About Us

I’m Jo; a working mum, runner and Chair of the Run Like A Girl community.

 

I got dragged to the Run30 course in April 2016 having found myself on the wrong side of 40, unfit, unhealthy and getting out of breath running up the stairs! I found myself constantly beating myself up for this but doing nothing about it. I’d never run, never thought I would be able to run and had secretly been envious when I saw runners out and about wishing I could do it too.

 

I remember struggling to run 30secs in St Nic’s and telling myself that running 30mins was never going to be possible for me. I was told by the running leaders that if I just continued to show up every week, I would get there and with the support, encouragement and care of ‘Team Purple’ (the running leaders) and comradeship with other beginners I DID IT and have never looked back.

 

Since then running has changed so much for me…first and foremost my fitness but also my overall wellbeing, discipline, time just for me and my mindset to name a few. I know I’m not alone in this. I’ve achieved things that I never thought possible in my running, sometimes that is just ensuring I get out regularly every week in spite of how busy I might be,  sometimes it’s event goals but every woman who runs with us runs for their own reasons. The safe,  inclusive, supportive and non-competitive nature of this women’s only running group is unique in the area. As Chair of the group I am committed to keeping our ethos and spirit alive, growing the community and providing a warm welcome and accessible, affordable sessions to all women, of all shapes and sizes and fitness levels in Leamington and Warwick. We offer a safe community where you can get moving, then run, make friends, and keep moving at your own pace. No woman is left behind, ever. I hope you’ll join us.

I have always been impressed by people who run so decided to attempt it myself around 10 years ago with the couch to 5k NHS app. I finished the course and even managed a Race for Life 5k and the Glasgow Women’s 10k before it fizzled out and I was back to square one. I’d never run with a group or trained with friends before and found I wasn’t very motivated on my own.

In 2018, having put on weight and experienced other medical problems, I decided to give running another go. I completed a couch to 5k course with a different running group but sadly, it didn’t really suit me as most of the beginners left making it a running groups for fast experienced runners only. There was no tail runner, and I was often finishing the run on my own, in the dark, and getting to the end to find most of the others had gone home!

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I found RLAG in the summer of 2018 and braved my first session with the Improvers Group in Victoria Park. I loved it and have never looked back. The group was so friendly and supportive, always having leaders to stay with runners at the front and back with encouragement and advice. The sessions are educational too with guidance on how to improve technique and a lot of thought goes into the mixed training sessions to help prevent boredom setting in.

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I’ve gone on to complete several 10k races, the Portsmouth Great South Run in 2019 (10 miles) and then in 2021, my first ever half marathon in Oxford – not bad for an old bird! I became a running leader in 2021 as I wanted to give something back as I’d got so much out of the group. I’m loving this too as it gives me even more opportunities to get to know you all, though I am terrible with names so please forgive me!

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I’ve currently been keeping my training going over the winter with a January trail run with Lauren (oh so muddy) and the Tempo Events Winter Series (a hilly 10k once a month from October to February in Illmington) with sausages instead of medals for completing a race and a hoodie for completing all five – better than a medal any day!

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I’ve now signed up to attempt another half marathon or two in 2022. Maybe one day I’ll attempt the big one and try a marathon, but it doesn’t matter if I don’t, I just want to keep running with friends and stay active as I get older with all my lovely RLAGers xx

I joined RLAG on a cold winter night in 2016. I was on my own and very unfit, I smiled around and everyone was in the same situation. As the weeks continued the same faces appeared and everyone became more confident. People started to talk to each other and believed in each other. I could completed the course and formed new friendships too. 
RLAG gave me a sense of self-belief and a new found love for fitness so I continued to commit to RLAG going regularly every Tuesday night. 
I trained hard and in April 2017 I went to London to watch Lauren Gregory and a couple of other RLAG ladies complete the London marathon and have never felt pride like it. I believed I could do it too. 

So in 2018 I completed the London marathon for charity and then became extremely lucky to get a ballot place twice. So I will complete London again in 2022. 

In February 2019, I was told I could run after having major surgery to remove some cancer from my leg (scary times). 
After 16 weeks off fitness and many visits from my new found RLAG family I put my trainers back on. 
I now run for enjoyment and don't worry about time or pace but just to finish and I'm extremely proud that I can run. 
This is want Run Like A Girl is all about. 
I'm now honoured to be part of Team Purple as a Running Leader.

I took my first tentative steps into running on a slightly rainy evening back in September 2016. I stood in the Pump Room Gardens along with a group of equally anxious ladies and very nearly walked away, deciding that this running lark was not for the likes of me at the age of 53. I had never taken part in any exercise before this and I hated everything relating to getting a little bit out of breath. My entire family were sporty and I wanted to be able to share that with them before I became too old, so I stayed that night. My first 90 seconds of running were so hard. How was I supposed to repeat that? – several times! However, I Graduated very proudly 8 weeks later having made some new friends along the way. I sadly broke my ankle shortly after this but went on to repeat the Run30 course 18 months later. I loved it, and continued to progress. My first Parkrun was an incredible achievement for me and I felt an amazing buzz from wearing the RLAG T-shirt whilst doing it. I was finally part of a team.

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I went on to I take part in The Regency 10k and then the Two Castles and although my anxiety at the start of a race has never left me, the achievement on completion is second to none. I continued to challenge myself with distances and completed my first half Marathon in Stratford. Lockdown provided the perfect backdrop for my running as that was all we were allowed to do at the time. I had, on a whim, entered the ballot for the London Marathon! Not in a million years did I think that I would be lucky enough to get a place and yet there I was in October 2021 at the age of 58, on the start line in Blackheath feeling very sick with nerves about the unfathomable distance ahead of me. I loved it! I have since gone on to do Marathons in Paris, Chicago, Berlin, Boston and I am taking part in the New York Marathon this November.

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From that first nervy night in Leamington I have gone on to challenge myself, to get fitter, to become mentally stronger but more importantly I have gained some lifelong friends and am now part of an amazing community of strong supportive women. It’s not an understatement to say that it has changed my life. Since becoming a Run Leader, I have watched dozens of women flourish from the confidence of achievement. RLAG is a big part of my life now and it will hopefully continue to be so for many years to come.

I’m Chloe, I joined Run Like a Girl in 2022 after living in Leamington for a couple of years. I HATE winter and needed something to get me out of the house in the colder months, and I thought it would help me make some friends. 

Turns out I love running and want to help everyone around me to find enjoyment in it.

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When I joined Run Like a Girl I could hardly run up the stairs, but with the help of the team and lovely friends along the way I have built up to run many races if differing distances, including 2 marathons! 

Tuesday nights with RLAG are so important to me, if I’m having a bad week it’s the pick me up I need to get through to the end! I’ve learnt that running is not just about speed but about how you feel and having fun!