What are we about?
We, the Potters Trotters are a group of friendly, enthusiastic and vibrant women who LOVE to run, but also laugh (a lot!), encourage (always!) and challenge ourselves – often achieving a variety of personal goals. We meet at the Brindley Building in Staffordshire University at 6:30pm every Tuesday and Thursday. The beauty of our club is that we run, yes to keep fit and to improve, reach new heights of achievement, but mostly, to meet people with same interest as us and to form some very special friendships. In my opinion we are the ideal running club – a combination of determination, resilience, inspiration … all sprinkled with FUN! Not that I am biased of course! ;-) If you don’t believe me, please read some of our comments from members below. Some have been coming to the club for years, but others perhaps only a few months: Sue: ‘We are real ladies who care about each other, we don't judge abilities and we support each other unconditionally. Everyone is very welcoming.’ Lauren: Before I joined I didn't push myself to run further distances, and didn't have the confidence to sign up for some races alone. The club gave me the motivation and the confidence to do more - the encouragement and kindness shown by everyone is amazing! Jackie: ‘I had never even done 5k before I joined, and yet I did 8 miles the other week thanks to the encouragement of ladies from the group! There are no worries about being slow, or holding people up.’ Rose: ‘I know many clubs say they are for all but we really are. All speeds and all ages from the very young to the the more mature. We all support and encourage each other’. Alison: ‘A group of ladies who enjoy running, caring about others within the club and being there for one another, giving support along the way.’ Charlotte: ‘For me, the club has inspired me to enter a wide variety of races and push myself - I never thought that I would do anything like the Thunder Run for example! That was completely out of my comfort zone. Most of all though, the friendships that I have made in joining our club are fantastic and the inspiration from such a lovely group of ladies has been wonderful. Love our club!’ Michelle: ‘I was never sporty at school and began running quite late in life. I find it unbelievable that I have managed two half marathons. Running raises my mood and zest for life. I have met some lovely ladies and formed lasting friendships.’ Helen: ‘I am proud to be a Trotter, I find running one of the hardest and challenging things I have attempted in life but the warm welcome, encouragement and support has made it one of the most rewarding and positive achievements. The group helps us to set and achieve goals.’ Jen: ‘Suffering with mental health issues means I don't always go out, meet new people or even have the will to get up in the morning, but I've got people who help motivate me to exercise, get outside, talk to strangers who have now become friends and just have a bloody good time! I ran/walked a half marathon. Me! I'm so pleased that I had the courage to join to better myself, push myself, get fit, be healthier and get involved.’ Louise: ‘Keep fit for amateurs and those who've done very little exercise in the past. A chance to do this is a supportive environment where you achieve and excel your objectives through the fab support and great friendships.’ Alison: ‘ A few thoughts include: Healthy body, healthy minds. Endorphins are us. Gets those synapses connecting. Connecting communities. Healthy hearts. Community spirited. Inspiration, motivation, respiration, perspiration, destination!’ Melanie: ‘I remember the first night I went along to fill in the registration form for the beginners course, I was so nervous and anxious I felt sick. But I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and did it. I've struggled for years with mental health issues and find it so hard to do things, but I feel very supported by Potters Trotters and have made lots of pink pals! We encourage and support each other and the club helps with my confidence. Potters Trotters are a truly wonderful group of ladies. All shapes, sizes and abilities and non-judgmental. I've never had so many friends. Thank you all.’ Ruth: ‘The exercise makes me feel better both physically and mentally. Great friends made through club. Non-judgmental, supportive and fun.’ Julie: ‘To have a group of women that are all there for the same purpose and are there to support one another is so beneficial and important. I have never been able to run, even at school, and the few times I have tried before, I had always given up. Now doing it in my 50s has been so inspirational, because of sharing and getting such great support from the others in the group. I have made some lovely friends, and there is always without exception someone to run with and support you when it gets tough. It's not something I find easy or natural, but the benefits physically and mentally are many, and can be life changing. I think everyone can benefit greatly by belonging to such a group. It's also much cheaper than other forms of exercise so accessible to everyone. Having great support, and meeting such a diverse group of women is truly inspirational. These woman can!! Lindsey: ‘We are a no frills ladies’ running club which caters for all ages, shapes, sizes and abilities. If you want to be a serious runner you can be, however, if you want to laugh, chat and run then we are the club for you. We are Potters Trotters!’ I think that these comments sum us up perfectly! :-) I was quite apprehensive about the Cannock Chase 10k at first. It was the first off road race I had signed up for, and I had heard too many horror stories about the hills! But, you'll be pleased to know I was pleasantly surprised and ended up having a very enjoyable race.
The start line was a little tricky to navigate given the impressive turnout, so we took off with the last wave of people, which seemed to be the best option to avoid the crowds and set a more enjoyable pace. After we started, I can clearly remember the race being split into three sections for me, and they are as follows: the first time I fell over, the second time I fell over, and the time I fell over a dog. The first time I fell over: The beginning of the race put you immediately on to some rocky terrain, the path wasn't the widest so people were on top of each other for a while, and the journey started uphill. As soon as we had started I was impressed with the views, even more so when we rounded a corner and there was a small stream you had to use some rocks to hop over. That was until the first fall, I lost my footing over the stream, got caught by some poor runner and heard audible gasps. If I needed motivation to run faster and far away from that slight embarrassment, I just got it! So onwards I went, carrying on uphill and into even narrower places for a good while. The first 5k was full of hills, so grassy and steep that everyone had to walk up them. The second time I fell over: About 5k into the race I remember seeing a much wider passage coming up on the trail, and a nice steady decline approaching the water station. This was where I decided to try and gain some speed back, however it turns out that the downhill was just as tricky as the uphill. I came across so many loose rocks on the way down that I was pretty sure I was going to slip over any second. Also, there were some rogue cyclists that kept crossing my path making it all a little more difficult. Nonetheless, I really began to enjoy the second part of the race, as people had spread out a lot more and there was a lot more opportunity to take in the Chase in all its glory. I started to think I could get use to this kind of running, of course that was until I tripped for the second time over some pesky loose rocks and sticks! The time I fell over a dog: After the nice downhill, it came towards the end and then to a nice flat stretch which was on 'almost normal road'. I began to pick up the pace again here, thinking it was close to the end and thinking that I just wanted a cup of tea! However, as I began to speed up a St Bernard doggy barrier got in my way out of nowhere. I carried on again anyway, and could finally see the finish line, wrapping up in 1 hour 10 minutes. To sum up, Cannock Chase 10k was a really good race but a lot more work than I had anticipated, however I would definitely do it again next year! Although next time I might invest in some trail running shoes to keep my balance, and be more on guard for rogue dogs.. What do you get if you combine hills, with more hills, fantastic views … and a few more hills? Yes, the Leek half marathon!
Described as an ‘iconic’ half marathon, which passes through ‘scenic villages and in front of the Roaches, the race has something for everyone from beginner to elite runner’. It certainly did not disappoint! The Leek half is exactly what it says on the tin! The hills are alive … As I nervously collected my race number and t-shirt on the Sunday morning I looked around at the rather ‘hardcore’ looking runners and for a not-so-brief moment wondered if registering for this was a sign of madness - especially having done it two years ago and knowing what I was letting myself in for! I am pleased to say however, that I did NOT change my mind, nor did I sneak off to the car in despair; instead, I joined the other runners at the start with thirteen (point one!) challenging miles ahead of me! The fact that this run is not easy is what makes it special. I live very near to Leek, so I certainly know that it is not flat (!) but for me, that is what makes it so worthwhile. Running a race that is out of your comfort zone, but knowing that at the end you will feel such a sense of accomplishment for working hard, definitely spurs you on. It started on a lovely downhill, a pleasant warm-up you may think! Then a hill (Abbey Hill Road) magically appears...It is magical because it seems to last for an eternity! There is time to recover in between hills however, but before you know it, another one emerges! Although my legs were tiring and I won’t pretend that it was easy, it is true that what goes up, must come down! After around mile seven I found it much easier, with more downhills throughout the second half. The scenery of the Roaches was truly fantastic. Being out in the countryside amongst that natural beauty and running past unspoilt fields engulfed by heather and grass was superb! It is easy when running to be so fixated on the end, but I really do recommend taking note of the surroundings when running Leek. It was not a race that I set out to do for a particular time, as I found completing it was a challenge in itself. I loved the views and the hills have definitely made my legs stronger, which I hope will help with future runs. The course was really beautiful in parts and the marshals were fabulous. It was a well-organised race and one that I hope will continue to grow in popularity. So …was I wondering what on earth I was doing when I signed up on that Sunday morning? Yes. Did I question my sanity? Of course. Did I think that the stunning views and sense of accomplishment made all of that hard work worthwhile, so much so that I would do it again? … Absolutely! The ‘mountains’ of Leek are calling me back! We were promised a weekend of running, snacks, possibly wine (suddenly ears pricked up!) and guaranteed laughter. The Thunder Run was hilarious, exhilarating, but most of all, incredibly fun!
Some of the team ventured to Catton in Derbyshire on Friday to set up camp and the rest of the Potters Trotters participants joined on the Saturday morning. We set up our tents, sleeping bags, camping chairs (to add to the ‘holiday feel’!) and embraced what would be our new home for the next twenty four hours. After consulting the running schedule (and exploring the various food, running kit stands and even a bus bar!) we cautiously and tentatively moved across to listen to the race briefing, ready for the 12 o’clock start. Our numbers were securely fastened and we wore our Potters Trotters vests with pride and a smile. The 10k course itself was great – a mixture of woodland, grass and even a cornfield thrown in to cover all terrain! The heat was what made the race a challenge, but we did get a lovely sun-kissed glow by the end (also known as ‘berry red chic’)! Overall, the atmosphere was great, with lots of different clubs cheering and encouraging each runner, making it feel like a real running community, which is surely what sportsmanship is all about. For me, a highlight of the weekend and one of my favourite running memories was racing in the pitch black with a head torch at 1:30am. I was definitely apprehensive, but found the entire experience exciting and thrilling! Liz T describes it as a ‘rebellious’ race, a care-free run that made you feel like a child running free. I would totally agree! I felt completely out of my comfort zone, but that was all part of this great experience. Well, as afore mentioned, we were promised a weekend of running, snacks, possibly wine and guaranteed laughter. The Thunder Run achieved all of this and much more … and the prosecco was simply a bonus! Just ask Liz! |
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