More than a run club: girlsrunthe6ix

How a women-led run club is reshaping Toronto's fitness scene—on and off the track

(Victoria Andrade/New Wave Zine)

You could feel the adrenaline in the air as Isabelle Burdett biked to the east side of downtown Toronto, flying past cheer stations and runners pushing themselves towards the finish line of the 2025 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon. A hip injury may have kept her from participating in the race, but it could never keep her from cheering on her friends. 

“I don't care if my legs hurt; their legs hurt more,” she said. 

After moving to a new neighbourhood in 2024, Burdett was looking for ways to step out of her home office and create new relationships. Growing up, she participated in various extracurricular activities at school; dabbling in running throughout the years, and even completing the Sporting Life 10-kilometre race. After failing to recruit a friend to run with her, Burdett signed up solo for the 2024 TCS Toronto Waterfront Half Marathon. 

“I had the waterfront marathon logo on my vision board for a couple of years,” Burdett said, when reflecting on her decision to commit to the race. 

New to running with others, she came across girlsrunthe6ix online and decided to join them for one of their weekly runs. 

“I found out about girlsrunthe6ix on Instagram because they were [hosting] a Women's Day event,” she said, “​​I thought, I'll just go try it out.” Now, aside from illness or injury, Burdett runs with the club every Friday.  “I don't know what my life [looked like] before,” she declared.

Founded by Jill Amirault and Claire Milburn in December 2023, girlsrunthe6ix is a women-led run club dedicated to fostering a supportive environment for female runners. It welcomes women of all experience levels and creates a community centred around girlhood and friendship.

(Victoria Andrade/New Wave Zine)

“Claire DM’d me on TikTok. I was posting my runs, and she was like, ‘I'm looking for a friend to run with,’” Amirault recalled, holding onto a warm coffee outside Quantum Coffee at The Well, after the club's first co-ed run event. 

Following their first meeting, Milburn and Amirault began attending various running clubs in the GTA alongside their friend Carly. However, they quickly noticed a missing piece in Toronto's running community.

 “We felt there was a lack of women’s communities within Toronto,” said Milburn.

Following Carly's move to England, Milburn and Amirault decided to expand their running circle. They created an Instagram page for girlsrunthe6ix. 

“We barely had any followers, [and] didn't really know who we’d reach, to be honest. Then it really blossomed into what it is now,” Milburn said. 

By reaching out to brands for support and consistently posting on social media, Milburn and Amirault were able to reach a larger audience of women in Toronto who were craving connection in the same way they did. 

After their first run on Dec. 2, 2023, the club quickly gained popularity. Their Instagram account grew from 400 to 4,000 followers in its first four months—now nearing 10,000 as their second anniversary approaches.

The greater impact, however, can be seen beyond Coronation Park's trails. 

Hosting a variety of charity and wellness-focused events, girlsrunthe6ix has partnered with institutions such as CAMH and Covenant House to highlight the importance of mental health awareness and supporting others while doing what you love. With giving at the core of their mission, the run club continues to push the boundaries of what community-driven fitness can look like.

“The most rewarding thing is when you see girls come to the run club and they become friends, and then you see them out on a run another day by themselves…People who come to the club feel this accountability to make other people feel included,” Amirault highlighted. She noted that she and Milburn see the run club as a space not for themselves but for others who crave a space to flourish and meet people in a city that often feels incredibly lonely. 

(Victoria Andrade/New Wave Zine)

Burdett, one of the original club members, mentioned that the friendships she has made since her first day attending their women's day event have become some of her most fruitful relationships to this day. Her friendships have also allowed her to meet new people and join other running clubs in the city, strengthening her understanding of Toronto's culture and her drive to achieve her own goals.

Burdett notes that the model Milburn and Amirault created can be adapted to different environments. 

“So many women are wanting community…People are like, ‘Can we start a walking club? I'm not a runner,” she explained. “Whether it be a run club, a walking club, or just a meet up, it's so easy for people to take this and apply it in other ways.” 

Despite the success Milburn and Amirault have already achieved, their vision for the club’s future is even bigger. They plan to bring more women into leadership roles and expand their outreach to elementary schools, continuing to find new ways to spark change and inspire both younger and older generations to chase their ambitions.

Milburn grew up surrounded by strong female role models—not just famous athletes, but the coaches and women in her community. She hopes to offer that same example to younger generations. She explained that girls are often discouraged from pursuing certain paths or told their interests are “too masculine,” but she and Amirault want to break down those barriers and show the next generation that women can do anything they set their minds to.

Girlsrunthe6ix has grown far beyond a weekly run club. What started with two friends seeking connection has become a city-wide movement: building community, fostering mentorship, and inspiring women to chase their ambitions on and off the trail. 

From charity events to mental-health initiatives, mentoring young girls and creating spaces for women of all abilities, Milburn and Amirault have shown that a run club can be more than fitness; it can be a model for empowerment, friendship, and change. As the club looks to expand further, its impact is only set to grow—proving that when women come together, the possibilities are limitless.