Are you interested in running but don’t know where to start?

Are you a runner who sometimes lacks motivation to run?

Are you keen to find out how running might contribute to wellbeing?

Join this event to explore what runners talk about and how they talk about it. Let their stories motivate and inspire you.

This in-person event, funded by Economic and Social Research Council, ESRC, will be held in the Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) in Cannon Hill Park.

There will be three sessions. The first session will feature a short talk and a discussion focusing on how runners’ stories can be motivational and inspiring and how they can help us understand the ways in which running can contribute to mental and physical wellbeing. The second session will involve some interactive activities on ‘parkrun’, the internationally-known free running event which takes place every Saturday morning in a multitude of venues in over 20 countries, and in more than 1,200 venues in the UK alone. Whether you are a parkrunner or not, it will be your opportunity to find out how impactful parkrun can be on our wellbeing. The final session of the event will feature a round table discussion with a panel of guest speakers discussing how running outdoors can support mental and physical wellbeing.

The event will be led by Dr Nur Kurtoglu-Hooton, member of Aston Research Centre for the Humanities (REACH) and Aston Centre for Applied Linguistics (ACAL), researching social, cultural and digital characteristics of running communities. She is an avid runner and participates in long distance running events including ultras.

The third session of the event will feature guest speakers:

Dr Simon Cook is a human geographer at Birmingham City University who researches social, cultural and spatial aspects of running. He runs a bit, mostly on his commute.

Ceridwen (Ceri) Howell is a Leader in Running Fitness, runs Couch to 5K courses and is a masters athlete on the track and longer distances.

Chris Palmer is a Leader in Running Fitness, runs Couch to 5K courses and is a GB masters sprinter in the M70 category.

09:30-10:00 arrival and coffee/tea and pastries

10:00-10:45 Session 1 Looking for inspiration to run

10:55-11:30 Session 2 “parkrun” as a social and cultural movement

11:45-12:45 Session 3: Round-table discussion and Q&A: Couch to 5k, run-commuting, running for leisure, health and wellbeing

The event is open to adults (runners of all distances and those who have never run before but are interested in running).

You are welcome to attend any, or all, of the 3 sessions!