I joined a group!

[KKThomas]

Yesterday I joined a running club and started C25k outdoors with them. Anyone who knows me would tell you that that is possibly the most unlikely sentence I have ever uttered! I was terrified but it was brilliant.

I have completed the plan indoors on a treadmill but I have found it incredibly hard to run outside so I decided to join a group and start from the beginning. They were a lovely friendly bunch of people who made me feel very welcome and running in a group was so much less intimidating than running on my own. The members of the club who run the group were really encouraging and I really enjoyed it. As a bonus, one of the other participants is an old friend who I haven't seen for about 6 years so now we can catch up each week as well as get running.

To anyone who is considering joining an organised group but is worried that 'serious runners' will look down on you, just do it! I had the best run I have had so far and I have been running since April. I may have gone back to week 2 but it has given me such a confidence boost that I feel amazing and can't wait for next week.

I recommend Derwent Runners in Derby if anyone is interested.

[Martin_Rose Graduate]

That's brilliant, just the sort of thing I'm looking for. Well done.

[TJMazz Graduate]

Wow. That's brilliant. I wish I could do that. I'm too embarrassed to run with anyone else yet! May join a group when more confident with running. Enjoy your new group

[damienair Graduate]

Well done. I joined an Athletics club after I graduated. A lot of the members started just like you, in a C25K running group. At one stage 3 to 4 years ago there were just 6 members in the club. All 6 were elite runners. Then one of the lady members started a C25K group. They organise 2 groups during the Autumn and Winter. Now there are over 140 members in the club actively running and competing. It is such a wonderful club, really friendly and welcoming. C25K graduates in the club are running marathons, half marathons, 10K and 5K races.

[rolysmate Graduate]

Well done and you'll soon be enjoying the delights of running outdoors and not a million miles from me