‘Run for Fun’ is a running club for women of all abilities in Sheffield to provide a ‘safe space’ for
girls to run at their own pace without feeling intimidated.
Libby Holmes, the creator of the group, is a PhD student studying biophysics at the University of
Sheffield.
She said: “I’ve personally never been part of a run club because I feel like they can be quite
intimidating, especially when you’ve just started out.
“So that’s why I wanted to create this group, to allow people to run at their own pace without any
fear of judgement.”
Ms Holmes herself has run several half marathons and is due to run another one this Sunday,
after having started her running journey in 2022.
She set up the group at the beginning of April and has since organised 3 weekly group runs of
different lengths, ranging between 3-5km.
She says that the turnout for the group runs has ‘grown exponentially’, with the first run having 25
ladies attend, and the latest run on Sunday reaching 100 new starters.
The Run for Fun Sheffield page on Instagram has amassed more than 1,800 followers in its first
month, allowing her to advertise the group and increase its social presence.
According to the page, Libby says “We don’t focus on pace, we focus on good vibes and getting to
know each other.”
The group has also become a place for women to meet other people of similar ages and
interests.
After each run, Libby organises a ‘coffee and a chat’ at the Thyme café in Broomhill, who are
usually closed on Sundays but have opened the café solely for the runners to enjoy a coffee
afterwards.
Ms Holmes said: “I wanted to start the group just to meet girls my age and create a shared
interest, and I can see a lot of girls in the group have also made friendships which is so lovely to
see.
“A lot of people come alone, and I’ve seen them exchange contact details with other runners, so
I’m glad that this has become a little community for girls to run and make friends at the same
time.”
Details for each run are posted on the WhatsApp group, which can be accessed through the Run
for Fun Sheffield Instagram page.