Run Yorkshire/Humber (Leeds) Beginner Running Project
Summary
The Leeds Athletics Network (LAN) successfully recruited and delivered over 60 beginner
running groups across Leeds, getting over 900 new runners into groups and nearly 500 of
those completing six sessions in a nine week period. Partnership working and a proactive
team focused on delivering sessions early in the project to allow for learning and programme
development. The team recruited leaders and advertised groups through a variety of methods
which allowed for session delivery across the city. Requirements of the project were met
through team members giving up weekends and evenings and some even redefining their own
narrative to become a ‘runner’. The team approach was invaluable, enabling Leeds to become
a prominent city for beginner running provision.
This report will outline the aims and objectives of the project and how the Leeds Athletics
Network got involved. It will then detail the individual team members and how they
organised each phase of recruitment, training, delivery and monitoring. The report will
conclude with recommendations from the team and the appendix will include feedback from
Run Leaders and runners who were part of the groups.
Aims and objectives
LAN aimed to increase participation in recreational running by enhancing provision for
beginner groups across the city. The Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) were:



Qualify 25 potential leaders by getting them to complete a Leader in Running
Fitness Course (delivered by England Athletics)
Set up 50 groups (registered on Run England)
Get 800 people who were new to running, completing six sessions in a nine weekly
consecutive sessions
Introduction to LAN, the team and why we got involved
The Leeds Athletics Network is a voluntary organisation set up to pool the resources of all
the running clubs in Leeds to improve provision for running across the city. LAN led the
beginner running project in partnership with Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Sport.
LAN were interested in the project because running clubs have had a reputation of being
elitist, which restricts new comers into the club. What came out of the project was not only a
way into running clubs but also a progression route from complete beginner to club runner.
The Team
Here is a brief synopsis of each team member and their role:
www.runleeds.org
1
Holly Williams
Run Yorkshire/Humber Coordinator for Leeds
holly@leedsathletics.net
07828506023
Holly is an active member of Valley Striders and had previously helped set up a beginner
group prior to this project starting. At the start of this project she set up numerous groups at
different times and locations to investigate the scope of delivering in various communities.
She was the first point of call for the leaders and delivered portal training and ensured
monitoring information was available to West Yorkshire Sport. Her most successful group
was South Leeds Sisters, which expanded within the year to provide a beginner and
intermediates session.
Bob Jackson
Leeds Athletics Network Chairman
Bob.jackson@virgin.net
07775898558
Bob is the chair of Valley Striders and initiated setting up a beginner group
(RunLeeds@Alwoodley) prior to this project. He set up a new page on the LAN website,
dedicated to the beginner sessions www.runleeds.org. He also played a leading role in
financial organisation. He brought in external partners from the athletics network e.g. Run
For All, to boost links with other organisations.
Louise Purdy
West Yorkshire Sport: Sport Development Manager
Louise.purdy@wysport.co.uk
07791386749
Louise provided extra funding support e.g. West Yorkshire Sport’s coaching bursary (50%
off course fees). She had a key role in project management, using her skills as a sport
development manager to keep the project progressing methodically. She teamed up with
Louise Walker and set up Tarn Trotters, which was a stand alone group with 20 runners
attending each week.
Louise Walker
Leeds City Council: Active Lifestyles Officer
Louise.walker@leeds.gov.uk
07891279298
Louise embedded the running project into her remit within the council. This meant that any
leader setting up a group could use a council leisure centre and changing facilities for a
reduced price. She also provided meeting rooms throughout the project. She set up Tarn
Trotters, which not only filled a gap in beginner provision in the North West of the city but
also engaged people in the local community in council activities.
Ray Rundle
Horsforth Harriers: Admin and Promotion Support
runr.hharriers@37.com
07895885769
Ray assisted at Horsforth Harriers absolute beginner’s group, which brought in over 160 new
runners to the club. He was a main player in the promotional team and provided advertising
material.
Each team member set up or assisted setting up a beginner group. This was beneficial
because everyone had first had experience, which could be passed onto new run leaders. One
thing that could be improved in the team make up would be to have had a marketing team
www.runleeds.org
2
member. This could have improved getting the word out to potential runners and supporting
the advertising of groups.
Future recommendations: Have a marketing expert on the team alongside members
who live in different areas of the city to bring local knowledge to the project.
Delivering Sessions
Recruiting and Training leaders
The majority of leaders were recruited between January and March 2012. LAN organised a
LIRF course on the 17th March for these potential leaders. We did this (rather than waiting
for England Athletics’ upcoming courses) because we knew runners like to train for a
specific target race and the Jane Tomlinson Run for All 10K was on the 8th July. This
provided a prominent target for any Leeds based beginner group to train up for. LAN and For
All Events produced a training and racing package, which was offered to all Jane Tomlinson
entrants via their online entry form. Unfortunately this wasn’t live on For All Events
webpage in enough time for entrants to make use of this offer.
Six leaders were identified from Leeds clubs via Bob emailing all club chair people. The rest
contacted one of the team from adverts at West Yorkshire Sport, www.runleeds.org website,
local races, businesses and family sports events. The best uptake came from experienced
runners in clubs. This cohort wanted to set up a group either for their club or in their local
community e.g. Joy Good and Arthur Wood (Pudsey Pacers) set up a group on a Sunday
evening from their local leisure centre. Other individuals wanted to set up a group at work or
for friends e.g. Bev Bellerby set up Rodley Runners, aiming to attract her friends to run with
her along the canal at Rodley.
Training the leader required a Leader in Running Fitness course to be provided. This course
was run by England Athletics tutors and trained the leaders to deliver low risk, fun sessions
for a mixed ability group. This course was appropriate for seasoned runners because it drew
on their knowledge of the local area and progressive session delivery. However, for the less
seasoned runner it lacked session ideas or ways to advertise a new group. This could have
been enhanced by offering contact details of the County Sports Partnership e.g. West
Yorkshire Sport or local authority e.g. Leeds city council. Some leaders had concerns about
the level of technical information being provided on the course and echoed requests for
follow on support to enable them to go forward and set up viable groups. This information
was fedback to England Athletics.
Future recommendations: leaders wanting to set up groups aside from clubs need one to
one support to advertise sessions, recruit runners and be familiar with local running
routes. They are also advised to work with experienced runners to ensure they have
adequate support on the night. To gain support from LAN, the leader is advised to
contact any team member above. Please be aware that other companies need time to
www.runleeds.org
3
change their systems to accommodate any ‘training and racing package’. So, meet
partners earlier than you think you need to to get the ball rolling.
Advertising sessions
Groups were advertised via a variety of methods e.g. word of mouth, on the big screen on
Millennium Square, printed leaflets, local advertising magazine and local news stories. There
was also a promotional team who went out to Council and community group lead family
sports days to recruit runners and leaders into groups. LAN set up a web page specifically to
list all beginner groups, which complemented the Run England webpage and Leeds City
Council had a page dedicated to running on their new website.
Future recommendations: Build a promotional package before the project to include
printed starter packs and leaflets for leaders to use from the start. Contact city wide
and local newspapers to advertise upcoming groups using photos of successful groups
from previous projects.
Delivering sessions
All leaders were given a ‘start-up’ pack which had ideas around the best way to set up their
group e.g. where to meet, what time or who they are aiming the sessions at. The leader’s
LIRF training encouraged them to offer 10-12 weekly courses to get people from walking to
running, in small progressive steps. Many groups adopted this method and delivered
consecutive 6-12 week sessions e.g. Hils Wharam delivered back to back 6 weekly sessions
which ran all the way through the project. Other groups set up an initial course and then
opened it out to new comers to join existing group members e.g. Kathy Keiser set up one 12
week course in March and then delivered mixed ability sessions each week for runners to join
in at any time.
There was initially a delay in the first cohort delivering sessions. This was due to leader’s
CRB checks being held up by a backlog at the CRB service. However, the process was made
longer by poor communication between England Athletics and the leaders. Leaders were not
informed that their CRB hadn’t come through. When they were aware they were able to
contact the CRB to chase the application process. When we knew this was happening we
contacted CRB and England Athletics and addressed any delays. This speeded up the process
and leaders were able to set up sessions that were fully insured.
Sessions went from workplaces, community centres, leisure centres, running clubs, pubs,
hospices and local parks. Sessions were at various times of the day and different says of the
week, some even met on different days and times to suit the runner’s changes in shift
patterns. Some groups catered specifically for parents, fund raisers, women, carers, those in
the mental health system and those who worked shifts e.g. Bev Bellerby’s runners met at
6.30am and runners could choose from one of three morning sessions.
All groups were supported by one or more visits by one of the team along with email and
phone support throughout the project. Practical support involved hosting Run Leader
evenings and portal training sessions. Other support included free promotional material and
www.runleeds.org
4
an events team promoting groups at sporting events e.g. groups in South Leeds were
advertised at Middleton Park Sports day,16/6/12.
In the latter part of the project it became clear that leaders who were trying to set up groups
aside from pre-established running clubs were disadvantaged by not having the publicity of
the club. By linking more closely with the clubs, leaders could have benefited from club
advertising whilst providing a progression route for new recruits. However, time constraints
prevented more support in this area. For example Collette Spencer was an enthusiastic leader
who set up Chapel Allerton Challengers (CAC) from Roundhay Park (home of Roundhay
Runners). The group had two runners and could have expanded if communication between
her and Roundhay Runners (RR) had been supported more. As a result, not only did CAC
cease to run, RR still only cater for experienced runners.
Future Recommendations: Keeping a record of when CRB checks have been applied
for, along with their reference number enables delays to be noticed early. Be aware of
how long CRBs are taking and investigate at England Athletics when this time period
has elapsed. Try to set up a group with a few friends to start with or link in with a local
running club. The club can provide a venue and advertising, you can return the favour
with supplying runners who have had a little experience. Tap into local sporting events
to promote the group, ask LAN for resources for the day. If you are supporting a new
leader, don’t be afraid to call for a catch up, life is busy and they might have gone quiet
because they’re stuck and need help. The more enthusiastic you are, the more they will
feed off your energy.
Funding
Leaders were funded to complete the Lirf course and were entitled to £50 expenses. Expenses
and course fees were initially covered by the project in the first instance but this was revised
due to failure of some leaders to deliver sessions as agreed. Payment per runner was the most
successful way to allocate funding according to KPIs being met, however it did require the
leader to provide initial set up costs, which deterred some from engaging in the project.
Future recommendations: request potential leaders to pay course fees up front and
reimburse as they deliver KPIs.
Administration and Monitoring
Leaders were expected to register their group and associate their runners via the Run England
portal. This caused the biggest delays for two reasons, 1) the portal was not live for the first
six months of the project and 2) many leaders focused solely on delivery. The team worked
with Run England to help iron out technical difficulties with the computer system and leaders
were given portal training. This was successful and some leaders engaged in the process yet
others still were reluctant to use the portal.
The leaders were provided with paper registers and asked to record all attendance, this
worked well as it meant the team could input data evidence was still reported on. Admin
www.runleeds.org
5
support from West Yorkshire Sport was invaluable in reporting accurately and within agreed
timescales.
LAN delivered 64 beginner groups and had 914 runners registered on the Run England
portal, of which, 498 completed six sessions over a nine week period. Looking to the future,
there is room to improve the project to engage people in less affluent areas, among ethnic
minorities, parents and those who work unsociable hours.
Future recommendations: Collect monitoring from leaders regularly and allow for a
decent proportion of time and resources to input monitoring information to meet
project dead lines. Link in with community groups who are focused on improving
healthy living for harder to reach groups. This will tap into latent demand in those
areas.
Conclusions
LAN took on the beginner running project in Leeds to increase participation, provide a
stepping stone for beginners and challenge the elitist reputation of running clubs. The five
person strong team worked closely to cover all angles of the project, with the missing link in
advertising being overcome by working with outside agencies e.g. On Your Doorstep
advertising. Leaders delivered sessions in their local area which enhanced the ability for them
to be tailored to the runner. Over 900 new runners joined one of 64 groups, over half
committing to regular weekly sessions. Although not picked up in the monitoring
information, many of these runners participated in more than one weekly session and carried
on running after the project finished. Those groups that were in their infancy towards the end
of the project provide the infrastructure for on-going beginner running provision in Leeds.
Leader’s feedback around funding availability, using the portal and usefulness of the Lirf
course was acted upon promptly. This will feed into future projects looking at delivering
beginner running in more diverse communities across the city.
Recommendations
Due to this being the first time LAN have been funded to deliver a project on this scale there
we all learned from the experience and look to future projects to put this learning to practise.
To ensure this is passed on for future projects the recommendations in the report will be
summarised below:
 Include a budget for marketing which allows for a team member with the relevant
skills to be active in the project.
 Work in partnership with organisations that complement the aims and objectives of
the project. Agree timescales for when each organisation’s task will be completed.
 Make the best use of citywide advertising by producing adverts for leaders and
runners early on in the project. Have marketing information printed professionally
and use templates provided by the funding body.
 Ensure applying for CRBs is leader’s first priority and follow this up within realistic
timescales
www.runleeds.org
6






Be proactive and anticipate that leaders may go on a course but not set up a group. A
proactive team would set up regular contact with leaders so any disengagement would
be dealt with promptly.
Ensure those who are delivering the activity have knowledge of the local
communities’ needs and resources
Support the leader with sourcing a venue, a target audience and running routes.
Ensure funding is used to enable targets to be met. Be mindful that good intentions
aren’t always followed through, however a flexible plan is needed to work with
people delivering in their own time, outside their normal working hours.
Keeping regular contact with session deliverers ensures any glitches can be acted
upon in an appropriate time scale.
Split the project into phases of planning, recruitment, training, delivering, monitoring
and evaluation. Have deadlines for each phase and be vigilant about sticking to these
deadlines.
www.runleeds.org
7
Appendix 1 & 2
Appendix 1
This appendix is a collection of responses from runners about their experiences of running in
beginner group as part of this project.
From a runner at Pudsey Pacers’ beginner group:
“Last May I was persuaded to join the Run England Course by my friend - Nadine. I
remember my first night clearly - we did a warm up in Pudsey Park and then jogged
out onto the main road. At this point I just wanted to go home and really didn't think
I could go on. However Nadine and Joy supported me so well and I managed to
finish the course, which was just 6 weeks. Since then Nadine persuaded me to join
Pudsey Pacers and then go on to do the LIRF Course. In a year I have come so far
and I now take out runs within Pudsey Pacers and I am assisting Joy and Arthur to
run the current Run England Course. I have done two 10K races and just started
doing the Park Runs.
Last December I went on a friend’s 50th do and a lot of my friends were there who
hadn't seen me in a while. They are commented on how my body shape had changed
and how amazed they were that I was running. Two of these friends joined the Run
England course in January and have gone on to join Pudsey Pacers and have run
their first Park Run this morning. Within the current Run England Course we have
18 attendees and around half of them are my personal friends and facebook
connections.
At the end of the January Run England Course we asked for feedback, which we have
taken on board. I have also set up a facebook group for the current Run England
course attendees. Most of the Group comment and encourage each other and quite a
few meet up mid week to go for a run together. The facebook page has worked well
for them - we told them from the start that it was their group page and where they
could private message us if they wanted to ask anything and didn't want to talk in
front of everyone. Once a week I put a topic on e.g. clothes to wear and where to buy
them, what to eat, the parkruns. The 10 week course seems to be just about right - we
changed it from 6 - 10 weeks from the feedback we received.
The thing that has kept people coming is their own success and our increasing their
mileage gradually each week. We also incorporate hills and speed sessions (we call
these efforts so not to frighten anyone!!)
The next plan is to get the Run England group to join the club group.”
The next two reports are from Horsforth Harriers:
Runner 1
www.runleeds.org
8
“I have been 'running' on and off for about 10 years but never managed to get much
further than 3 miles. I ran with friends and we often found excuses not to run with our
lives being so busy.
Earlier this year Donna, a friend of mine, told me about Horsforth Harriers, I had
heard of them before but always thought you had to be a very successful runner to
join. Donna had joined the absolute beginners class and told me how friendly
everyone was and what a supportive and inspirational lady Hilary, the leader, was.
Within a few months Donna had moved on to the next group and she encouraged me
to join. I managed to get a good friend Paul to join with me.
I have to say we were terrified the first week, but we managed to run most of it and we
weren't at the back- we were amazed. Over the past few months we have built in
confidence and our running skills have improved too, sometimes we are even at the
front! Who knows what we will be doing next, we've even discussed running a 10k!
The great thing about running as a group is its safe, supportive and you learn new
places to run. Even though I've lived in Horsforth for 20 years over the past few
months I've seen places I've never seen before. Thank you to Horsforth Harriers,
especially Hilary and Ray for the friendly welcome and encouragement we have
received over the past few months.”
Runner 2
“Prior to joining the Harriers absolute beginners group in January 2013 I really was
someone who couldn’t even run to a bus stop. The absolute beginners group certainly
is a challenge but I know that’s what keeps me going back for more.
Even within the group there are people of different abilities but everyone is
encouraging and motivational. The training strategies that are in place mean even
when you are slower and running at the back the faster ones are made to run back
behind you so you are in the front. This gives me the motivation to push myself to stay
at the front even if only for a few minutes!
Every week we run a different route which posses a different challenge, if I was
running on my own I’d never have attempted the hills we go up or any off road
running. Since joining the club I’ve made new friends who I meet on non Harriers
nights and run with, we all have the same ability and are reaching for the same goals.
Now I can run to the bus stop and a whole mile without stopping, sometimes when I look back
on a road or path I’ve just run up I have a great sense of achievement because never in a
million years did I think I’d ever be able to achieve what I’ve achieved in just 6 months.”
www.runleeds.org
9
Appendix 2
The last two pieces are from Run Leaders and talk about how they found setting up the
groups. Both leaders had very different experiences, which provide good insight into the
challenges and strategies employed by individuals.
Leader 1
“From the birth of the ABG (Absolute Beginners Group) in 2010 we have continued
to follow our set of 6 week block schedules. We use three different sets back to back to
ensure variety in the programme. The last 3 weeks of every schedule are hills for
strength and confidence, relays for fun and on the 6th week a 5 mile Time Trial for
officially marking achievement. Members who complete the time trial in 55 minutes or
less are encouraged to move up to the next improver group led by Ian or the seasoned
runner’s group. If any club member has been off running for a period for any reason
they can be a guest with a slower group while they work their way back to fitness.
Every ABG Member is given a copy of the current schedule, details of stretches and a
welcome letter. The schedules are also downloadable from the website so potential
members can study them in advance to help them choose which beginner group to
join. Members are given a written route sheet for the night, which they may keep for
their own use. Some referrals are by word of mouth but most come from people who
have visited the website.
As soon as a new prospective member arrives at the club on a Tuesday evening they
are made very welcome and introduced to the members with whom they will run that
evening. They sign my register and write down their e-mail and phone number, hear
the club notices read out, then warm up and enjoy the session.
At all points of contact with me I stress that any activity with the ABG will be at their
level, we are proud to be a multi-ability group, we nurture the unsure and encourage
their improvement.
So, in brief, our recipe for success:





Accurate information.
Achievable course content, which encourages members to commit to running 3
days/week, twice on their own.
Confidence building by encouragement, helpful hints and advice.
A completion standard by which to gauge your own personal achievement
along your running journey.
And most important of all, friendship, laughter and fun.
Runners leave and rejoin, sometimes years and babies later. So far nobody has asked
for a change in course content and members only have glowing comments about the
sessions. Any new tips I come across are passed on to the members. The group
continues to evolve around the needs of the Runners and the Leaders, so if Ray and I
are both away, any leader or club member may refer to the complete library of routes
www.runleeds.org
10
and hand-outs which is kept at the club and shown to every new member as they
join.”
Leader 2
“The course was good, however the task of setting up the group was quite daunting. I
found the time commitment to setting up a group was off putting. You have to be
available at a set time every week to gain momentum and commitment from
'beginners'. Being flaky or cancelling sessions just doesn’t work. I have a busy works
diary and a hectic social life so it meant I couldn’t get a set day and time each week.
My suggestion here is to have pairs or teams of people setting up the group.
Whilst I had the motivation to encourage people to run, I found I was being asked
'hard' questions from beginners which only a coach could have answered, I didn’t feel
confident advising people on their running techniques or diet.
Ultimately I had to resign my role as group lead but this was due to me having
unrealistic expectations of how I managed my time.”
www.runleeds.org
11