Easy ways to find running groups in Sussex!

If you live in Sussex and want to get fit, it couldn't be easier for you and your friends to get running right now, with opportunities galore for absolute beginners to make those first steps!

There are around 60 running groups in Sussex at the moment, with many attached to athletics clubs but many operating out of workplaces, university, leisure centres and elsewhere across the community - there are even groups for parents on the school run!

Our local Run England running activator Marion Hemsworth works with County Sports Partnership Active Sussex and the Sussex Athletics Network to encourage more people to run across the county.

Marion and the team also provide training and support to help people who wish to become group leaders in setting up new running groups. One such running group leader is Lisa Beaney who, despite confessing to being non-sporty before starting running in April 2010, completed the Brighton Marathon in 2012 and now runs regularly with her group. 

Lisa qualified as a leader by taking England Athletics' one-day Leadership in Running Fitness (LiRF) Course and set up a beginners group at Steyning Athletics Club.

She encourages anyone who is interested in starting running to give it a go, saying: "It doesn’t matter if you have never run before or have tried running and given up – you will be more than welcome at my group."

As well as groups, Run England provides a range of marked out running or jogging routes across Sussex and the rest of the UK that anyone can have a go at, through '3-2-1'.

Wherever you live in England, you can find your local running group at runengland.org/groups or 3-2-1 route at runengland.org/routes.

If you are interested in becoming a group leader in Sussex, contact Marion on sussexrunningactivator@gmail.com or 07759 543522. If you live elsewhere, contact your local Run England support staff at runengland.org/contact.