A GROUP of runners in Prudhoe completed their first race after being encouraged to get up off the sofa by a community sports club.

Starting as total novices, a group of 11 locals ran their first ever race when they took part in the recent 5K Druridge Bay Park Run, in Amble, after completing the Couch to 5K training programme run by Prudhoe-based triathlon club, Castle Tri.

A total of 13 people were involved in the programme and have been bitten by the running bug, and are planning to rename themselves the Couch to 10K team as they aim to continue their development.

They have already signed up for their next challenge, some entering the Great North Run, some a 5K mud run and some will take part in Castle Tri‘s mini triathlon at Prudhoe Waterworld on April 17.

Four runners have even signed up to take part in a ’wineathlon‘ in October which combines a 10K run with wine tasting stops along the way!

The weekly sessions run by coaches Holly Kelleher and Micky Shore werre free of charge, with runners expected to carry out two extra runs in between as ‘homework’.

A new group of runners will follow the same plan from February 22.

Group coach and Castle Tri club committee officer, Holly, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for a group who were essentially starting from scratch, with a 50/50 mix of complete beginners, and those who had run before and not kept it up or lacked the confidence to join a running club.

“I am so proud of them. They’ve been out in floods, snow, winds ice and they’re hard as nails!” 

The sessions scored highly with the running novices, who are all keen to keep up their good work.

Nic Nicholson said: ”I was a complete beginner in November and would go so far as to say I hated exercise.

“But Holly and Micky have kept me motivated and spurred me on. I can‘t praise them or the Couch to 5k plan enough.”