Newton running group challenges residents to take on Couch to 5K course

Resolution Runners is a volunteer group based in Newton-le-Willows that hosts a running session twice a week.

The group was set up in 2015 following Elly Roberts, her husband, and her friend wanting to share their passion for running with others.

Elly said: "Myself, my husband, and my friend are all quite keen runners. My friend in particular, she and I trained for our first half marathon which we did in 2013.

"We spent a lot of time on our training runs talking about all the mistakes that we made when we started to run and how much we enjoyed running together and the idea of helping others start out.

"Our tagline is ‘it’s not just for January’ and we’ve always used the NHS Couch to 5K which works really well."

The founders of the group completed courses to qualify as running coaches and have since extended their expertise on the fitness activity to members of the community.

The group is now preparing to start its latest round of Couch to 5K sessions from September 10.

Elly got into running in 2005

55-year-old Elly added: "When you look at it on paper you sort of think ‘no way, that just won’t work’, and there’s a couple of weeks in particular when you look at it and think that’s a big jump, but actually what we’ve always found is if you trust it, it does work.

"The key to success is not running too fast; that’s the most common mistake that people make. It’s all about finding a pace at which you can keep breathing, chat, and not run too quickly."

Resolution Runners has been offering beginner courses each year since 2015, however, sessions reached a temporary halt during the peak of the pandemic.

The group now runs on Saturday at 9am and Wednesday at 6.30pm.

Elly, who works for The Hallé Orchestra’s fundraising team in Manchester, explained the benefits of running in a group and how those who might be hesitant to start running should feel confident in having a go.

She said: "It’s much easier to run with other people, particularly if you have one of those days where you’re not feeling it. Knowing that there will be somebody standing under the trees waiting to go with you is sometimes enough of an incentive.

"People become great friends through the group who didn’t know each other before, which was really nice.

"We get a lot of adults who have a very negative memory of sports at school and actually helping them rediscover that sense of fun from feeling fitter.

"Plenty of people shed tears when they do that first 5K because they never thought they could. The hardest thing sometimes is turning up in week one."

For further details on the sessions and Couch to 5K course, join the Resolution Runner’s Facebook group here.