If ever you’re in Melton Mowbray on a Monday night you can’t have failed to notice the plethora of runners pounding the streets. Melton running club has grown from its inception in January 2014 to now weekly boast of 200+ runners becoming the most successful Running group in Rutland and Leicestershire and one of the most successful Run Britain groups in the UK.
Formed by local runner Rob Beers who noticed so many people out running on their own and wanted to give an opportunity for them to run together as well as pass on his passion by helping new people start running. Another factor was Rob had overcome a large depressive episode and sometimes getting out for a run was very hard, having people to run with and having to be somewhere to take the sessions improved his own health hugely.
Initial sessions ranged from 60-70 people, with the club putting on the popular “Couch to 5k” sessions two or three times a year, everything always free and open to everybody. As the club grew it was able to put on more groups of differing distances currently the club does a 3, 4, and 5 mile group as well as 10k group each week. MRC consider itself a `Pathway` running club, rather than just a `beginners group` as our runners encompass many levels and experience, that excellent pathway has provided local EA club Stilton Striders with many new runners over the last few years.
2017 has seen Melton running club push as we have long been planning sessions into the Borough with our first C25k in the Vale of Belvoir at Long Clawson, with more beginners planned for 2018. Furthermore our official second night started January 10th from Asfordby, parish hall, we aim to create and sustain running opportunities for all.
We are wholly inclusive to disabilities, our founder is an England athletics mental ambassador and the club is proudly a member of the mental health charter for Sport as well as promoting youth sport via our membership with Sported, we believe running and supportive running helps with emotional wellbeing. We have had people run with us who have had secondary mental health issues, diabetes, anorexia, learning disability and visual impairment; we will do our best to help with any barrier to participation. MRC is one big friendly and supportive club, do come along it’s very easy to gain new friends and help with your running journey.
Historically, Melton and the surrounding region are not steeped in a running culture. With the advent of MRC, this has changed, with a bigger percentage involved in running than some towns traditionally recognized as sporting centers, like Loughborough. But the journey is not over, there are still many who could, and should engage, this continues to be the target market, and running is for all not the selected few!
To learn more or join in do contact either the Facebook page or RunTogether page, its free so nothing to lose by trying!
https://www.facebook.com/MeltonRunningClub/ …
https://groups.runtogether.co.uk/MeltonRunningC
