“This is what Wigan needs!”: a council worker sets up free running club for women

Kate Ashurst, 34, from Winstanley and a mother of two, started GSG.RC only last month after asking her friends to join her when out exercising.

It has quickly grown in numbers, with no fewer than 40 women taking part in it after only a few weeks.

The passionate runner started her fitness journey after losing her father at the age of 16, and she says that running also helped with the post-natal depression she suffered after giving birth to her daughter.

Kate said: “Running helps me forget about my problems, it has given me something to work towards. It’s helped me feel strong again.

“It has given space for emotional release, and I really believe any form of physical movement instantly improves your mood.

“Doing something that is out of your comfort zone has big rewards in the long run.

"But, being a woman, I wasn’t always feeling safe, especially when running in the dark and that is where the idea for this group came from: women running together, both for safety and each others’ company as well as being beneficial for everyone’s health.”

The running group aims to help people of all abilities and ages to become confident with running and improve their physical and mental wellbeing.

Kate added: “This is what Wigan needs. There’s no running group that is for all abilities. Most people start running with the aim of completing a 10k.

“The club helps women not feel pressured when they first get into running.

“I’ve had a lot of nervous ladies who didn’t feel comfortable joining on their own, but after the session, they said that they felt more confident.

"I feel proud of each and every one of these ladies and the community we have.”

Due to the growing popularity of the running club, she has now added an additional day on Friday for people interested in starting their running journey.

You can find more information on how to sign up to GSG.RC by contacting Kate on her Instagram.