Running is a great form of exercise because it is simple, free and most people can do it.

Why join a running club?

Training for an event – half marathon, park run, Race for Life etc.
Losing weight.
Valuable me-time.
Keep occupied whilst the kids are training.
Meet like-minded people.
Companionship.
Positive peer-pressure.

There are lots of social running clubs in Cardiff. It is also very easy to start a club yourself. Get together with a group of friends, get a good pair of trainers and set off!

#JEN’SJOGGERS

One step at a time . . .

On Monday 9 November Sportigirl went to the Cardiff International Sports Stadium to meet Jennifer Stone, founder of #Jen’sJoggers – a social running club, affiliated to Cardiff Amateur Athletics Club (Cardiff AAC).

#Jen’sJoggers formed in August 2015. It was originally a women’s running club for parents of the children training at Cardiff AAC. The group has grown from three to 15 women over the last few months and welcomes social runners from all over Cardiff. A few men have now joined but they often split off and run longer routes.

Jen (left) and two other joggers. — Jen (left) and two runners.

The average age of the group is about 40. A lot of the runners are dedicated mothers, with full-time jobs and busy lives. #Jen’sJoggers provides an opportunity for some quality me-time and a chance to build companionship with like-minded women.

Jennifer Stone’s aim is to get women to start running or to rediscover running for fun. She said:

“I think people lack confidence. Some people won’t come because they don’t think they are fit enough.”

Jen wants to give confidence to women to join a running club. The group does not encourage an elitist or competitive atmosphere. Rather, they have created a support network and a safe space where women can exercise to the best of their abilities.

One runner said “there is great peer pressure in a group,” but described this as positive. The runners are put outside their comfort zones and they help each other through difficult scenarios.

When the group first formed there was an agreement to run at the pace of the slowest jogger. If they needed to walk, they would walk. On their first outing, not a single runner stopped to walk. They ran continuously for forty minutes.

#Jen’sJoggers meet at the Cardiff International Sports Stadium on Monday nights at 6.45pm. They run together for 40 minutes exploring different routes. In the summer they run along the River Taff and when the children train in Roath, they run in Roath Park.

Jen has taken a Leadership in Running and Fitness course and is now adding more dimensions to the sessions. They incorporate sprint training and hill runs to their Monday training programmes. The group recently tackled Leckwith Hill (those of you who know the hill can appreciate this achievement).

Another aim of #Jen’sJoggers is to try and get more women involved in cross country events. These events vary between 5,000m and 7,000m. So far, three ladies from #Jen’sJoggers (all in their 40s) have competed in cross country events for Cardiff AAC. Jen said: “It felt like a huge success.”

Now, Cardiff AAC has entire families competing in cross country events together. #Jen’sJoggers is a FREE running club but runners must pay membership if they want to race in cross country events.

Cardiff AAC is great to be affiliated with because it boasts many international athletes. If you have children at the club “it’s a nice way to get to know the other parents.” As well as meeting new people, running with #Jen’sJoggers could lead to other exciting opportunities.

It’s time to get fit and go running “instead of going to the clubhouse and drinking tea.”

For those who have been inspired by the story of #Jen’sJoggers, why not start jogging? Get together with a group of friends and RUN! One step at a time . . . Don’t be like this: