A NEW course to encourage people back to running starts in the new year.

After a break of one year – the very popular, and often transformative – Lymm Runners Beginners’ Course returns in January.

This year it will include training for those who may have lost their mojo during Covid and wish to return to running.

The course starts at 7pm on Tuesday January 4 at Victoria Park in Latchford, lasts eight weeks and is open to runners and would-be runners of all abilities.

There are two sessions a week lasting one hour each: on Tuesdays, a structured coaching session at the running track which is then put into practice on a Thursday evening with confidence-building group run/walks around Lymm.

These leave at 7pm from the High School are designed to build up pace and distance over the weeks.

Christine Horgan, from Lymm Runners, said: "Sounds a bit scary? There’s no need to worry. Lymm runners are considered one of the friendliest and most supportive running clubs in the region, so participants can expect plenty of encouragement as well as structured coaching by qualified leaders in separate training groups – so no one gets left behind.

"The course is free but we do ask participants to join Lymm Runners and England Athletics for the start of the course. Membership of both costs just £36 a year."

The class of 2020 enthused about the course.

One said: “After drunkenly signing up one night to the beginner’s course, I forced myself to the first meeting and ran (albeit slowly and not very far). Fast forward two years and I'm running for fun helped along by some fellow beginners who have become such wonderful friends. Thank you, Lymm Runners.”

Lymm Runners meet four times a week. There are runs of various distances including a power walk group on Thursdays at 7pm, leaving from the English Yard behind the High School, Sundays at 8.30am from outside the Library and Wednesdays at 9.15am for a coffee run.

So if this sounds like the sort of experience you’re seeking right now and you’d like to know more, go to lymmrunners.org/running/beginners-course/