ABC Graduation!

Almost all running clubs have a programme to encourage non-runners to join through some kind of Couch to 5K course. Hook Runners version is called the ABC or Absolute Beginners Club and started way back in 2017, a few months after the clubs inception. Ever since then, the ABC has taken place twice a year in January and September and has enabled hundreds of non-runners to complete a 5Km Parkrun in just 10 weeks.

ABC graduates now make up the bulk of the Hook Runners membership and so it’s no surprise that there was such a large turnout of Hook Runners to support the latest group of ABC’ers at their graduation run at Edenbrook on the 22nd March.

As a previous ABC graduate and now the lead ABC coach, its very gratifying to see how the ABC course changes lives for the better. It gives the participants a huge boost to both their physical and mental health as they realise the scale of their achievements going from mostly complete non-runners to competent, happy parkrunners, able to run just over 3 miles at a comfortable pace without stopping.

The majority of our ABC graduates stay with the club and go on to take part in our regular training sessions each week as well as joining many of our social chatty runs with friends they’ve made during the course. Many go onto taking part in longer runs and local races and events with some eventually running marathons, doing things they otherwise would have previously though impossible.

So if you or someone you know is keen to lose weight, get fit and meet a new and lovely group of supportive people, do consider joining the next ABC course - its really does change peoples lives for the better!

More details on the next ABC course here.