August Roundup

Reviews request... Before I start please may I ask you to review the group on Google when you have a few minutes.  It really helps others to get a better picture about what our group is about and whether it would suit them - your opinions are really helpful.  Thank you in advance!

https://g.page/r/CQAmgzD-y5SREAI/review

New Run Leaders and group expansion

HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Hannah and Carolyn for completing their Run Leader training and getting their qualifications.  I hope you will all join me in thanking them for taking the next step in supporting and developing the group, allowing us to provide more variety to the run sessions we can offer. 

We are also in the process of starting a #rtc-development channel on Slack.   If you are interested in becoming more involved in the group, it's operation or supporting RunTogether Canterbury in becoming an accredited England Athletics club then please do join that channel and I will start finding ways to harness your invaluable skills!

Back to school

I truly hope you have made some wonderful memories over the Summer with your families and friends.  We have been blessed by a rare summer of good weather and lots of opportunities to get outside in the fresh air to explore.  Next week will see many of us resuming the daily grind of school runs and work but never fear, your regular dose of you time running with your running buddies is here for you.  Take the time, preserve the time, to get out for a hour and run - its so good for us in what is often a hectic schedule.  The runs have been updated on the website/app for the next few months, so get booking.

Couch to 5k Summer Runners news

Incredibly the Couch to 5k runners, all 6 of them, have reached week 9 already!!  They have solidering on through holidays, heatwaves, illness and the summer holiday craziness!  Kudos for that! This week will culminate next Sunday with their 5k challenge run.  Any group members who would like to support this would be very welcome to join us.  It’s been a great few months and I am really proud of each of them for their tenacity and determination.

RunTogether Canterbury does parkrun - East Kent Tour continues

We will be skipping a month of parkrun due to our rammed calendar and the Wingham 5k falling on the 2nd Saturday of the month which would be our parkrun week.  Watch this space for an October date.  If anyone does run a parkrun next month be sure to tell us about it on the #rtc-parkrunners channel of Slack, you never know someone else might be running too and I love to hear about how you get on.  I do love a selfie too – be proud!

New members

We have had lots of new members join us this month.  Its always lovely to welcome in new runners to the group, every person adds something new and interesting to the group.  I hope, if you are new, that you felt comfortable and welcomed on your first run with us.  I am very conscious about making sure new runners enjoy their first group run exoerience so if you have any feedback please don’t hesitate to talk to me.  Also, don't forget to read the Runner's Information page on our website to learn everthing you need to know about your new run group.

#runandtalk week

Thursday 22nd September will see us holding our 2nd #runandtalk event. 

Myself, Carolyn, Hannah and your Mental Health Champions Kerry and Ginny will be holding this event alongside other RunTogether groups accross the country.  We will be leading 3 groups this year. A 2k walking group targeting our injury bench gang, families of our runners and anyone interested in joining January’s couch to 5k group.  We will also have two running groups, a 5k group and a 10(ish)k group.  

EVERYONE IS WELCOME and you are invited to bring any friends and family to the event to introduce them to your group.  Children are welcome to join the walking group WITH you or an adult to supervise them.  We will all be starting at Toddler's Cove by the adult exercise equipment at the slightly earlier time of 5.30, meeting back at the same spot approximately an hour later.  For those who would like to join us we will gather afterwards for a drink at The Bishop's Finger on St Dunstans.  The event is open to book now so what are you waiting for! 

Events

There are a few events coming up that a number of us have entered.  Check out the links below for more information and if you fancy joining us, please do! There is no requirement to run together, you can run your own race but as always, I do this for fun so you are welcome to run with me 😊  Remember to check out the #rtc-events-and-races slack group for details and chat about events.

Wingham 5k or 10k - 11th September

There is a huge group of us running this event – runners who will finish top 20 and runners who will be running at the back so if even a little bit of you is tempted, please do enter, it’s a lovely friendly event and you will have loads of support from your fellow group members.  I believe there are still places available so if you want to join us book here and remember to join our RunTogether Canterbury group with password RunTogether Canterbury.

The Wingham Run (sportingeventsuk.com)

Ashford and District 5 and 10 mile Halloween run - 30th October 

Fancy a Halloween event?  You can of course run as a pro and treat this as an opportunity for a pb but you can also treat this as a fun run and dress up! I will definitely be doing this one, I love a bit of fancy dress so if you do too you can book at through the link below.  I will be booking to do the 5 miler as I will absolutely be doing this in fancy dress!!!  Join me if you dare!!!

Ashford & District 10 and 5 Mile Halloween Run (sportingeventsuk.com)

Slack

Are you on SLACK?

If you are reading this, you run with us and you are not on Slack please do ask me for the private link – it is important to be on the announcements channel so I can ensure you get crucial information. I do try to contact those who aren’t on Slack using Whatsapp but it is becoming increasingly difficult to capture everyone and I don’t want anyone missing out on anything important.

Are you getting your slack messages?

Please do check if you aren’t getting notifications of new messages – each channel you join has its own setting.  All I ask is that you keep your announcements channel setting ‘always on’ as this is where I will notify you about cancellations and anything else last minute or of importance.  Feel free to adjust the settings for your additional chosen channels to suit you.

RTC announcements channel

If possible please try not to post on the announcements channel unless you are a Run Leader or a Mental Health Champion. This is so that you don't get bombarded with messages not aimed directly for you. I welcome and love to hear everything you have to say about running so have a look at the additional channels available to join and see if your post is relevant to a particular area.  If you need me click on the DM option to contact me privately, or whatsapp or call me if you can't do this. 

If it all sounds complicated you arent alone, it does take a little getting used to so just let me know when you see me and I will explain it to you/show you on my phone.

Super Funkin’ Fundraiser!

Maddie’s London Marathon – Our lovely Maddie is running the London Marathon in October and is raising money for MIND.  If you would like to donate please read her page and donate here Maddy Kent is fundraising for Mind (justgiving.com)

If anyone else is fundraising with a run let me know and I can post it on our Roundup.

What have you achieved? 

I am always interested in your personal achievements, and I encourage you to blow your own trumpet!  We celebrate success and achievement no matter how big or small so please do let me know if you have had a proud running moment – we want to hear about it!

As always if you want to contact me please do via slack, whatsapp or give me a call 😊

Emily 07770 479589