The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
St Cyrus sports club a runaway success.
People in a Mearns village are hotfooting it to a running club which now boasts around a third of the entire community in its ranks.
From a pedestrian start, St Cyrus Solos Running Club is racing ahead in the membership stakes – and the name given to it as a joke when it was trying to get off the ground has stuck.
Simon Chalmers, who works offshore, founded the club after putting an advertisement in the village newsletter but failed to attract a single response.
As a joke, on his next trip offshore, a colleague stuck St Cyrus Solo Running Club on the back of Simon’s coveralls.
Undeterred, Mr Chalmers placed another advert in the newsletter, boasting of 100% attendance record at an event and signing off as “still the only member”.
From a standing start, the club has now attracted more than 30 members, in a village with just 100 residents.
Many of the new members were not runners before joining the club and
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We have a range of members, with our youngest 14 and a couple of super veterans who are over 50. SIMON CHALMERS
word of the group’s popularity is also encouraging other athletes in from neighbouring communities.
Mr Chalmers said: “We have a range of members, with our youngest 14 and a couple of super veterans who are over 50. Our training sessions vary week on week and we meet twice a week, with a varied training schedule.
“We may do hill repeats, sprints, and a variety of conditioning or speed work, with the occasional social plod where we all catch up.”
He continued: “Training is dictated by who turns up on the night so, for example, if we have a new member or someone recovering from injury we will tailor the night to suit and nobody is left behind
“Our members range from those who are run/walking right up to three-hour marathoners and a few who recently completed an ultra-marathon.”
The club is trying to gain affiliation with Scottish Athletics which will allow them to access insurance and promote the club to prospective members.
New members who can hot-foot it to St Cyrus village hall at 7.30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays will be made welcome.
“When I first put my ad in the village newsletter I never thought I’d be chair of a club, with a committee, a constitution and affiliation to a sport governing body – it all started as a bit of a joke and I’m delighted with how quickly the momentum has gathered.
“The Montrose parkrun has been great for us, and it’s fantastic to see so many non-runners getting involved in the sport and catching the running bug.”
Everyone knows the importance of exercise. However, relatively few of us workout as often as we know we should. Too often, good intentions go to pot as the dubious attractions of strenuous outdoor activity are usurped by an overwhelming temptation to ramp up the thermostat and put your feet up.
When Simon Chalmers decided to tackle the issue in his village, the early signs were far from encouraging.
An advert aimed at coaxing runners to join him in a bid to get fit failed to garner a single response.
A lesser enthusiast may have taken the hint, but Mr Chalmers persisted.
His determination has now been rewarded, with a third of villagers attending his running club.
It is an inspirational tale – and one with an important message.
Motivation can be a huge stumbling block for those with ambitions to get fit.
Add a bit of peer pressure in, however, and your chances of success will surely rocket.
The sense of belonging that can be engendered in a club such as that established by Mr Chalmers is a hugely important factor in ensuring membership numbers remain healthy (in every respect).
Hats off – and indeed trainers on – to all of those who have contributed to the venture’s remarkable success.