You will regularly find the fabulous ladies of local social running group, Just Move at Groe parkrun in Builth Wells. This week they turned out in force to support the Run Wales Celebration Relay and spread the word about their supportive group!
The Celebration relay provides all Run Wales registered groups with a tremendous opportunity to showcase their group, sharing information about their activities and encouraging more people to participate in social running outside of their regular weekly parkrun. We are encouraging groups to support their local parkrun by offering to volunteer as well as run, jog or walk at the relay events.
12/47: Celebration Relay Run Report – Groe parkrun
Just Move’s orange tops were shining brightly at Groe parkrun event 106, to continue the Run Wales Celebration baton relay of Wales. The weather was cool and sunny, and had dried up following the deluge earlier in the morning.
The atmosphere, as always, was friendly and inclusive with a lot of fun, banter, music and encouraging words from the marshals. Due to the early morning wet and windy weather less people participated than usual but 68 people ran, jogged and walked the course, of whom 11 were first timers and 11 recorded new Personal Bests.
Representatives of 12 different clubs took part and 11 Just Move ladies participated with 2 of the Just Move ladies gaining PB’s at the 5km distance.
Today’s full results and a complete event history can be found on the Groe parkrun Results page.
Groe parkrun is based at the Groe in Builth Wells and is a flat 3 lap course beside the River Wye; it is a lovely course with a long straight start along a wide path with marshals to guide and encourage as the route turns back past the swimming pool and park for the ensuing laps.
There is plenty of parking and toilets available at the start and everyone meets to be social both before and after the event. The local Strand café has become the ‘parkrun’ café and it regularly welcomes participants for breakfast afterwards where everyone can be rewarded for their efforts on a Saturday morning. The Groe parkrun team, under the leadership of Lee Jarvis, always gives a warm welcome to everyone who takes part.
This week it was Just Move who had a special mention as the Run Wales baton relay of Wales came to the Groe. Members of Just Move, a social walk to run group based in Llandrindod Wells, attend the parkrun every week.
Each week some members and leaders either assist the parkrun team as volunteers or participate as walkers, joggers or runners.
Just Move started back in 2015 as a social group who help ladies and girls (16+) gain confidence through a walk to run initiative. Initial funding from Run Wales and sponsored by the Metropole Hotel in Llandrindod, Leaders in Running Fitness help ladies to ‘Just Move’ in a friendly and social environment.
Hundreds of ladies from the locality in Mid Wales have gained the confidence over the years to start running and to make fitness and fun part of their lives; some have even encouraged their partners to start their own fitness journey too.
The ladies start their walk-to-run 10 week course, which is ongoing three times a year and each end of block culminates in a celebration of some kind, a dinner, a presentation, a celebration or even a parkrun 5km.
There are 3 groups catering for the needs of those who attend with a walking group, a walk-to-run group and the runners. Many original members have given their time back to the group by becoming LiRF to assist more of the community to start their own running journey.
Many ladies have gone on to gain successes, from 5km PB’s, 10kms, half-marathons and even marathons since the groups inception and have also furthered their running journey by joining local Welsh Athletics clubs.
Just Move meet on a Monday night at 7pm in the Metropole Car Park in Llandrindod Wells where a warm welcome will always be given. The groups details can also be found on Facebook, so send a message if you would like to start running in an informal and supportive atmosphere. Whatever your running fitness goals, large or small, Just Move can help you on your way.
The Run Wales Celebration Relay provides all Run Wales registered groups with a tremendous opportunity to showcase their group, and encourage more people to participate in social running outside of their regular weekly parkrun. Running groups are encouraged to support their local parkrun by offering to volunteer as well as members to run, jog or walk at the relay events.
Run Wales supports the establishment and development of social running groups, providing more opportunities for people in Wales to enjoy running together safely. If you have a social running group (or would like to start one) and would like to know more about registering for support with Run Wales, head to www.irun.wales and get in touch.
This week’s Groe parkrun was made possible by 19 volunteers:
Nicola KELLY • Anne POWELL • Malc GONNELLA • Linda WESTLAKE • Lee JARVIS • Anna JARVIS • Steven EVANS • Jenny RYAN • Liz TOWNS • Guy WALKER • Eurig TOWNS • Malcolm METCALF • Robert EVANS • Robert POWELL • Mo ABRAHAM • Tristan BLANCHARD • Jane THOMAS • Iona JENKINS and Alison LEWIS
As always, everyone volunteering was the reason for this event happening.
Anyone who would like to join the volunteer team on a Saturday morning, can contact them at groehelpers@parkrun.com
Next week the Celebration Relay will be heading west again to Haverfordwest parkrun on 22nd October. Please get in touch if you would like to take part!