I have joined a running club! I am now a member of the ‘Running Bugs’.

[Dendev75]

I’ve only been running for 6 months and have never run in the dark before (I’m scared of the dark), so I decided to join a local running club.

They meet up 3 times a week and do various running stuff and also meet at park runs too. I can only commit to one eve a week on a Tuesday and then my usual Parkrun on Saturdays. I work Thursday evenings so I’m not sure what I can do about running 3 times a week as I don’t run on consecutive days due to being a new runner.

Anyway I went along tonight and met a friendly bunch of runners of all ages and abilities and I ran with group 4 (the slower runners), this group was perfect for me, I could chat but found the hills a challenge - it felt good running in the dark and feeling completely safe so I feel lucky I live near to a local running club.

We ran 6.6k tonight, the rain stayed away, we were all hot and sweaty at the end, I got a round of applause at the end for completing my first run with the group and I then enjoyed a hot bubble bath when I got home.

Chest light on order (a must for dark mornings or evenings). Can’t wait for next week.

[Instructor57 Graduate]

That sounds brilliant!Well done 👍

And great you are looking forward to going again 😬

[MissUnderstanding Administrator On a break Graduate]

Excellent! In a strange coincidence, I joined a local club a week or two ago and have been out once too. It’s lovely running with other people and it will definitely help get through the winter. Glad you had such a positive start too! 🐜 🏃‍♀️ 🐛 🏃‍♀️ 🐞

[Dendev75 Graduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Oh that’s great 👍🏻 I know it will definitely make it that bit easier getting out with a friendly group 🤗

[DocEmmett Graduate]

That’s brilliant Dendev75!

It’s fantastic that you feel safe running like this - how liberating! Well done.

[Dendev75 Graduate in reply to DocEmmett]

Thanks DocEmmett - I’m glad I’ve got it in place for the dark nights through the winter. I’m hoping to learn a few things too 🤞🏻😊

[DocEmmett Graduate in reply to Dendev75]

I know from experience that group motivation is great - if, like this community, everyone is truly mindful of what they say and nurtures everyone doing their best. I'm guessing someone in 'real life' is likely to fall down on that at some point - and it may not be a careless runner, maybe a passerby - so all you can do is be so tremendously resilient (and I know you are) that it bounces off and you keep running and keep smiling.

Regarding safety, it saddens me to think of any runner, at any time, feeling less than safe. That has to change for the better.

[Dendev75 Graduate in reply to DocEmmett]

fingers crossed I can make it through till spring 🤞🏻😆

On my run the other night with my new club I didn’t see one female running alone. Plenty of males out there but I wouldn’t personally run in the dark either. It’s rubbish but it’s just not worth the risk, not all females will think like this but I’m less brave and really don’t like the dark 👀

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

What a good thing to do and it sounds fun

[Dendev75 Graduate]

I think it will keep me motivated through the dark and wet winter days 👍🏻