The boom of the run club is well and truly continuing – and one in Tasmania is doing things a little bit differently.
The Her Trails Run Club, based in Hobart, has a community of more than one hundred and forty women, who meet fortnightly to tackle some of the publicly accessible trails as a group.
Keely Cooper started the Hobart chapter a few years ago, looking to create a community she wanted as a beginner to the sport.
“It feels really daunting and it can feel quite intimidating, particularly groups that are already established where people have been running for years,” she said.
“I wanted to create a space where other women who were just getting into the sport themselves felt like they had somewhere to go with people that are on the same trajectory as them.
“It just made it a lot more fun and a lot less scary, a really beautiful way for beginners to start their trail running journey.”
Conor Humphries joined the group after entering her 40th decade – joking that she had to have some form of midlife crisis, and decided it would be running.
She’s one of the group who regularly joins in on fortnightly Sunday sessions – and recommends others join for the fitness and the friendship that comes along with it.
“We’re so used to this comparison and competition and criticism in the world we live in these days, especially between women, and I think this is just the complete opposite,” she said.
“It just makes you realise that this is how it should be, it’s women backing women and it’s just a really powerful place and you don’t have to be intimidated by the fact that it’s powerful, because it doesn’t have to be.”
Conor’s family embracing her running journey – her two children getting involved in other events with her, her husband as well (somewhat reluctantly, she says) including the Run the Dark: Knockers Solstice Trail Run, part of the Kunanyi Trail Series – happening this weekend, coinciding with the Winter Solstice and Dark Mofo.
“I’ve never run at nighttime so I am a bit nervous to be honest with you,” she said.
“They’re just such good events because they’re always different, they’re family friendly and it’s just a great way to spend a day.
“Running through the bush on Kunanyi with a head torch on the Winter Solstice, you couldn’t get more Tassie if you tried!”
To learn more about Her Trails Run Club and look into joining you can visit their website here, as well as more information about the Kunanyi Trail Series.
And you can listen to the episode in full, right here:
