January 2020 news
National Running Show round up
On Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 January running fanatics flocked to Birmingham’s NEC in their thousands for the National Running Show. Two action packed days, with over 27,000 running enthusiasts, 250 exhibitors, 85 sporting stars and special guest speakers, 19 interactive features and 4 main stages – what an incredible weekend it was.
Free bra size measuring kits from Runderwear™
A well-fitting sports bra is essential, particularly if you love running! Unfortunately over 80% of women wear the wrong bra size! Runderwear™, the official underwear and bra partner of England Athletics, are here to help. They have created a free measuring kit and an online calculator to encourage women to achieve the best possible fit for their running bra. Runderwear’s running specific bras are available in over 60 sizes up to 40H.
Fancy taking part in the Vitality Running World Cup?
Take part for free with Enertor, in the world’s largest mass participation sporting event in 2020. Whatever your ability, you can represent Team UK in 2020 by taking part in the Vitality Running World Cup. Run wherever, whenever and track your run via smartphone to do your bit for your country #everyruncounts
Kim's story - Run2Help
After a couple of years of group and run leading, Kim decided to set up her own group, Run2Help, through the RunTogether programme. Initially she thought it might just be a one-off Couch to 5k, but it has grown far beyond anything she could’ve imagined - they're on target to have raised £5000 for the Fly2Help charity (where she works) by March.
Redway Runners' Running Expo a great success
Redway Runners in Milton Keynes recently held their third running Expo at Woughton Leisure centre, where they had 47 stalls all related to running and 560 visitors during the evening. The Expo was opened by the former MK Dons manager and current Oxford United manager and keen runner, Karl Robinson. BBC Look East also came along and filmed the all running and broadcast the run live in the 6.30pm show. Redway Runners led four runs from a beginners' session a run-walk-run group, as easier Step Up run and a quicker Social run across different times of the evening.
Unsung heroes of the month
Congratulations to DW Fitness First’s January Group of the Month: RunTogether Abington Park Joggers
Nominated by Kathryn, Group Leader, she touched base with us tell us why her group are deserving winners for January!
Since attending the England Athletics East Midlands regional awards, the group have completed a MHFA (Mental Health First Aid) course so that they can support our runners with their mental health, and Kathryn explains that ‘many of us know we love running for mental reasons as well as physical’.
The group, made up of 10 Run Leaders have retained a lot of their beginners into improvers, with some of their improvers even moving to the advancers group! The group have introduced run/walkers groups, for those members of the RunTogether group who don’t wish to run a greater distance, or those who have long term health conditions.
Kathryn, goes on to add; ‘being able to reach people who are not traditional candidates for running , is now a key for us and we are looking to work with our local GP surgery’, ‘we continue to grow slowly and call ourselves the big green family. I’m so proud of all the leaders who have helped us to grow and progress’.
Abington Park Joggers completely embody the values of a RunTogether group, supporting runners with their mental health, developing and understanding the needs of their group and checking their runners in using the RunTogether app. Well done to all!
Courtesy of DW Fitness First, the group have won one pair of running shoes.
To nominate a Group for the chance to WIN, email support@runtogether.co.uk and don’t forget to include photos.
January Run Leader of the Month: Serena Meljan of RunTogether Tempside Runners.
Debbie got in touch to tell us why Serena should be the first Group Leader of the Month for 2020. Serena ‘is a fantastic and enthusiastic leader and puts our needs and runs above her own. She supports us to run and also helps with our confidence building, we all believe we can do this now and it’s all down to her. Our group is full of women all different shapes, ages and fitness levels yet we’re all the best in Serenas eyes.’
Debbie goes on to tell us that she fell out of love with running after being diagnosed with severe kidney disease, but she used ‘to see Serena running around’ the Whitkirk, Leeds area ‘with a smile on her face and it made me think I’m going to try her group, I never looked back’. Debbie says that Serena is the ‘glue’ that gets the runners through, Debbie explained to us that her ‘mental health has never been so healthy because of this group and Serena’. (How great is that!).
Serena is also a Run Leader Mentor, who not only loves a post on social media tagging RunTogether in all her posts, she checks everyone in using the Run Leader app. Serena is always keen to help out at events like the National Running Show, as well as encouraging her group to do litter picks around the Temple Newsham area.
Debbie adds ‘there really is nobody like her, she is a crazy lady with an infectious personality and a huge heart’ and we definitely agree!
Congratulations Serena, you have won a pair of running shoes courtesy of DW Fitness First.
To nominate your Run Leader for the chance to WIN, email support@runtogether.co.uk and don’t forget to include photos.