Stories from the track
An Interview with Donna Warren of Running Ibiza
By Sophie Morrow
9/1/25
Donna Warren, the woman behind Running Ibiza, knows that in running, it’s not always about the miles. It’s about the community, the connection to the island, and yes, the post-run coffee. As she says, “We’ve become friends who run, but also who socialise together—and sometimes even find love along the way.”
In this interview, Donna opens up about why Ibiza is more than just a scenic backdrop for her runs, and why her club is about much more than just getting in shape.
Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Donna Warren, and I´m Running Ibiza! I started the business in 2019 - during the season I take visitors running, either on tours around Ibiza Town or on the trails to some of Ibiza´s legendary sights; out of season I lead a running group for residents and visitors. I´m also a mum - I have a 25 year old daughter who lives in Lisbon.
What's your story with ibiza?
I first visited Ibiza in 1989, and by the time I moved here in 2018 I had been visiting every year, several times a year, bringing all my family and friends. I would feel like I had left home in London to arrive home in the Plaza del Parque. Once my daughter left home to go to University, I grabbed my chance to move here before Brexit meant I would no longer be able to. I loved living in London and didn´t particularly want to leave, except to live in Ibiza instead. I was a keen amateur runner in London and I could see no one else was offering running tours to visitors, so I decided to set up Running Ibiza.
You're the women behind Running Ibiza? What inspired you to start a running club here, and what was the response like when you began?
I set up the running club as a way to meet new people whilst continuing with the activity I love, and to give something back to running, which has given me so much. I first started with a free Saturday morning run in January 2019, and the response was pretty slow to start. It took years to get to the point where we have a lot of very loyal regulars that either live here or come running with us every time they visit. But even in the days when very few people came, there were a couple of people that came really regularly and that was all I needed to keep going. I loved my running clubs in London and wanted to be part of something similar in Ibiza. There are other (Spanish-speaking) running clubs in Ibiza but when I looked into it there didn´t seem to be specific days they meet to train, the focus was more on buying the running kit and then representing the club in races.
Every community develops its own characters. Who are the memorable personalities in your run club?
There´s Rob who has lived here decades and every time we run past a remote spot, he seems to know it from having been to a party there years ago! There´s Arnaud who goes out to a club almost every night in the summer, and still gets up to run with us! Pete who is in his 60s, doesn't run all summer (due to work) and then just turns up and runs 7k no problem. Caroline who joined us really doubted if she could run and now wins prizes at races for being fastest in her category! And special mention to Andy and also Arnaud who are incredibly caring and will run at the back to make sure new people don´t get lost.
Is your club for all levels?
As a rule of thumb I say people need to be able to run 5k without stopping, at whatever speed. We always run at least 7k but if someone can run 5k alone they can run 7k in a group. The speed doesn´t matter because we have people of different speeds and I encourage the people at the front of the group to do "out and backs" at certain points, meaning they turn around and run to the people at the back,so that we are all one group again. On the trail runs we stop a lot for photos and to tell stories, so the different speeds aren´t a problem. For a few winters I did offer a Couch to 5k course - teaching complete beginners to be able to run 5k by the end of 9 weeks - but there´s so few people in Ibiza over the winter that it´s difficult to make it viable.
There's clearly something happening beyond just exercise. What's the real reason you think people keep coming back to your run club versus just downloading Strava and doing this alone? Or getting a PT!?
It´s undoubtedly being part of a community and the social element - it´s particularly important here in Ibiza where new people are arriving all the time and established friends are leaving, so everyone is very open to making new friends all the time. We have all become friends who run and socialise together, not just with each other but also with partners who don´t run, or even non-running friends of the group are now part of the wider social group. Through our group people have found jobs, employees, flatmates, places to live, and in one case, a girlfriend! It´s also an opportunity to meet people you wouldn´t meet otherwise, particularly as we are such an international group and the truth is that in most cases, people tend to hang out with other people of the same nationality - in our club we currently have people from England, Wales, Scotland, France, Canada, USA, Spain, Argentina, Mexico, Ecuador and Colombia.
There's a popular idea that runners are always running away from something—stress, heartbreak, or even themselves. Have you found that to be true in your experience?
I started running as I was going through a separation so yes I would definitely say that´s true! I would go for a run rather than be in the house with my ex.
Let's talk about revenge running. Have you noticed people joining after breakups? (I have so many friends who do this!!)
....Yes, we have had a number of people join our group after splitting up with partners, either discovering running for the first time or getting back to it after years of not doing it. It´s really great to see them challenging themselves and growing in confidence, plus giving them the opportunity to download whilst we´re running along.
An Interview with Donna Warren of Running Ibiza
Is your club for all levels?
As a rule of thumb I say people need to be able to run 5k without stopping, at whatever speed. We always run at least 7k but if someone can run 5k alone they can run 7k in a group. The speed doesn´t matter because we have people of different speeds and I encourage the people at the front of the group to do "out and backs" at certain points, meaning they turn around and run to the people at the back,so that we are all one group again. On the trail runs we stop a lot for photos and to tell stories, so the different speeds aren´t a problem. For a few winters I did offer a Couch to 5k course - teaching complete beginners to be able to run 5k by the end of 9 weeks - but there´s so few people in Ibiza over the winter that it´s difficult to make it viable.
There's clearly something happening beyond just exercise. What's the real reason you think people keep coming back to your run club versus just downloading Strava and doing this alone? Or getting a PT!?
It´s undoubtedly being part of a community and the social element - it´s particularly important here in Ibiza where new people are arriving all the time and established friends are leaving, so everyone is very open to making new friends all the time. We have all become friends who run and socialise together, not just with each other but also with partners who don´t run, or even non-running friends of the group are now part of the wider social group. Through our group people have found jobs, employees, flatmates, places to live, and in one case, a girlfriend! It´s also an opportunity to meet people you wouldn´t meet otherwise, particularly as we are such an international group and the truth is that in most cases, people tend to hang out with other people of the same nationality - in our club we currently have people from England, Wales, Scotland, France, Canada, USA, Spain, Argentina, Mexico, Ecuador and Colombia.
There's a popular idea that runners are always running away from something—stress, heartbreak, or even themselves. Have you found that to be true in your experience?
I started running as I was going through a separation so yes I would definitely say that´s true! I would go for a run rather than be in the house with my ex.
Let's talk about revenge running. Have you noticed people joining after breakups? (I have so many friends who do this!!)
....Yes, we have had a number of people join our group after splitting up with partners, either discovering running for the first time or getting back to it after years of not doing it. It´s really great to see them challenging themselves and growing in confidence, plus giving them the opportunity to download whilst we´re running along.
Can anyone become a runner - within reason?
I think anyone that doesn´t have knee or back issues can become a runner. A lot of people say they don't like running and I never try to convince them - it´s not for everyone and there´s no point trying to force yourself to do a sport you don´t enjoy because you won´t keep it up, and the most important thing about keeping fit and active is to be consistent. I do however think a lot of people don´t like running because they try to run too fast to start with....
I noticed there's always a post-run ritual – coffee, breakfast, whatever. What's yours?
We always go for breakfast after a run and I could order on behalf of all of the group regulars, we all end up ordering the same thing every week (mine is a large coffee in a glass and brown toast with serrano ham and avocado). One of the things we love about doing a different trail run every week is that we get to try out new cafes around the island afterwards!
What's something about run club culture that would surprise people who've never been part of one?
Maybe that we´re not all serious, super-fit running addicts? We often say that we only run for breakfast afterwards! We chat whilst we run and on the trail runs we stop a lot. I sometimes run with people who tell me, whilst they are running, that they are not runners! They think they need to be running marathons to call themselves a runner, but it´s not the case. If you run regularly, at whatever pace, you´re a runner!
What is your favourite restaurant in Ibiza?
I have so many! Juntos House in Sant Mateu is incredible farm to table food in a beautiful setting, but the place I take all my guests to because it´s close to home and amazing value for money, is Kaixo in Ibiza Town - it´s a Basque tapas restaurant very popular with the locals. Have the broken eggs with cream cheese, spinach and hazelnuts - you´ll thank me!
Where is your favourite place to watch the sunset?
If I´m running or hiking, it´s Trig Point on the hill overlooking Es Vedra. If I´m driving, it´s the road high up over Salinas.
For more information on Running Ibiza visit:
Can anyone become a runner - within reason?
I think anyone that doesn´t have knee or back issues can become a runner. A lot of people say they don't like running and I never try to convince them - it´s not for everyone and there´s no point trying to force yourself to do a sport you don´t enjoy because you won´t keep it up, and the most important thing about keeping fit and active is to be consistent. I do however think a lot of people don´t like running because they try to run too fast to start with....
I noticed there's always a post-run ritual – coffee, breakfast, whatever. What's yours?
We always go for breakfast after a run and I could order on behalf of all of the group regulars, we all end up ordering the same thing every week (mine is a large coffee in a glass and brown toast with serrano ham and avocado). One of the things we love about doing a different trail run every week is that we get to try out new cafes around the island afterwards!
What's something about run club culture that would surprise people who've never been part of one?
Maybe that we´re not all serious, super-fit running addicts? We often say that we only run for breakfast afterwards! We chat whilst we run and on the trail runs we stop a lot. I sometimes run with people who tell me, whilst they are running, that they are not runners! They think they need to be running marathons to call themselves a runner, but it´s not the case. If you run regularly, at whatever pace, you´re a runner!
What is your favourite restaurant in Ibiza?
I have so many! Juntos House in Sant Mateu is incredible farm to table food in a beautiful setting, but the place I take all my guests to because it´s close to home and amazing value for money, is Kaixo in Ibiza Town - it´s a Basque tapas restaurant very popular with the locals. Have the broken eggs with cream cheese, spinach and hazelnuts - you´ll thank me!
Where is your favourite place to watch the sunset?
If I´m running or hiking, it´s Trig Point on the hill overlooking Es Vedra. If I´m driving, it´s the road high up over Salinas.
For more information on Running Ibiza visit: