Coleg Sir Gar staff running clubs were set up after an initial meeting with Sharon Leech. With her support and ideas we were able to identify a few staff members who were already keen runners of clubs and run leaders. We have two groups running off Graig (Llanelli) and Ammanford campus weekly, which were set up in November 2018.
The diversity between the runners is vast, from non runners to those who were already enjoying weekly runs alone. These groups had a number of members who were very anxious about running, some who didn’t own trainers and many at first who would only run on site for the sake of being recognised in the community. In such a short space of time they have managed to achieve so much including building up the confidence to run off site, committing to purchasing correct running gear, to entering local park runs.
One run member said “Joining the running club has changed my life. If it hadn’t been there at the time I had a lightbulb moment about my lack of activity I’d still be on the couch. I’m running three times a week, doing weights twice a week. I am LOVING it. I can see the physical and mental improvements. Having the run club there to allow 
me to have a go was great. The support and encouragement from the other members has been priceless. Wish I’d done this years ago!”
Other members have said it is such a good support mechanism, give runners confidence to enter half marathons, and how much of a rewarding journey it has been so far.
The groups are now starting to venture into local park runs. We hope that this new found love for running continues and these clubs become a sustainable part of the college wellbeing.
Thank you to Natalie Allen for the write up.