The Henley Slow Run Club

A WOMAN from Henley has launched a “slow” running club to help people exercise at their own pace.

Clare Carter, 51, of Highlands Park, set up Henley Slow Run Club in October, which meets on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday.

She bases each session on the NHS app Couch to 5k, which works to slowly build up the running ability of its users.

The group has attracted 193 members on its group page on Facebook and 70 people are on its WhatsApp group.

Each run, which takes place either in the morning, afternoon or the evening to cater for as many people as possible, has a leader and they include Lauren Rosher, Ali Kinch and Jen Andersen.

Ms Cater, who runs the Access to Justice Foundation, decided to set up the group because she wanted to get back into running again without the pressure of having to run at a fast pace. She said: “I have been a runner for quite a long time but I had been injured and so I wanted to get back into running and did not want to do it on my own. There did not seem to be anything locally that fitted with what I wanted to do and so I mentioned it to a couple of friends if they would like to do it.

“I thought that if some of the people that I know fancy doing it, there are probably more people out there who would join in as well. I put a post on Facebook to see if anybody else wanted to join and was only expecting maybe three or four people to say yes but 50 people replied.

“It was fantastic to have so many people interested. I was really surprised and it just shows that this is something that people want to do and do together.”

Ms Carter said the group was mainly made up of women who wanted to get fit. She said: “People feel intimidated sometimes about joining a running club or other kinds of sports club because you worry that you are going to be slow or not keep up.

“But this is a group designed for people who aren’t runners, who are not fit, who want to take it gently and enjoy the social aspect of it. Each run has a friendly leader and all are run at a gentle, inclusive pace.

“There was a bit of a gap for this type of group locally and it was really nice to see that it wasn’t just me that thought that this would be a nice thing to do.”

Ms Carter said sessions involve walking and running, with running slowly taking over as the fitness of participants improves.

She said: “In session one, it is a mixture of running and walking. You walk for 90 seconds and you run for 60 seconds and you repeat that.

“It is pretty gentle and the running is pretty slow as well. It is designed for people who do not have any kind of history of exercise or have not exercised for a long time.

“The point of it really is to be able to take people from an absolute zero baseline, to be able to run five kilometres.

“We have not come up with the programme, we are just using one that already exists and it is just creating a community of people who are more likely to succeed if they do these things together.

“We have got a Facebook group and a WhatsApp group and people can post what they’re doing. It is about trying to make it easy for people to exercise.

“We have got three different runs per week going now, so hopefully different people can fit in with the ones that suit their schedule and we are planning to set up some more.”

Ms Carter has run marathons and ultramarathons on and off for about 28 years.

She said: “A lot of people are worried to put their trainers on and get out the door, especially at this time of year because it is dark in the evenings and I think particularly for women, it can feel intimidating to go out on your own.

“Running just gives you a really nice endorphin boost. There is this runner’s high that you get, especially around here where we have got lovely countryside. When you get out into nature, it is just really good for your physical and mental health.

“I also really enjoy the social aspect – the people that you meet – and this was one of the reasons why I wanted to do this. Running with other people is much nicer than running on your own.”

Jenny Blain, 60, of Deanfield Road, who runs the Denning Montessori Nursery and Forest School in Fawley, said the group has helped her.

She said: “Running is hard when you have never done it before. It has been hugely beneficial for me. I have completed the nine weeks and now I am much more confident and my running has improved.

“It can be scary for people if you have never run before but we have a WhatsApp and Facebook group and I can see people asking questions and gaining confidence.

“I am very grateful to Clare for setting up the group, my fitness has increased and it is not just a running group, there is a friendship element as you get to know other people you are running with. It is also really good for your mental health.”

Anji Pianta, from Checkendon who is the global head of partner marketing at SS&C Blue Prism, said her goal was to be able to complete a park run, which she has now managed.

She said: “There is a perception that you have to run quite well to join a running club but I think that with this group you don’t feel that pressure.

“It is quite hard to get out of the door and your mind is the thing that makes you feel that you can’t do it. But the fact we are all doing it together and there is the social aspect is amazing. Being in the WhatsApp group we all encourage and support each other and that really helps.

“I thought I would be so behind but it was the group that helped me realise that I just need to get out there and give it a go. You can run at your pace, which means that you are not going to get out of breath and then feel like you can’t do it. I really enjoy it.

“I don’t get hung up about having to run at a certain pace — otherwise I will look like the really slow runner who is coming last. For me, I have not run in 10 years. Where I live in Checkendon, is such a beautiful place. To be able to put my trainers on and run if I have a space for half an hour is fantastic.”

To join, visit www.facebook
.com/group/1300225404651545