A new nationwide network of Running Mayors have been announced to champion running as an antidote to some of the growing issues in our communities. Among them, is Samantha Holmes – running enthusiast founder of The Run Fit Club in Northlands Park.
You may remember Samantha. She was the winner of our One in a Million award in March last year. After suffering with several long-term health conditions, she started using activity as a way to alleviate them, first by joining Pitsea gym. Sam found that getting active was not only helping her manage her physical health, it was working wonders for her mental health, too! Catching the running bug meant that Sam was gaining confidence and stamina, and it wasn’t long before she was using her journey and new-found passion to help others.
Sam’s experiences of joining a running club inspired her to complete her own Run Leader Training and soon after, The Run Fit Club was born. She told Active Essex: “I plucked up the courage to join my local running club but felt I needed the fun and social aspect of it too. I believe that these aspects help encourage and motivate others like me to become active and included within a team. Running has become part of my daily routine.”
In the year since we last featured Sam, her continuing proactive approach to running as a tool for helping others has been inspiring. Sam said: “The many amazing personal achievements and opportunities I have had due to Running have truly been amazing. I’ve just recently been awarded England Athletics Run Leader of the year for 2020 in the East region.”
Following on from her wonderful work with The Run Fit Club and her recent award, Sam has been recognised as the perfect person to become one of the world’s first Running Mayors. Joining her are a small group of brilliant runners from across the UK and further afield, appointed by Runner’s World and the RunSome Campaign.
The Running Mayors are being tasked with encouraging running as an alternative mode of transport to help reduce air pollution, benefitting not only the person running but those around them in their community. Running Mayors will also be there to help and support others on their running journey, in a bid to create a safe and welcoming environment for those who may feel daunted by the prospect.
Knowing only too well how running has positively impacted her physical and mental wellbeing, Sam is excited and keen to be there to support others in and around Basildon. She said: “Running has changed my life for the better, physically and mentally. I don’t run to add days to my life, I run to add life to my days! I really want to carry on with a positive vibe to help more and more people in Basildon to get out and active in any way I can, plus of course help improve others physical and mental health too.”
The Running Mayors Network is an initiative started by the RunSome Campaign in collaboration with Runner’s World. The group are calling on the government to include running as part of the £2bn active travel scheme, along with cycling and walking, to make the activity safer whilst enabling greener communities. With a quarter of a million people already opting to run as part of their journey on a day-to-day basis, RunSome wants to see this figure doubled over the next year, positively impacting the health and wellbeing of UK residents and the environment, too.
All of us at Active Essex would like to congratulate Sam on her incredible achievements so far. Inspiring people in Essex to keep active, whilst saving the environment – we love to see it!
