Join a running community – you won’t regret it | Letters

Readers respond to an article in which Ioan Marc Jones describes overcoming his hatred of running I loved Ioan Marc Jones’s article because it’s an honest reflection of the struggle of getting into running when you need exercise but don’t necessarily want it ( Nipple tape, pickle juice and dinosaurs: how I learned to love running, the unorthodox way, 12 August ).

For me, the gamechanger was joining a running club.

I’m not a naturally social person and I felt so nervous on my first session, but it’s such a warm, nonjudgmental community.

I run with people of all ages and it’s really improved my pace and enjoyment of running.

I think that’s true of a lot of the running community.

I do parkrun here in Yorkshire, but recently ran it in Aviemore and Thurso in Scotland and received such a warm welcome.

I always thought that running was about being elite and competitive, but this showed me another way.

Sarah Tolson Baildon, West Yorkshire Continue reading...