I’m Jenn and I used to like to run all by myself. Then I started training for a marathon. A couple of months in I realised that if I was going to meet my target I was going to need A) to run a lot a more B) to try and speed up a little and C) some company.
That’s where RunThrough came in. If you’ve made it to this blog, you’ve probably already run a race organised by the lovely Matt and Ben and know how well the races are organised (and what good value they are!). What you might not know is that RunThrough is also a running club in its own right.
RunThrough Greenwich 10k
Back in January, with a friend in tow, I pitched up at a chilly hill sprint session and haven’t looked back. Having pootled along at my own pace without any noticeable improvement for the last few years, I can now claim 2014 as the year I really got into running with 5k, 10k and half marathon PBs as well as my first (and probably not last) attempt at the full 26.2.
I’ve always been a bit put off by traditional running clubs. As the girl who was picked last every single time in PE, a track session in a club vest is seriously scary. RunThrough isn’t like that – everyone I’ve met has a different reason for running and we all run at different speeds. There’s always someone to run with and no-one gets left behind. We cheer each other on, challenge each other and often head to the pub afterwards.
Key to the RunThrough cool-down is a good chat at the end of the session
I won’t lie to you, interval training can be hard and sometimes sprinting up a hill in the rain I do think wistfully of a 4 mile plod with my headphones. But running with friends and pushing myself to try harder has made me a better runner, and most importantly, I now have friends who understand my need to get out there in lycra and trainers after a tough day in the office.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be blogging here about our weekly sessions, our own training and why we run. We meet Mondays at 7pm, in The Windmill car park on Clapham Common. You’re all invited.
(If you want to find out more, check our friendly Facebook group HERE.)
Team RunThrough