The Love Running Tuesday Nighters – a Newport-based running group – celebrated their 11th birthday last week.
Last week (4th July) a 58-strong group of hardy runners braved the elements and relocated from Newport to the green in Gurnard, to hold the first-ever seaside birthday run.
Whilst the rain cascaded down on a wet weekday evening, those present still enjoyed food and drinks underneath a marquee before they gathered on the promenade ready to head towards Cowes.
Business owners Simon and Jo Randall started the group after constantly hearing their customers say that they were too scared and slow to join ‘a proper running club’. Realising that there was a need for a more relaxed, inclusive and safe environment for novice and casual runners, in July 2012 the husband-and-wife team created the Love Running Tuesday Nighters (LRTNs), named after the popular Newport shop.
The first-ever session was held on 3rd July 2012 when a total of 13 runners attended. By the time the group had become licensed and held its 1st birthday 57 runners attended.
Fast forward to 2023 and the group has a total of 400 runners registered with RunTogether, with around 65-85 runners attending weekly.
Having won awards such as the ‘Regional Best Run England Group’ back in 2016 and the Isle of Wight Community Action Award, the group – and its members – has also raised large amounts of money for charity at events such as the London Marathon and Great South Run. Closer to home, charities such as Ability Dogs 4 Young People on the Island have also benefitted from the efforts of those in the group.
Speaking to Island Echo, Jo Randall has said:
“Running is the cheapest, most accessible and most natural exercise, and running with others makes it fun too! The motivation and support we give each other is good mentally as well as physically, and it is – quite frankly – a kind of “free therapy”
The group meets every Tuesday evening at 17:50 for an 18:00 start at the St Mary’s Hospital Helipad Car Park. Runners of all abilities are encouraged with a total of 3 differing sessions on offer each week.
For more information about the group, head on over to the Love Running website.
