Familiar local faces to launch Run England in Sheffield

Today (Tuesday 26 July) marks one week to go until Run England officially launches in Sheffield, with the help of some familiar local faces.

Sheffield-born former WBO cruiserweight World Champion and now Sky Sports pundit Johnny Nelson and Dr Sylvia Dunkley, Lord Mayor of Sheffield, will attend the launch event on the steps of Sheffield City Hall on Tuesday 2 August.

Sheffield – the initiative’s pilot city – is leading the way as a city that loves running, with a number of Run England Groups already set up thanks to the work of local athletics clubs, Sheffield City Council and local Run England Activator Emma Slater-Clayton.

Emma, along with local club members and Run England Group Leaders Shaun Rodgers (Team Manvers Group), Gaye Fletcher and Andrea Barber (Strideout Group), will attend the media launch which will provide the public with an opportunity to learn more about the national recreational running initiative.

Gaye and Andrea’s Strideout Group now has 25 members, many of whom have progressed from being absolute beginners to regularly running at a decent pace in the ten weeks that the Group has been going. Elsewhere in the Sheffield area, Sheffield Running Club recently teamed up with Run England to set up three running groups, also aimed at beginners.

Run England project leader Geoff Wightman said: “Run England is here to get as many people as possible enjoying running as a form of exercise by supporting and encouraging people to join running groups.

“More than three thousand people signed up to take advantage of the benefits that Run England offers in its first ten weeks, many in the Sheffield and Yorkshire area.

“All Run England Groups are led by qualified Group Leaders with the knowledge and skills to help people as they discover the joy of running in a fun and sociable environment.

“We hope many more people will join Run England as an opportunity to take their first steps into regular running, whether that is as a complete novice or starting up again after a long break.”

Find out more about the opportunities Run England has to offer at www.runengland.org/join or contact local Activator Emma Slater-Clayton at eslaterclayton@englandathletics.org.