New club gets up and running (From Wiltshire Times)

New club gets up and running

5:00pm Saturday 28th January 2012 in Wiltshire

RUNNERS, from training athletes to absolute beginners, gathered in Southwick Country Park last Friday to celebrate the Wiltshire launch of Run England.

Around 20 clubs have been established in the county in the past few months, offering people the chance to get fit and healthy with expert advice and group support.

Run England is run by England Athletics, and has groups across the UK.

Among those at the launch were local group leaders, two women whose running helped their battle against breast cancer, and English middleweight champion boxer Nick Blackwell.

Lisa Wrintmore, 40, of Stormore, Dilton Marsh, who joined the Westbury group shortly after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in September was at the launch.

“I had started chemotherapy, which is really hard on the body, and medication which can be tough as well,” she said.

“I wanted to do something that would be good for my mental and emotional well-being, as well as physically.”

Mrs Wrintmore was given the all-clear in December, but she intends to carry on running with the group, saying that exercise has become a part of her life.

“I had been thinking about doing some sort of exercise before but had never got round to it.

“I find running enjoyable, and an opportunity to spend some time looking after myself,” she added.

Louise Gale, 37, of Clarendon Avenue, Trowbridge, is one of the leaders of the Westbury group, which has more than 200 runners.

“I’m a keen runner, but used to be worried about jogging round Trowbridge at night. I joined the group so I am not alone,” she said.

“I also wanted to get some advice on how to improve from other runners.

“I started leading because I wanted to help motivate others, but being part of the group has motivated me to do runs I wouldn’t have attempted myself.”

Boxer Nick Blackwell added: “I think this is a really good idea, you lose out on a lot if you aren’t fit and this is a good way to get there.

“I used to go out drinking all the time like a lot of kids these days, but I’ve never felt as happy and as energetic as I do now.

“We do a lot of running in training, mostly sprints, running up and down stairs to make it a bit harder.

“The clubs are ideal for people of all abilities though.”

Also at the launch were a group of Trowbridge College students who have started their own running club, Westbury town crier Sean Price, and representatives from Wiltshire Council and Wiltshire & Swindon Activity and Sports Partnership.

Run England county activator Sarah Sims said: “We are here to help more people to run and to run more often.

“Run England is free to join, and you get support, advice and encouragement from the running community.

“It is friendly, fun, and excitement is building with the approach of the Olympic Games. We’re looking forward to making this a year to remember.”

For more information about joining a Run England group, visit www.runengland.org.