Run England – enjoy your running more

‘Run England’ is the new recreational running programme from England Athletics to help people take their first steps in running as well as catering for beginners, and recreational runners who have put a few more miles under their shoelaces. It is free to join and become a part of the Run England community.

The Run England project replaces the Run in England programme, previously delivered on behalf of England Athletics by the Women’s Running Network.
Regardless of your age, fitness level, aspiration, background, or location you can be a part of Run England and benefit from being a part of England's running community. We are here to help and encourage more people to run, and to run more often. You don’t have to be ‘in shape’ to sign up, we are here to help you no matter what your level of ability and welcome everyone as part of the running family.

So whatever you want to get from your running Run England is here to encourage and support you. And, most importantly, to have make sure we all have some fun through our running! The role of Run England includes:

• enabling people to join our registered groups - see www.runengland.org/groups
• enabling people to join Run England, a completely free membership, and gain the benefits of being part of the Run England community  - see www.runengland.org/join
• supporting affiliated running clubs and other partners in the provision of running groups for an increasing range of people
• training more and more people to qualify as running group leaders through the Leadership in Running Fitness qualification - www.runengland.org/lirf

This means we are able to help you to do your running, your way, where you are - while benefitting from the support and encouragement of the wider running community.

All existing running group leaders who have qualified through a Leadership in Running and Fitness course will continue to be covered by covered for insurance purposes on the same terms (including the need for their licence to be current with an up to date CRB check). The Leadership in Running Fitness and new Coach in Running Fitness courses are being offered in all parts of the country.

Any groups being led by qualified leaders or coaches can be registered with Run England. They will then be recognised as Official Run England Groups and promoted through the Run England website at www.runengland.org and other channels including the Run England member ebulletins. It is free to register a group and runners are also able to join Run England as individuals free.

Run England Project Manager, Geoff Wightman said, “The great thing about running is the diversity of people who take part. You can never find the stereotypical runner! We can help people to connect with others who are ‘just like them’ and there is no pressure for members to do anything they don’t want to. Another wonderful aspect of running in England is the diversity of what people enjoy getting from their running from socialising to weight loss, from escaping the house or office to visiting new places, from the satisfaction of covering a distance for the first time to stress relief, from discovering scenic routes to targeting times - whether for our own private routes or in races. And most of us gain enjoyment from many different aspects of our running.

“Whatever people want to enjoy we can help them to enjoy their running more!”

The recruitment for four Regional Coordinators for Run England will close shortly and local activators will be recruited in May and June. The new Run England website at www.runengland.org includes the free sign up facilities for groups and individuals as well as more details about the project.