Runner Profile: Alison

How did you get into running? 

I was never "sporty"-in fact, I was always that girl at school who avoided PE at all costs and hated running in particular!

Over the many years (decades!) since, I eventually found forms of exercise I enjoyed and regularly weight-train and attend classes at my local gym.

But running still didn't feature and, if asked, I would say "No, I'm not a runner".

That all changed when I decided to give running a go and joined a Couch to 5K group in April 2018. Over the course of the next 8 weeks, I progressed from only being able to run for a couple of minutes to completing a 5km parkrun! It was as much of a surprise to me as to anyone who knows me!

Any concerns I had quickly disappeared, I found a lovely warm community of people.  I was usually the slowest in the group each week, but I was never made to feel that I didn't belong or wasn't welcome.

Since then, I've continued to meet with the same group on a weekly basis, now known as the "Wednesday Night Runners".

The sessions are always varied and lots of fun, but still challenging.

I've discovered that running doesn't have to be competitive (one of the reasons I hated school sports!), although I have enjoyed the challenges of parkrun and the occasional 5km race!  Age is no barrier to starting; I am certainly one of the older members of our group.

If asked that question again, I now consider all you need to call yourself a "runner" is to take those first few steps.