WE’RE GIVING SOMETHING BACK
INSPIRING READERS WHO HAVE ALL DISCOVERED THE JOY OF VOLUNTEERING
Got some spare time on your hands? Be inspired by these women, who discovered the joy of volunteeringÉ “I wanted to show women that anyone can become a runner”
SHARON TAIT, 63, IS A RETIRED NURSE. SHE LIVES IN LOUGHBOROUGH WITH HER HUSBAND MICHAEL, 63, AND HAS TWO GROWN-UP DAUGHTERS. SHE SAYS:
EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT, COME RAIN, HAIL OR SHINE, I PUT ON MY RUNNING GEAR AND HEAD OUT TO COACH OTHER WOMEN AND MEN WHO HAVE TAKEN UP RUNNING FOR THE FIRST TIME.
OVER NINE WEEKS I TRAIN THEM HOW TO RUN 5KM, BUILDING THEIR STAMINA AND IMPROVING THEIR TECHNIQUE, BEFORE THEY “GRADUATE” AND MY NEXT BATCH OF NOVICE RUNNERS BEGIN A NEW SPORT ENGLAND-BACKED COUCH TO 5K COURSE. I’VE ALWAYS BEEN A RUNNER, TO STAY FIT, KEEP MY WEIGHT DOWN AND AS A STRESS RELIEVER. I’M ALSO A MEMBER OF POPLAR RUNNING CLUB, AND WHEN THE SPORT ENGLAND-FUNDED TAKE THE LEAD INITIATIVE CONTACTED US LAST YEAR TO SEE IF ANY WOMEN IN THE CLUB WERE INTERESTED IN TRAINING TO BECOME MENTORS TO ENCOURAGE OTHER WOMEN INTO SPORT, I LEAPT AT THE OPPORTUNITY.
I’D BEEN LOOKING FOR A VOLUNTEERING ROLE BECAUSE I WAS DUE TO RETIRE SOON, AND THIS SEEMED LIKE THE PERFECT WAY TO PASS ON MY LOVE OF RUNNING AND HELP OTHER PEOPLE LOOK AFTER THEIR HEALTH – SOMETHING I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT AFTER YEARS WORKING IN THE NHS. TO BECOME A VOLUNTEER, MY TRAINING COVERED EVERYTHING FROM HOW TO TEACH PEOPLE TO RUN SAFELY, WITH SAFE WARM-UPS AND COOL-DOWNS, TO LEADERSHIP SKILLS SO I COULD LEAD A GROUP CONFIDENTLY.
IT WAS UP TO ME TO DECIDE HOW I WANTED TO USE MY NEW SKILLS, I HAD A LOT OF AUTONOMY, AND I DECIDED TO FOCUS ON ATTRACTING NON-RUNNERS, ESPECIALLY WOMEN, TO TAKE IT UP. I WANTED THEM TO SEE THAT YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A SUPERFIT MARATHON RUNNER, IT’S A SPORT FOR ALL AGES AND ALL SIZES.
I ADVERTISED VIA FACEBOOK, AND WITH
POSTERS IN LOCAL SUPERMARKETS AND LEISURE CENTRES, AND I WORK ALONGSIDE A TEAM OF OTHER VOLUNTEERS, WITH EACH OF US TAKING A GROUP OF PEOPLE AGED 12-60, USING LOCAL PARKS AND ROADS.
ONE OF MY GRADUATES FROM LAST YEAR RAN THE LONDON MARATHON THIS YEAR. I WAS INCREDIBLY PROUD TO HAVE PLAYED A PART IN HER DISCOVERING A PASSION FOR RUNNING.
SEEING PEOPLE GROW IN CONFIDENCE
AND BECOME FITTER IS SO REWARDING, AND
IT’S ALSO A VERY SOCIABLE EXPERIENCE FOR ME.
INTERESTED IN RUNNING? TO FIND A GROUP NEAR YOU, LOG ON TO RUNTOGETHER.CO.UK AND PUT “BEGINNERS” IN THE SEARCH BOX