Just 6 weeks after starting our first running groups up in Manchester, ASICS, who have partnered with The Running Charity to support more homeless people, offered us some places in the Manchester Marathon and Relay. This was a daunting prospect for most of our new recruits, who had yet to even attempt a 5K. Throwing caution to the wind, we entered 3 teams of 4 into the relay and set the runners new and challenging goals to get them to the start line in April. Despite some pre-race nerves and an early start, everyone turned up, ran, cheered on their team mates and won MEDALS.

This event was a real turning point for us, new members joined up having heard the tales from the runners. The idea of training to complete a difficult goal took hold and after running 5K & 10K races, 6 runners took the plunge and entered the Manchester Half Marathon in October. At first, we thought only 2 of them might actually be able to finish the race. We were wrong….after 12 weeks of increased training, including weekly hill sessions and a long run at the weekends, all 6 completed the gruelling 13.1miles in style.

Fast forward to April 2017 and after a tough winter of training it’s marathon time again. This year we have 5 teams of 4 entered into the relay at Manchester, with one runner attempting the full distance. One of the runners who joined us for the first ever session in Manchester and has shown great dedication to his training has been rewarded with a trip to London in 3 weeks to run the marathon there. We are lucky to have such great races in Manchester and our runners are an inspiration, please give them a cheer out on the course!