Running
About the adviser
Running is a great way to improve your mental and physical well being and has never been more popular!
You may be aware of the worldwide phenomenon of parkrun, which is a free, weekly timed 5k event where people can run, walk or jog round their local park and is attended every Saturday by hundreds of thousands. The ethos of parkrun is positive, welcoming and inclusive with no time limit and no one finishes last. Your recorded 5k time at parkrun is age graded so you can compare your time on a level playing field with teenagers! This is the perfect template for u3a Running.
I started the Wokingham u3a Running Group to share my passion for running which began with parkrun when I retired. I have now taken part in over 250 parkruns and volunteer every week. I have also gone on to be a club runner, a licenced guide runner for visually impaired runners, and have recently completed my training to be a Leader in Running Fitness with England Athletics and run coaching sessions with my club.
In 2024 I ran the Great North Run as part of Team u3a raising funds for the Third Age Trust. In 2025 as Subject Adviser for the u3a, I have been assisting with this year’s Great North Run team. I have run the London Marathon 3 times and have also run two ultra-marathons.
The Running Group at Wokingham u3a is comprised of runners, joggers and walkers of all abilities, several of whom had never run before and have now gone on to do a weekly parkrun and even enter races!
One run can change your day – many runs can change your life! 😊
Please contact me if you need any advice on running or are considering starting your own u3a Running Group.
