Pretty much a year ago to the day, give or take, work stared on the John Sellwood community track at Afon Taf High School in Merthyr Tydfil.
The track had been in what the kids would say, ‘sketchy condition’ and the adults among us ‘dilapidated’ for quite some time. So when the facility was officially opened back last summer Hannah jumped at the chance to set up a walk to run group in her spare time.
Clwb Rhedeg Hapus are eight week cohorts of coached walk to runs, really utilising the track for the intervals necessary for walk to run sessions.
She also utilises a whistle which gets blown when the hardy bunch have to walk or run – one lady said last week she has nightmares about the whistle but secretly they love it because they keep coming back!
The track not only provides a safe space for those who may not necessarily want to start their running journey in what Hannah calls the wild, as in on pavements or trails, but it’s temporary lighting and closed fences means it’s also an ideal place to run and bring your children, so it smashes lots of barriers people face with confidence or childcare straight on the off!
Having started her own running journey in the dead of night wearing a balaclava so no one would ever know it was her trying to become a runner. Hannah can really appreciate the safety net the track provides for people who may lack in confidence and it would be lovely to see programmes like this run (no pun intended) out across the nation.
Currently on the second cohort of walk to runs but also, with the support of Active Merthyr and Run Wales held a disco run and a family Halloween run which were both received really well.
The point of Clwb Rhedeg Hapus was to always provide an inclusive, safe environment for people to begin their running journeys and having had well over 70 plus people take that first step at the two cohorts we like to think it’s doing it’s job perfectly!
For more information on Clwb Rhedeg Hapus or walk to run programmes on the track drop Hannah an email on