Become a Run Leader
If you're interested in leading RunTogether Groups, we have training and support to help you through the process.
The Leadership in Running Fitness is designed to prepare you to provide a safe and enjoyable running experience for young people aged 12+ and adults of any ability.
The course covers risk assessment, warm-ups, cool downs, and how to lead fun running sessions for a mixed ability group of runners.
The LiRF course costs just £200 (£160 if you are an England Athletics affiliated athlete). Note the minimum age for this course is 18+.
The Leadership in Running Fitness (LiRF) course is made up of online self-guided learning modules, remote feedback of a supervised session and a 90 minute virtual classroom session.
Four online self-guided learning modules
Self-guided means that there is no tutor present and you work through the modules independently. The modules use a variety of learning activities including videos and interactive tasks.
Remote feedback from a tutor of a supervised session
You will need to film yourself (complying with UK Athletics safeguarding requirements) leading two supervised running in fitness activities. You will be directed to upload these to our learning platform where a tutor will review them and offer you some developmental feedback.
A 90 minute virtual classroom session
A virtual classroom is a teaching and learning environment, where participants can interact, communicate, engage with learning resources, view and discuss presentations, while working in groups all in an online setting.
Safeguarding Checks
With safety as one of the RunTogether guiding principles, every Group Leader is required to undertake a DBS check, which must be renewed every three years in order to maintain a current license. The process for applying for a Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) Check can be found on the England Athletics website, link below.
As it can take around four weeks for DBS applications to be processed, we recommend that you submit your application at the same time as registering for your course in order to avoid a delay in becoming a RunTogether Group Leader.
Licence and Registration
Once you have completed one of the above qualifications and received your DBS certificate, your licence to lead running groups will be sent to you by post. You can then either set up your own RunTogether Group (see Setting up a RunTogether Group on the Groups page) or an existing Group Leader can invite you to be a Run Leader for their Group.
Setting up a Group on RunTogether
Creating a new RunTogether group is really straight-forward. Read our simple five-step guide to starting a running group here.
Supporting your Continued Learning
To support your continued learning, the Run Leader Support area of the website will be regularly updated with running session ideas, tips and resources. Your local Run Leader Mentor will also organise regular face-to-face meetings for run leaders in your area to get together, share best practice and support one another.
