Farnham Runners held a Get Me Started course and welcomed 17 new members to the club.

The ten-week course is designed to take novices, and those returning to running, from running for a minute at a time to running for 30 minutes without stopping.

The course was led by coaches Julia Tagg, Craig Tate-Grimes and Linda Tyler, and leaders Lindsey Bamford, Jacquie Browne, Ivan Chunnett, Chris Gill, Louise Grannell, Sarah McCullough and Leza O’Flaherty.

There were two sessions each week, one from the clubhouse on Wednesday evenings and the other at Alice Holt parkrun on Saturday mornings.

During the ten weeks, the new recruits ventured into the Bourne Woods after an initial session on the Bourne Green and were introduced to the parkrun held every Saturday morning in Alice Holt Forest.

Farnham Runners stretch on the Bourne Green after a Get Me Started session
Farnham Runners stretch on the Bourne Green after a Get Me Started session (Farnham Runners)

More than half of the people who started made it to the end of the course and completed a 30-minute run on their last Wednesday evening, followed by running the 5km parkrun the following Saturday. They have now joined the Wednesday evening club runs and Monday training sessions on the track. Many still attend parkrun on Saturday mornings.

The Get Me Started runners with their coaches and leaders after completing Alice Holt parkrun
The Get Me Started runners with their coaches and leaders after completing Alice Holt parkrun (Farnham Runners)

Farnham Runners had 14 runners competing in the Woodland Woggle 10km. Bob Brimicombe was 14th to cross the line. The next Farnham Runner was Sarah Franklin, followed by Chris Jackson.

Farnham Runners' Leza Millington and Richard Denby pause for a photo in the River Wey crossing, the final stage of the Elstead marathon
Farnham Runners' Leza Millington and Richard Denby pause for a photo in the River Wey crossing, the final stage of the Elstead marathon (Farnham Runners)

A big group of Farnham Runners joined the Elstead marathon organised by Elstead Scouts. The 5.5-mile race started in 1912 and has been going almost every year since.

Farnham Runners' Sue Taylor, Linda Tyler and Nicola O'Connor at the Farnham Carnival with the town crier
Farnham Runners' Sue Taylor, Linda Tyler and Nicola O'Connor at the Farnham Carnival with the town crier (Farnham Runners)

Farnham Runners’ summer programme has featured a talk by member and Paralympian Rachel Morris, a run along the St Swithun’s Way from Alton and a hash run. At the Farnham Carnival a contingency from the club walked alongside guest of honour Morris.

By Linda Tyler & Jane Georghiou