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Lliswerry Runners Newport's friendly running club. |
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Lliswerry Runners Newport's friendly running club. |
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Can fat Jo run the Bath Half?a link to joannalearnstorun.blogspot.com/ New Member Blog - Aimee - October 2011
I met some members of Lliswerry Runners at Cwmbran Race for Life a couple of years ago and found them to be very friendly and enthusiastic. I planned to join for a long time but eventually joined when I got a place in the 2010 London Marathon and realised I needed help! The club certainly caters for all abilities and you always feel safe and assured that there will be someone. The Club is brilliant, everyone is very friendly, welcoming and full of encouragement and enthusiasm! I felt instantly part of the gang! From day one I received a lot of support which was invaluable for the marathon! I regularly attend the Wednesday interval session which is different every week and this keeps it interesting! I find the sessions challenging and I manage to push myself a lot harder than I would if I was training on my own. I always leave feeling like I have had a great workout and a good catch up with friends! The club also provides the opportunity to take part in a wide range of events from the rack raid to cross country and leisure centre league run. There is always something going on! The committee work hard to ensure that they offer a varied and interesting programme of training sessions and events and that members are well supported and included. New Member Blog - Miles - October 2011
So I decided to improve my fitness level and lose a few KGs in the process. After running by myself for about 6 months my times were improving slowly but I was getting bored with the same old training sessions and routes. I had never thought about joining a running club before - usual excuses - too much commitment, not fit enough, certainly not fast enough etc etc etc. I took a tiny step by e-mailing a few running clubs to ask about joining up for a few sessions. I had responses from several clubs but got a really good feeling about Lliswerry Runners and the members that I had contact with. I was ridiculously nervous turning up at my first training run...Why do we get so nervous? Crazy! I had no need to feel nervous at all - great bunch of people. After one session I joined up and got my vest. Straight away I found the sessions amazing and felt a huge benefit from running with people of a similar pace and occasionally trying to keep up with the quicker groups. My motivation for running has never been better and I look forward to every session. My fitness level has improved greatly since joining and I have never felt better. I’d strongly recommend Lliswerry Runners to anyone thinking about running with a club. If you are interested please contact one of the committee members or just turn up for a run! New Member Blog - Paul - November 2011
In my twenties I suffered a football injury, snapping the 3 primary ligaments in my ankle. As part of my rehab the physio had me running in straight lines, as I built up my endurance a local 10K race fitted in perfectly with my schedule. Being in my twenties, having core football fitness enhanced with recent running training and a competitive nature I was a dead cert to be amongst the leaders. Looking around the field on the start line my confidence grew but just a few miles in things were not quite going as I envisaged. I was struggling, people twice my age were passing me with ease and they weren’t even wearing the latest Nike Air Max! I had a new found respect for the sport and everyone who participates in it. Since that Yateley 10K more than 20 years ago I have run and entered races regularly (unaffiliated) some years more, some less but running has remained a constant and a base for other activities.
Until a few weeks ago I would never consider wearing a running vest; partly due to my extremely hairy shoulders but mostly because wearing a running vest must mean you’re an athlete. And with the title athlete comes the pressure of expectation, structured training, being led by a stopwatch, intimidation of lining up against elite thoroughbreds and maintaining a less than interesting diet, or does it… Since joining Lliswerry Runners I have had none of the above concerns (apart from the shoulders) I have met new friends and found the club to be nothing but supportive. I enjoy the club sessions, training with like minded people and wear the burgundy vest with pride.
I find the benefits of running numerous:
The only downside is I regularly find myself shouting at the telly, mainly during football matches “make ‘em ‘ave it”. Thanks to my friends for talking me into joining, I should have done it years ago!
New Member Blog - Linda - November 2011
After months of swim sessions with NEWT and feeling guilty at my lack of attendance at running sessions, I went to a run night at the track. I was amazed to make it round the 400M with total running about 5K. Next day I missed the NEWT swim as I could barely walk. Not to be beaten I came back a few weeks later to find young runner asking where I’d been as he’d brought his mother along who was my age! In May I gave Parkrun a go. In pouring rain my inadequate gear (fleece coat and joggers) got soaked adding pounds to the weight I had to drag around the course but it was still a PB. Some kind person took this very attractive photo to record my maiden run. When the joint NEWT/Lliswerry runners membership came up I jumped at it and once open water swim sessions finished I joined the Wednesday night interval sessions. On my second night I ended up in a stranger’s car on the way to Uskmouth and what turned out to be a spectacular run round the Wetlands in great company and organised ability groups. My efforts that night were hindered a bit with my head at times facing backwards taking in the view of the channel. My impression of Lliswerry Runners being a great Club has been reinforced by members’ contributions at Parkrun and any event I’ve joined in with. What a fantastic group of enthusiasts – friendly, welcoming and inclusive. |
I started running in 2005 after a rash decision to enter the Cardiff Half marathon. My Dad signed up aswell and we trained together. I was basically starting from scratch and my fitness levels were very low, however I enjoyed the challenge and soon saw the benefits of taking up running and have been running ever since!
My first experience of running was when I foolishly signed up to run the 2010 Cardiff 10k for a local charity thinking I could turn up with very little training and complete it in a super fast time. I got around in about one hour. It got me thinking that my general fitness level was OK but not great. Something needed to be done!
Running for me has always been a part of my life without ever considering myself a runner. 
I first met Lliswerry Runners at the 4-sport challenge swim event at Christmas 2010. Some wore “holiday” beachwear and salon hairdos but what these athletes lacked in racing swimwear was more than made up for by their friendliness and enthusiasm.