Worlingham RoadRunnerz

Meryn B: I joined the Slow Sunday group in January after starting and stopping running a few times previously. The group is so welcoming and the walk/run program is accessible for all. Getting out in the fresh air with like-minded people, whilst keeping active is a perfect start to a Sunday. Whatever the weather or wherever the route takes us, we know we'll leave feeling amazing.

​​​

Claire B: I was so nervous about joining the Slow Sunday Runnerz group but when I arrived I was greeted with a huge smile from Sophie the Run Leader and others. Starting a Sunday out in the fresh air is a great way to start your day and the run/walk format means it is manageable and if your at the back of the group (which I have been) you are never left alone. The group has helped me not only with my running/fitness but my mental health too. And at 50 have met some lovely new friends.​

​​

Angela C: After months of thinking of joining this run club I, along with a friend, plucked up the courage to give it a go.  Sophie and this group were so welcoming, supportive, friendly and encouraging, no matter what your level/capabilities.  It provides an incredible opportunity for inclusivity which is very rare in clubs, the atmosphere in the group is always so positive and has helped me with my anxiety, especially in the menopause, aswell as my fitness levels.  You always feel so much better after a lovely social Sunday run, no matter what the weather holds, there’s no judgement, just an enjoyable, supportive environment for everyone.

​

Laura J: Having come back to WRR training after a long period of injury, I felt like I was holding everyone back. Joining in the Sunday socials has been brilliant! There is no pressure to do any more than you want to alongside encouragement to progress at your own pace. There are so many smiles and so much laughter it lifts my spirits every time. Sophie makes sure that all abilities feel included. Fantastic club ❤️.

 

Sherrilee B: I joined the brilliant slow runners group after realising that I needed to move more to aid my mental health. A Facebook request for a “couch to 5k” buddy soon turned into something more for me after all the recommendations to join this group. Met with friendly faces and welcoming encouragement I got my first session under way. Loved it from the get go and soon got the running bug. It really doesn’t matter if you are a runner or not - it’s about getting out moving and chatting…..socialising whilst being active. I have met some great new friends from the group as well, so it really has been a win for me.

 

Nicola R: When I joined the WRR club with my friend last January. I was nervous and didn’t know what to expect. I often worried about being too slow or holding others up, but I was always reassured and there was always someone who would keep me company.  The running group seriously supports my mental health and the fitness is a bonus! I have got to know so many new people and feel very welcome every time. It’s truly a fabulous club, I love it 🥰.

 

Rainy S-W: I have so much love for the Slow Sunday Running group. As a proud, very slow runner, it’s a joy to be part of a group where no one’s watching the clock and everyone’s just happy to be out there. Running with other like-minded people who get it - cheering each other on, chatting, laughing, and enjoying the miles at our own pace has turned my Sundays into my favourite run of the week. It’s relaxed, welcoming, and exactly how running should feel.

 

Joanna N: The best way to start a Sunday? A lovely gentle jog around various local places with some great friendly people led by Sophie, a most inspirational running coach and the loveliest person you could meet. I've never really been able to run, when I first started I could just about manage 30 secs of slow running and was very overweight, then needed to catch my breath so joining a running club was very daunting but WRR it turns out was the perfect club for me.  So welcoming and the amazing coaches have taught me how to slowly improve and I feel fitter and better than ever before. The Sunday slow runners is my favourite run of the week gentle, chatty.  So good mentally I always feel amazing after going and always manage to do a bit more than I thought I would once I get going. Such a lovely group and we sometimes finish with a coffee somewhere afterwards. It really is for everyone. It’s a real tonic LOVE LOVE LOVE it!

 

Rachel G: WRR is what got me into running, but it’s all thanks to the slow runners group led by Sophie that I’ve stuck with it. The walk/run method just really works for me and makes running feel doable.  This group has helped me so much. I’ve made some lovely friends and it’s really helped with my anxiety too. Everyone is so supportive. On days when I’ve struggled but still turned up, someone has always run with me quietly until I was ready to chat.  Because of the slow runners group, I’ve even entered races I never thought I’d do and honestly, I’ve never felt so fit or proud of myself.  Love getting out of bed on a Sunday to run with this amazing group!

 

Rachel R: Starting Slow Sunday Runnerz last January has changed my life! I’d tried to start running before and it hadn’t worked - I’d never been able to feel good enough. How different it is with WRR - everyone is good enough! I never thought I could run a 10k, I’ve managed 3!  Sophie is the kindest, most inspiring person - thank you ❤️.

 

Donna H: I have been running on and off for a few years but never really thought I was good enough and I definitely didn’t think I could ever do a road run. I doubted myself and I didn’t want to be the one at the back holding everybody up! When I did my first run with Sophie’s group I felt amazing, everyone was so friendly and welcoming and I really felt that I was a runner! It’s been so good for my fitness and even more so for my mental health and I’ve made some really lovely friends!

 

Cathy S: The first time I attended a WRR Slow Runnerz session on a Sunday, I genuinely thought I was going to be physically sick with nerves and lack of confidence. I’m in my fifties and overweight — I’m not a runner; I’m not built for it. Or so I thought.  From the moment I arrived, our coach, the incredible Sophie, along with all the other “runners,” made me feel completely welcome. No one cared how fast or how far I could run — just that I was there and willing to give it a go. And who knew that “Jeffing” was actually a thing? A year later, it’s difficult to put into words the positive impact this running club has had on my life. Beyond the training itself, the sense of community truly stands out. Group runs are motivating, social, and something I genuinely look forward to every single week. Being part of this club has made me a stronger runner, physically stronger overall, and has significantly improved my mental health.  Who would have thought I’d be wearing this much lycra (in public!!), suffering from trainer jealousy, running for charities, obsessively checking Strava (who knew that was a thing!), attending parkruns, entering races — for medals!! And enjoying every moment of it, whatever the weather (unless its really pouring down!) And I do it all alongside the incredible friends I’ve made in the club, who support and encourage me every step of the way.  WRR Slow Sunday Runnerz remains my favourite “run” of the week. We run, we walk, we chat, we laugh, we support one another, we get out in the fresh air, and we do our own thing — but we do it together. Finish lines, not finish times.

​