‘Personal hell’: 6am Bondi scenes leave social media stunned
Footage captured during sunrise at Sydney’s most iconic beach has sparked a fierce debate, with some describing the scenes as their “nightmare”.
Footage of Sydney’s ever-growing run club scene has once again gone viral, after joggers resembling a stampede were filmed charging along Bondi Beach at the crack of dawn.
The clip, captioned “POV: Every sunrise at Bondi Beach”, shows a seemingly endless stream of enthusiastic runners in their very best activewear, while helpless walkers try and navigate a path around them.
The video featured participants of The Sydney Run Club, a group that meets twice a week at 5:30am on Wednesdays and Fridays.
The club’s philosophy is that “running is more than just exercise – it’s a community, a passion, and a journey of self-discovery”.
It boasts an impressive 50,000 followers on Instagram, and has seen a dramatic increase in members as run clubs have swept the country over the last year.
“I’m not a runner but I see a bunch of people doing something good for their bodies while making new friends,” one viewer commented on the footage.
“This is great for meeting new people,” another said.
One woman even claimed she was part of the group, saying: “Well that’s me over there. Sorry not sorry.”
While many admired the dedication, others weren’t so impressed.
“It’s actually a nightmare when you’re walking and they run at you like a stampede. I wish they’d just go to an oval or a park,” one viewer wrote.
“This is like a cult,” another commented.
“I fear this would send me,” a third said.
One viewer argued the exercise group were actually “ruining the serenity” of Sydney’s most popular beach.
Another simply declared: “Yeah, nah.”
Over the last year, run clubs have exploded in popularity across Australia, especially among younger people who are swapping nights out for early mornings and chasing endorphins instead of hangovers.
What started as a casual meet-up has turned into a full-blown social movement – one that’s as much about connection as it is about fitness.
They’ve even been hailed by many as the “real life Tinder” – a place where romantic connections can flourish over the shared suffering of a 5am run.
Originally published as ‘Personal hell’: 6am Bondi scenes leave social media stunned
