A year ago today – 19th April 2018 – I made what I believe is one of the best decisions of my life – I joined the best running group in my humble opinion – the Danson Runners!

So how did it all came about? Well, by April 2018 I’d been working as a fitness instructor/personal trainer for three months – and I loved and still love my job, but between that, the kids and general life stuff I found I was getting less and less time to focus on my own training and fitness, and doing what I did I do feel it’s important to keep myself fit and healthy – it was then I decided I wanted to get properly get back into my running which had fallen by the wayside.

So I did what every sensible person does and signed up for a 10km – oh you mean people don’t normally do this!?! What had I done!?

Well, now I had a massive incentive to get running again and relatively quickly as this was April and the run I’d signed up for, which was the Vitality 10k was on Monday 28th May, so I hadn’t given myself that much time – but how was I going to go about it!?

I knew I could run/walk 5km – sort of, but I just didn’t have my previous enthusiasm to go running on my own anymore, I thought I could do elements of my couch to 5k app, but I needed more. I spoke with my friend, who is an experienced runner and she gave me loads of great guidance, along with some good training methods, but the best bit of advice she gave was mentioning a free running club that met up in Danson Park on twice-weekly basis and that it might be a good idea to give that a go.

So the evening of Thursday 19th April 2018 came around, and I did something I’d never really done before, I went along to a group on my own.  I remember feeling so exposed in my Skins, which were rather short shorts – but it was a really hot April, so I didn’t let that put me off. I met John Green – the main organiser of the group who I’d messaged with a few times with within the Danson Runners Facebook Page. He was warm and welcoming as was everyone else. So from that first session, the rest is, as they say, history.

I started going regularly every week on a Thursday, then the Thursday session changed to runnercise, so I managed to organise it with my hubby (and my fab in-laws) to be able to get along on the Danson Runners Tuesdays as well – so I was still getting in a run once a week along with a circuits style workout. So pretty much every week since last April, asides from the odd occasion, every Tuesday and Thursday at 7pm I meet with the Danson Runners outside the Boathouse. I even avoid organising things on those evenings as I don’t want to miss my running! If I do organise something with you, you must mean a lot to me!!!

By the third week, I’d got my own awesome Orange Danson Runners T-shirt and started getting to know people’s names!

The most important part of being part of a group is getting along to the socials, obviously, so after not being with the group very long – I did go along to one of their socials at the Nag’s Head in Welling, and again it was a good decision, as it was lovely to chat with everyone and see people, not in their running togs and all glammed up!

I have to say I’ve never met such a lovely, warm and welcoming bunch of people, I truly haven’t. They are so inclusive and supportive and I’ve achieved so much in the year since joining the group and not just the initial Vitality 10k that I’d signed up for.

Between April 2018 and April 2019 I have completed the following running events

Vitality 10k – 28th May 2017 – 01:01:18
Myra Garret 10k – 29th July 2018 – Can’t remember but it was over an hour and it sucked as I forgot my headphones!
Adidas City Runs Shoreditch 10k – 14th October 2018 – 00:58:12 – first sub-hour 10k
Adidas City Runs Fulham 10k – 18th November 2019 – 00:57:59
London Winter Run – 4th February 2019 – 00:55:21 – My 10km PB and a time I doubt I’ll see again!
Vitality Big Half – 10th March 2019 – 02:12:31 – First Half Marathon and something to check off of my 40 before 40!
Adidas City Runs 1 Hour – 7th April 2019 – covered 6.5 miles

There is no way I would have believed I’d run a half marathon or an under hour 10k, and I know that it’s only been possible with the phenomenal Danson Runners behind me, they have helped me through the highs and lows of running and I can’t imagine life without them – not only have I now got an amazing running family, which I love, I have also made friends for life for which I am so grateful.

Upcoming runs…

Vitality 10k – 27th May 2019
Adidas City Runs Shoreditch 10k – 14th July 2019
Adidas City Runs Fulham 10k – 17th November 2019

So finally – another massive THANK YOU to every single one of the Danson Runners, I love you all – and if you’re in the Bexley area and want to join a fabulous free running group – check out the Danson Runners, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner!!! 🙂

You’ll find them on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
But the vital info to know is that we meet every Tuesday and Thursday at 7:00pm outside the Danson Boathouse for the 5km & 7km and 6:45pm meet for the 10km.

I need some more running events for this year – especially half marathons – so let me know which you’d recommend in the comments or message me… 🙂 xxx