2020 brought the formation of our wonderful club, which has swelled to 70 members in its first six months. This has led to lots of fun and laughter with friends old and new. We have managed to keep on running throughout these strange times, in groups or with “buddies” around Bedale, and through our pioneering virtual running option, which has been a huge success.
We are proud to have welcomed 24 new athletes to the world of running via two Couch to 5k programmes, with a further eight due to graduate in January. Plans to develop a hub in Stokesley have progressed as we begin interval sessions and a Couch to 5k programme there.
Although many events have been cancelled, our determined club members have tackled several Lakeland Trails courses, a couple of Gin Runs, the Falls and Castle, and the Three Peaks Challenge, not to mention a first marathon achievement. We even squeezed in a few “away runs” – Cod Beck, Thirsk, Middleham, Wensley, Penn Hill, Richmond, and the infamous Fremington Edge.
We were thrilled to receive our first items of official kit in time for Christmas, with the long-awaited club vests due to arrive in the next couple of weeks, and the next order window opening soon. Other Christmas presents were the approval of our club affiliation to England Athletics and the receipt of a £500 grant from Broadacres Housing Association to allow us to develop our coaching team.
Our first ever HARC Angels event saw us donning yellow (as well as angel wings and festive accessories) to raise funds for Dementia Forward – medals will be winging their way to participants in the next couple of weeks and we will announce the total raised at that point too.
All that remains is to wish our amazing running family a very Happy New Year; here’s to a fantastic 2021 making more HARC memories together!
