Review of the Year 2015

[av_one_full first] [av_slideshow size=’large’ animation=’fade’ autoplay=’true’ interval=’5′] [av_slide id=’5038′ title=” link=” link_target=”][/av_slide] [av_slide id=’4813′ title=” link=” link_target=”][/av_slide] [av_slide id=’4731′ title=” link=” link_target=”][/av_slide] [av_slide id=’4481′ title=” link=” link_target=”][/av_slide] [av_slide id=’4444′ title=” link=” link_target=”][/av_slide] [av_slide id=’4443′ title=” link=” link_target=”][/av_slide] [av_slide id=’4509′ title=” link=” link_target=”][/av_slide] [av_slide id=’4441′ title=” link=” link_target=”][/av_slide] [av_slide id=’4390′ title=” link=” link_target=”][/av_slide] [av_slide id=’4253′ title=” link=” link_target=”][/av_slide] [av_slide id=’4252′ title=” link=” link_target=”][/av_slide] [av_slide id=’4190′ title=” link=” link_target=”][/av_slide] [av_slide id=’4188′ title=” link=” link_target=”][/av_slide] [av_slide id=’4108′ title=” link=” link_target=”][/av_slide] [av_slide id=’4090′ title=” link=” link_target=”][/av_slide] [av_slide id=’3990′ title=” link=” link_target=”][/av_slide] [av_slide id=’3993′ title=” link=” link_target=”][/av_slide] [av_slide id=’3918′ title=” link=” link_target=”][/av_slide] [av_slide id=’3917′ title=” link=” link_target=”][/av_slide] [av_slide id=’3833′ title=” link=” link_target=”][/av_slide] [/av_slideshow] [/av_one_full] [av_textblock ] As we approach the end of another year, the 31 December marks a significant milestone in the club and one that is hard to believe we will be marking the clubs 5th birthday. Hard to believe that at this point 5 years ago we debated long and hard with just a very few of us if we could get 12 members to make the club viable and here we are at the end of this year with over 875 paid up members. Just looking at some of the facts makes some interesting and eye watering numbers:
  •  Over 27,000 parkruns we have run
  • We have 18 runs most weeks, often more
  • Each week we facilitate 400 runs by people
  • On one of our Sunday runs we had 163 runners running together with loop backs
But one of the things, I hear numerous times is that the club has changed peoples lives, just hope that has been for the better – I am sure it has been. But I believe along the way so many of us have had so much fun – along with a bit of pain and probably some injuries! However, over the years I really think we have stuck to the four principles that we set at day one of:
  • Having fun
  • Being social
  • Value for money and
  • Benefit of the runners
Anyway over the last year the areas I am probably, most pleased with are the new things we have done in the club and the key ones for me are:
  • Our new event with ‘Beat the Barge
  • Starting early morning club runs
  • Setting up a significant programme with ‘Zero to Hero’ taking a group of non runners and they will do a spring marathon in 2016
  • That calendar!!
As well as this we have continued to do the things we have done successfully before and grown the club with
  • Club trips in the UK and overseas
  • Club socials
  • Cross Country, which has really taken off for this season
  • New runs have been introduced
  • Beginners group have flourished within the club, we held 8 courses and 400 people started running with us
  • Club events, like Furzton relay and team events, like OU relay, Squeaky Bone etc
So what will be new for 2016
  • In June we will be holding the first Redway Runners Festival of Running – four events over one weekend and a chance to race a 10K, two half marathons and a marathon, we have set this up so our runners can do one two, three or all four of the races.
  • Develop the profile of the club – we have started to do more work with the press locally want to develop this and look at other opportunities – have asked a small team to develop some items
  • The club is looking at getting Clubmark accreditation
  • Looking to hold our second Beat the Barge event and also Furzton Relay and of course club trips.
Anyway, none of what we do would be possible without so many people that help all around the club, I would especially like to thank the club committee, all the run leaders we have everyone who helps out in so many ways and those that just turn up and run – you are who we all do it for. But we do not only achieve so many miles between us we have also left a 2015 legacy which includes:
  • Between us we raised over £3,600 for Harrys Rainbow Charitable Trust – our charity of the Year last year
  • Helped with funding to set up the Junior parkrun in MK
  • Helped out with significant resource for a number of events in Milton Keyes, most notably the Milton Keynes Marathon and half in May
  • Donated a large amount of sweets to the Milton Keynes Foodbank.
So all in all 2015 has been a great running year and in 2016 we will run Milton Keynes again. Martin Lawrence Chair Redway Runners [/av_textblock] [av_video src=’https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qM6h4WhhDDk&feature=youtu.be’ format=’16-9′ width=’16’ height=’9′]