Sam Abbot-Harland

I have been coming to the Ladies’ Running Group since the 2007 Race for Life. I have been running for 12 years but never seemed to get any faster. Since attending the running group I have taken an amazing 7 minutes off my half marathon time.

Even on the days when I am tired from work or it is cold and dark and I don’t fancy running I seem to go along to the running group anyway and always feel 100 percent better at the end. I know I wouldn’t push myself anywhere near that hard on my own and we do something a bit different each week so it is always a fresh challenge.

Ruth Whitton

I joined the ladies only running group back in October 2008, after recovering from a nasty ankle injury. My plan was to try to get myself fit again, whilst trying something different.

The sessions are different every week and designed to increase your stamina and speed. Without realising it, I am now running faster and pushing myself harder than I ever would have. Every couple of months there is a 1 mile time trial, where you can see and “feel” if you have made any improvements. To date, my mile time has decreased by nearly 2 minutes, something I would never have thought possible if I had been doing this on my own. There is good technical advice from Lee, and I have noticed that I now “run” rather than shuffle along. All the members are supportive of each other and there is a lot of encouragement from everybody.

I have to be honest, I am not built for running and even now hate every step, but for me the benefits and confidence that I have gained far outweigh the negative feelings that I have about running. My legs, thighs and bum have toned up without my trying too hard, my confidence has increased, and I feel a real sense of achievement. There is a long way to go, but these sessions make me believe that I can and will be able to enter and complete a “proper race”, may be not a marathon, but possibly a 10K and not feel embarrassed about myself or my ability.

Nicola Steele-Moore

Since joining the group it has rekindled my interest in running and given me a focus for improvement. I have become horribly enthusiastic about the group and running, almost to the extent of boring people, I have encouraged nearly all of my friends to give it a try and many of them have come along and have caught the bug!

The training itself is as hard as you want to make it as you judge your pace and how much effort you put in, therefore it suits all abilities, ages, shapes and sizes. We keep regrouping back at our starting mark so the group stays together throughout and no-one is therefore a long way ahead or behind.

Lee is very enthusiastic and encourages us to enter some of the shorter series of cross country races held during the year or the odd 5 or 10k and some of our ladies have done half marathons but there is no pressure. It’s up to you.

All the ladies are lovely and really friendly and it is so much more fun to run with others as part of a group and some have become good friends. We train all weathers, come rain or shine and although we work hard in the session we are there to enjoy ourselves as well. Come along and meet us, you may get the bug too!