A pair of pals and the running club they started were nominated in four categories, with each nominator citing the friendliness the duo have promoted.
Biscuit Town Run Club was created by Jamie Willcox and Stevie Coe and is now in its second year. Just a handful of people turned up at first but 66 attended a recent meeting.
Others said: “They’ve created a community of runners that’s inclusive, welcoming and community building.
”Several groups of people have collectively run at different events including the Bologna half and full marathon. Friendships have been forged along the way, with a real focus on the club being inclusive not exclusive.”
“I started going with a friend but knew (as a newer ‘runner’) that I’d be going slower.
“From people slowing down to stick with me at the back, or always coming back to a high-five from Stevie or Jamie, I’ve never met a friendlier bunch who were genuinely encouraging without the formalities of official ‘club’ status.”
“I’d also nominate the guys that run Biscuit Town Run Club (BTRC) for an award themselves,” said a nominator.
After winning the award. they said: “We both feel quite emotional to win this award.
“It was amazing to hear some of the things our community of runners are saying, but it’s really they who are making this such a success.
“We were just two blokes out for a run, enjoying chatting about movies and music with each other, and thinking, ‘wouldn’t it be great to have a few more people to chat with’.
“So 18 months ago we decided to start the club.
“At first there were just eight of us – now there are 240 members, with around 80 people on each run – it kind of exploded.
“It’s a community of people who chat about everything and nothing with each other – they’ve become our friends..
“It’s not about training to be good at running, it’s about being with like-minded people and making social connections.
“There have been some incredible changes in people over the months.
“Some who were quite quiet to begin with have developed some amazing social networks – we’ve even had people moving in with each other.
“And we’ve both become great friends.
“We knew each other before but we weren’t best mates, we just loved running.
Now we do loads socially together and that’s what’s happening with all the other runners, too.
“We try to introduce every new joiner to some of the group, and before you know it, they’ve made new friends and they’re off on holiday with them or something.”
