a swim in the lake, followed by the first sports session and a good, healthy breakfast. Then I would say it’s time for work. A walk in the afternoon, preferably with an espresso date, maybe with Jan. Then it’s back to work and I’ll probably start my second training session later. And in the evening I’ll go to the Schänzle with friends and enjoy the sunset and dinner together. That’s a perfect day for me, I’d say. So the combination of being active in sports, delicious food, work, espresso, friends and sunset.”

What development or change would you like to see in Constance in the coming years?

“I think there are not enough offers for young people. More fitness and sporting events such as the Swim & Run or activities such as fun beach volleyball tournaments would be a cool thing – a triathlon in Constance would be a dream, but that’s difficult to implement. Workshops on the topic of health would also be great – but there’s always the question: who organizes it? I would simply like to see more opportunities for healthy, active living in the city.”