Hambleton Athletics & Running Club

C25k Graduation at Fountains Abbey

7th August 20257th August 2025 By Gemma WardleNo Comments

A huge congratulations to our latest group of Couch to 5k runners who completed their programme with a fantastic 5km run at the breathtaking Fountains Abbey parkrun last Saturday! Over the past ten weeks, this amazing group has worked their way from walking and jogging short intervals to confidently running a full 5km. The Couch to 5k programme is designed to support beginners in building fitness, confidence and a love for running – and this group has truly embraced the journey, showing determination, perseverance, and team spirit every step of the way. The course was led by our newly qualified Leaders in Running Fitness, Rich and Garry – this was their first ever C25K programme – and what a brilliant job they’ve done! Their dedication, encouragement and positivity have helped guide each runner to achieve their personal goal. We’re incredibly proud of them for taking this step into leadership and inspiring others in our community. The grand finale took place in glorious sunshine...

Team HARC started 2024 with a bang!

26th April 20242nd May 2024 By Sara SherwoodNo Comments

Our athletes have started 2024 with a bang! Team HARC have taken on a wide variety of events since the start of January and we are proud of every single result. Firstly, a special mention to Victoria Maidwell for her fantastic performance at the Shakespeare Marathon, earning her a PB of 03:56:55. Victoria shows incredible commitment to her training, working extremely hard to push herself for every new challenge. Huge congratulations on breaking through the sub-4 hour mark, Victoria – we look forward to seeing you smash your next targets! Joanne Sinnott has continued her passion for ultra-distance events with a 50 mile run from Manchester to Liverpool. Jo relishes the kind of distances most of us only dream of… or perhaps have nightmares about! Huge well done, Jo – you are a machine! There was a great HARC turnout for this year’s Thirsk 10 Mile and Lightwater Valley 10k events, which fell on the same day. These are two very different events...

Weekly Update

25th March 20242nd May 2024 By Sara SherwoodNo Comments

You may well ask 'What goes on at HARC, aside from intervals and the regular Thursday social runs?" The answer is: C25K support runs and graduation, parkrun milestones, marathon/ultra training runs, competing at Lightwater Valley 10K and Thirsk 10 miles, and the NYSD relays at Darlington South Park to finish off the Xcountry season. Phew! Aren't you glad you asked?...

C25K Graduation

23rd March 20242nd May 2024 By Sara SherwoodNo Comments

Wow - what a fabulous morning celebrating the amazing achievements of another cohort of Couch to 5k participants! Our graduation run was held at Fountains Abbey parkrun, a beautiful venue which was even more spectacular bathed in sunshine. This was the culmination of ten weeks of commitment to the programme - running three times a week under the guidance of our coaching team and with the support of the wider club community. Claire Harris signed up to the programme because, being a mum of two young children and approaching 40, she wanted to do something for herself. After the graduation run, she said, “I’ve really enjoyed the last ten weeks. I’ve gone from a complete non-runner, struggling to complete the first 60 seconds, to being able to complete a full 5k. And the parkrun today was a great way to finish it. But what I’ve loved best is being part of such a supportive and friendly group who have encouraged me the...

One week to go!

16th March 20242nd May 2024 By Sara SherwoodNo Comments

Just one week to go until our Couch to 5k graduation at Fountains Abbey parkrun. This week has seen them tackling 30 minutes of continuous running at each of the three sessions; that’s 90 minutes of running in total and a far cry from the 60 second intervals of week 1! As a reward for their efforts, the sun shone down on their final run of the week. ☀️ The group have done a fantastic job of supporting each other. They’ve trusted the programme and their leaders, and are absolutely ready to smash through 5km next week. Go, couchies! ??? If you’d like to join our next C25k programme, visit https://harc.uk/c25k-waitlist to register your interest....

Latest C25K Success

12th December 20235th February 2024 By Sara SherwoodNo Comments

Another Hambleton Athletics and Running Club Couch to 5K programme has graduated at the weekly parkrun held in the grounds of Fountains Abbey. The newly-fledged runners had the opportunity to run a continuous 5K with the support of Head Coach, Chris Lees, and newly qualified coach, Becky Williams. It was the culmination a ten week programme and there was a huge turnout from other club members to encourage the runners around the 2 lap course and over the finish line. The bad weather of recent weeks thankfully held off for the occasion and runners enjoyed a well-earned post-run coffee and cake in the café. Annabel McGregor, one of this cohort’s graduates, had this to say: “If HARC can get me through this programme, they can get anyone through it! I needed more support due to my MS and knew it was the club for me after seeing how they all supported each other at the recent races held in Snape. HARC offers brilliant value...

HARC C25K going from strength to strength

13th August 202313th August 2023 By Sara SherwoodNo Comments

Hambleton Athletics and Running Club have seen the graduation of their latest Couch to 5K participants at Fountains Abbey parkrun on 29th July. Once again the weather was kind and a goodly number of club members, with program coaches Ruth Hancock and Nigel Haresign, ran alongside each graduate to ensure that everyone had full support around the popular 5K course. Graduate Richard Slade has returned to running after a long time out. He thoroughly recommends to anyone thinking of taking up or returning to running to sign up to HARC’s program saying “Don’t worry if you think you’re not going to be as good as everyone else, as there are people of all different abilities running together and the club ethos of ‘no one gets left behind’ is fantastic and reassuring as it keeps everyone together, helping to build a close knit team spirit and camaraderie.” Ruth and Nigel are rightly proud of their newly fledged runners and say it has been gratifying...

Perfect week for running

12th May 202314th June 2023 By Sara SherwoodNo Comments

It was so nice to see the sunshine at our sessions this week! Our Tuesday intervals session saw both our junior and senior sections enjoying their 'pyramid' training in Northallerton. On Thursday, we had our two social runs around Bedale, and despite the Met Office weather warnings, the skies cleared and we had beautiful sunshine to accompany our chatty group runs....

Hambleton Athletics and Running Club Awards Presentation Evening 2022

17th September 202214th June 2023 By Sara SherwoodNo Comments

Friday 9th September saw the very first Presentation Evening for HARC members, this year held at Tom & Nellie’s in Bedale. Gemma Wardle, the Club’s Chair, began the evening with a moving, heart-felt welcome speech. Much laughter and camaraderie followed, as between courses members of the Awards Sub-committee took the opportunity to introduce the awards that would be available for presentation at the end of the forthcoming season, which runs annually from the beginning of September. Members are to be recognised for their achievements based on the club’s founding principles which set out the values and ethos of their members: Caring & Supporting; Coaching-Led; For Everyone; and Enjoying Our Sport. Full details of the criteria used to determine each award can be found on HARC’s website. In future, awards will be presented for the following: ‘Volunteer of the Year’; ‘Mighty Oak’ (for improvement); ‘Greatest of the Year’ (performance awards); ‘The Sinton-Hewitt Trophy’ (based on participation at Parkrun); ‘The Captain Cook Cup’ for...

Latest C25K Success

2nd August 20222nd August 2022 By Sara SherwoodNo Comments

Hambleton Athletics and Running Club’s most recent Couch to 5K programme finished with a superb graduation run set in the stunning grounds of Fountains Abbey on 23 July, at the weekly Parkrun held there. The culmination of the ten week programme offered the newly-fledged runners the chance to run a continuous 5K with the support and encouragement of a number of club members, alongside coaches Alice Inglis and Gemma Wardle - all under the watchful eye of Head Coach, Chris Lees. It was certainly a beautiful morning for it and emotion ran high as a dozen graduates crossed the finishing line, especially so for those who were first-time runners. Chris Williams explained that HARC’s programme had not only turned a complete non-runner into a runner, but also into a person “that actually enjoys it now!” High praise indeed. Chris went on to say “If you are toying with the idea of starting or restarting running for fitness and fun, do it with HARC. You...