The Logic Behind the Concept - Why do we Run?
Running brings us joy. Watch how small children are when they are excited, at play, and mostly they can't stop running. Back and forth, up and down, in little, pointless circles. Racing along trails, or even through the busy streets of town, splashing through puddles, letting the rain drench us, the wind ruffle us, we begin to sense a faint recollection of that childish joy.
If we push on, running harder, further away from the world and the structure of our lives, we begin to feel strangely elated, detached yet at the same time connected, connected to ourselves. With nothing but our own two legs moving us, we begin to get a vague, tingling sense of who, or what, we really are. To experience this is a powerful feeling, strong enough to have us coming back, again and again, for more. The lack of a specific running club in Barry, it only seemed right that we put something together so that we could enjoy the thrill of the run with others who share the same passion!
Our Origins and What We're All About
There was nothing dedicated specifically for running in Barry, or a club as such, so it only seemed right that we put something together three years ago, so that we could enjoy the thrill of the run with others who share the same passion! The concept of the club was the brainchild of Ashley Griffiths and Nicky Palmer, and May 2013 was when this everything began!
The majority of those that come to us simply want nothing more than to run with others. They tell us they find it boring to run alone, and especially so in the winter months. When it’s darker it is a lot safer to run with someone else, or in a group. Last winter we found that this worked particularly well.
We are a friendly group of enthusiasts that simply share the same passion for running! We have a wide range of abilities with runners both fast & slow.
Barry Running Club is suitable for complete beginners right up to experienced racers, with a specifically designed set of sessions, which we believe puts us ahead of other such groups. We run as a group on a Tuesday and a Thursday always starting from the shelter on the promenade next to the new beach huts & climbing wall on Barry Island, which serves as our base for the winter season. Sunday sessions are always in Porthkerry Park meeting in the car park by the cafe. When we enter into the summer season all the runs will start from the park.
We are a friendly group of enthusiasts that simply share the same passion for running! We have a wide range of abilities with runners both fast & slow.
Barry Running Club is suitable for complete beginners right up to experienced racers, with a specifically designed set of sessions, which we believe puts us ahead of other such groups. We run as a group on a Tuesday and a Thursday always starting from the shelter on the promenade next to the new beach huts & climbing wall on Barry Island, which serves as our base for the winter season. Sunday sessions are always in Porthkerry Park meeting in the car park by the cafe. When we enter into the summer season all the runs will start from the park.
Our Sessions
Tuesday sessions..... Will be a mixture of speed work, fartlek, hill repeats and more. These sessions are completely beginner friendly. They are designed so runners can all take part and can all put in as much or as little effort as required. We operate a start together, train together, finish together format. No runners will be left behind and slower runners don't slow the faster runners down in any way. All sessions are suitable for all abilities. They are also great social sessions as we warm up together, run together and cool down together. Please see our schedule for full details.
Thursday sessions..... These sessions take a slightly different approach. A mixture of different runs, colour coded for abilities, and they will be publicised on our Facebook group Wednesday evenings but will all start from the shelter at Barry Island, keeping things uniform.
Sunday are for longer runs..... Always meeting at the cafe at Porthkerry Park near the viaduct. Route information will be posted the day before on our Facebook page. Usually between 8-14 miles at an easy pace. For those daunted by the distance, we have a plan that allows beginners to take part in these sessions, by saying that people can run these routes for 30 mins, or 45 mins and then no matter where they are, turn around and head back. It is a formula that has worked very well for us.
We will be organising monthly club special training away days visiting areas such as Merthyr Mawr sand dunes and Pen y Fan mountain range. Its all fun!
Thursday sessions..... These sessions take a slightly different approach. A mixture of different runs, colour coded for abilities, and they will be publicised on our Facebook group Wednesday evenings but will all start from the shelter at Barry Island, keeping things uniform.
Sunday are for longer runs..... Always meeting at the cafe at Porthkerry Park near the viaduct. Route information will be posted the day before on our Facebook page. Usually between 8-14 miles at an easy pace. For those daunted by the distance, we have a plan that allows beginners to take part in these sessions, by saying that people can run these routes for 30 mins, or 45 mins and then no matter where they are, turn around and head back. It is a formula that has worked very well for us.
We will be organising monthly club special training away days visiting areas such as Merthyr Mawr sand dunes and Pen y Fan mountain range. Its all fun!
The Way Forward..
We have a mixed range of runners, with varying abilities, so we welcome anyone and everyone. We NEVER charge people to come along and join us, it’s totally FREE, and will remain that way. We have an open Facebook group, which isn't a restrictive and secretive closed group, we don't believe in conducting ourselves in such a manner. Barry Running Club has always been about the run, egos are left at the door. Our club motto is ‘The Club that Runs Itself’ and to be fair that’s a pretty much accurate way to describe things. It is that simple. If you are new to running, you may well find that if it’s your first time, there will be someone who is happy to run with you, or others in the same boat. Basically we all look after each other.
Come and join us!
Organisers
Chris Thomas / Paul Currie
Run Club Support Team
Nicky Palmer / Ashley Gullwell / Richard Jackson-Hookins / Ashley Griffiths / Deri Roberts / Ben Clisset / Gary Morgan / Gavin Hazlewood / Dave Thomas
If you want to get in touch you can either do so through the Facebook group, or you can email us at: [email protected]
Just run...
'Barry Running Club'
Come and join us!
Organisers
Chris Thomas / Paul Currie
Run Club Support Team
Nicky Palmer / Ashley Gullwell / Richard Jackson-Hookins / Ashley Griffiths / Deri Roberts / Ben Clisset / Gary Morgan / Gavin Hazlewood / Dave Thomas
If you want to get in touch you can either do so through the Facebook group, or you can email us at: [email protected]
Just run...
'Barry Running Club'