Massive thank you to Brooks and Run North West who paid an early visit to our Tuesday evening session so that our runners got to “try before you buy” some awesome trainers! We certainly enjoyed trying out the new treads during our 5k session! We’ll look forward to welcoming you back soon!
The #MileShyClub #GetInspired and are featured as part of BBC London marathon coverage
We were super delighted to feature in the latest BBC #GetInspired campaign, encouraging everyone to get into running for the first time, using the Couch to 5k app! We loved being part of this initiative - it’s just what we do! Love seeing our runners Jane (blonde ponytail) and Iram (purple ponytail) on our television screens!
Crazy few days - Media City racing, hill training, North Carolina performance and Lyme ParkRun (hell)
Wow the last few days have been EPIC! Thursday was always meant to be low key but quite a few of us turned up at the Media City 5k and 10k race... all our runners completed the 10k and at the same time our Thursday session took on hill training! Then yesterday, Dawn from the club, based in North Carolina in the USA, ran an amazingly fast 5k in 28 minutes! And finally! Whilst you were in bed listening to the rain, a hardy group of us (WHY?!!!) took on one of THE hardest Park Runs - Lyme Park Run - in gale force winds and hail! What a turn out! You know why we do this? It's because no matter where we are, we are always in it TOGETHER and that's why we love it.
Doing it for the guys at the Manchester Marathon
We are so SUPER PROUD of our four #MileShyClub runners who took on the Manchester marathon - Richard, Mark, Gordy and Richard. Apart from Gordy, this was the first ever marathon for our lovely guys and we are delighted to say they all completed it in epic style. Gordy, as usual, completed the race in under 3 hours 30 minutes, Richard was cheered on by his very dedicated girlfriend who appeared at various points around the race (and he nearly cried when he got a standing ovation at the Slug and Lettuce afterwards). David terrified us all when his result showed ‘DNF’ (Did Not Finish) but we were unsurprised to learn that he had stopped to help a fellow runner over the finish line, whilst using his tried and tested method of eating cake to get round. He did finish the race (and the cake)! Then there’s our Mark, injured at the start, injured along the way, but still pulling in an outstanding performance and completing his longest ever run, cheered on by his family. Amazing achievement guys, well done!
Oh! And huge well done to the 30 or so volunteer marshalls from the Club who looked after a 6 mile route along the course - these races do not happen without your help, although rumour has it next year some of the girls who marshalled this year are making a comeback and plan to join the boys…
Watch this space!
An inspiring story to tell
Today, one of our amazing runners inspired us all with her story:
"This weekend my sponsorship kit for the Manchester 10k arrived from The Christie and I cried. They were tears of sadness because the logo on the t-shirt took me back to being there for my treatment and also for all those who are still experiencing it. They were also happy tears though, every single time I sat in that chair for chemo, I dreamt of a day that I would be back up and running and now I am 😄
Thank you mileshyclub for the part you have played in helping me to accomplish this. I appreciate your time and support enormously.
I'm now looking forward to Saturday when I'll become coach Janette and to all the opportunities that this will bring for me to enable people to achieve their running dreams".
Runner Self Defence
Last night we hosted our annual self defence class for runners! The safety of our runners is of the utmost importance to us, and it was brilliant to see so many of you take part. We even learnt that some of our members already had safe words! (ahem!) Many thanks to Atlantic Martial Arts and to Gordy and Bronagh from the club for organising.
If you go down to the woods today...
We had no idea how popular our head torch runs would be so we were delighted to throw another one into the mix before the lighter nights set in! We were truly in awe of just how exhilarating our runners found wearing head torches whilst running along the river in the darkness! Stacks of fun and everyone stayed safe under close supervision. We will definitely be bringing these popular runs back later in the year.
When we say we invest in our volunteers, we really mean it...
We are absolutely delighted to be in a position where we can invest in our volunteers. Huge congratulations to Trish who completed her mental health first aid training, to help with her work in our Mental Health support team. Bronagh from the club will also be taking the same qualification to join coach Jane as one of three coaches with this fantastic qualification.
Then there’s a shout out to Coach Bram who is going to be taking on more running coaching qualifications with England Athletics and completing his Level 2 Coach in Running Fitness Qualification!
Hats off too to our new qualified Level 1 Running Coaches - Sasha, Tara, Mark, Janette, Bronagh, Trish, Charlotte, Jill and Kath! It is also great to see the majority of our coaches are also first aid qualified, again, we have been lucky enough to find funding to finance this important training. (Coach Jane also qualified as a Personal Trainer this month, but this was funded personally).
With 13 coaches now at the #MileShyClub in Trafford alone, we are setting the foundations to start up more clubs. We also couldn’t go without saying a huge thank you to our non-running volunteers - our social events organisers and our social media experts! We really are a great team.
Trafford 10k - We came, we saw, we... swam...
Sometimes when weather conditions are so horrendous, you have two choices - to give up, or plough on. We’re happy to report that all of our runners completed their race, with one or two of you completing your first ever 10k. We have had confirmed reports of there being plenty of tears at the finish, but we’re happy to keep up the pretence that it was just the rain…
We’re not going to tell you how bad the weather was, just have a look at this photo which speaks a thousand words…
Coach Jane gives an inspiring talk on International Women's Day
As part of IWD celebrations, coach Jane was invited by Trafford Council to deliver a talk at the Sale Waterside Theatre about her experiences and reasons for setting up the #MileShyClub. The talk gave a humorous insight into what it was like starting a club when suffering with anxiety, and being able to push ahead with progress, despite being scared. Earlier in the week, coach Jane also delivered a one off session to Trafford Council employees, and we are pleased to say we have heard that one or two are still plodding away! Thanks to much to Trafford Council for supporting us.
