Jo Pavey MBE visits local RunTogether Couch to 5k group at Cranbrook Running Club

Five-time Olympian Jo Pavey MBE recently joined up with her local RunTogether group, Cranbrook Running Club, for their Couch to 5k session.

The visit came as part of the launch of Jump Start January, a campaign from England Athletics designed to encourage runners of all ages and abilities to dust off their trainers for the new year.

RunTogether is a national programme from England Athletics that offers fun, friendly, safe and inclusive running opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. Whether you’re just starting out, returning to running, or looking to improve, RunTogether connects you with local running groups, led by qualified leaders, in a supportive environment.

Jo joined the session for a chat with members about their experiences in the sport so far and shared some of her expertise with them:

"I really enjoyed meeting up with Cranbrook Running Club, it was absolutely inspiring to meet the lovely group who are out running as part of the RunTogether programme,"

"The run they were doing today was the back to school run, so a lot of the runners are mums whose kids are at school. One of them had recently had a baby who was going to turn one soon, so she thought it was time to get back into her running. It’s so positive for them to run together - it gives them that motivation, that friendship, and keeps them going."

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Getting more people active by running together

Brand new research from England Athletics' recent participation tracker shows that 29% of non-runners could be converted to start running if they just had someone to run with, equating to approximately six million people. Research also shows that mental wellbeing is higher among runners than non-runners.

"It’s so important that people can connect through the RunTogether programme, because it gives them that opportunity to meet up with others. I love the fact that there’s an app - you can find out where there’s a run near you and meet up with like-minded people, but it doesn’t matter what level you’re at. You could be new to running, you could be wanting to improve, or you could just want experiences. It’s all about meeting up and running together.

"There’s a lot of people out there who want to run, but for them to join a running club, they feel it’s a bit overwhelming. RunTogether means that they can have that situation where they can meet people who are just starting out at running, there’s no pressure to be fast, you can go at times that suit you by finding a run on the app."

Jump Start January - a chance to get running

As part of last year’s Jump Start January campaign, England Athletics revealed that social running through the RunTogether programme had grown by 116% in the new year. There has also been a boom in social running more widely since the COVID pandemic.

"Social running is going from strength to strength. People are realising the value of getting out and running together, having that friendship, working on those goals, and the real benefits it gives to your mental wellbeing."

Mental health benefits of running

Jo also spoke about those benefits that running can have on people’s mental health, from her own experience.

"I’ve been fortunate to do running for so many years, and I really feel I benefit from being able to run with other people a lot of the time. It’s so lovely to have that friendship, that camaraderie, and it gives you a real boost. It makes you want to get out the door. That boost of self-esteem, that confidence, it goes into all different areas of your life."

England Athletics' new ambassador

On the launch of Jump Start January, Jo Pavey MBE was named as a brand new ambassador for England Athletics’ RunTogether and RUN:EA programmes.

"I’m so excited to be ambassador for England Athletics’ RunTogether and RUN:EA programmes. Over the years, I’ve had so much fun being part of the running community, so to encourage people to get out running, I feel really motivated and honoured to be representing that.

"Running is something that can increase people’s self-esteem and mental wellbeing as well as their physical fitness, and getting out running with others is just such a positive and brilliant thing to do."