Bayston Hill runner's Facebook post just snowballed

Having been going just weeks, group numbers have snowballed to become a community society with runners as young as 10 and as old as 70.

Members run, jog or walk to a suggested route and meet four times a week.

Dave Matthias set up the group after spotting that there could be an interest.

He said: "Bayston Hill Fun Run started four weeks ago when Rachel Barber asked on a Bayston Hill Facebook page if there was a running group locally.

"It soon became apparent that there wasn't but there was a lot of interest. So we set up a Facebook group and suddenly all these people connected. We had five people, then 18, then 26, then 35 in the first four runs."

Rachel, who started the conversation on the Bayston Hill Parents Facebook group, said: "The Facebook group allows people to share routes and times they are going out running, so that other people can join in.

"There is no background organisation, or cost, it is just people using social media to connect.

"It has been a great way for people within the village to meet people.

"We have been really surprised by just how many have come out for it, even in this weather."

But it has been more than just a social event for most. Dave, 37, is one of the pastors at Barnabas Community Church in Coleham and the running group gave him a chance to start exercising again after two knee operations in 2014.

Rachel, 31, is currently on maternity leave and the group has given her a chance to get running after recently welcoming her third child.

She said: "I had a baby six months ago and wanted to start exercising again but I can't commit to anything like a gym, so I inquired if there was a group I could join and there wasn't so we decided a group of us to go out.

"I have three children so I just don't have time to dedicate to exercise.

"But this way I don't have to commit as such, you know that if people are going to be there and waiting for you, you will go."

She added: "It is fantastic because we have had some people come that have never done any exercise and they walk the routes.

"It's great because it gets everyone out and doing something."

Dave said: "I had done one half marathon as a fundraiser but I am not a runner. Then I had to stop when I had two operations in my knee in 2014 and I haven't exercised for two years."

Rather than operating on a formal basis, group members are encouraged to post on Facebook when they will be going on a run, along with a suggested group, and members can join if they wish.

Rachel said the flexibility of the arrangements are more helpful than being tied down to specific days.

She said: "It also helps people meet other people in the village.

"It is really good when something like this happens – you find there are other people who are out there and it is about having the confidence to meet them and say let's go out for a run.

"It wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for Facebook."

For more information, search for Bayston Hill Fun Run on Facebook.