Other Sport / running
Sole Sisters: Bristol’s all-female running group
The first all-female England Athletics-affiliated running group has celebrated its therapeutic benefits, saying it’s never too late in life for women to pick up their trainers.
Sole Sisters, founded in 2000, used to have 100 attendees every week but now only 50 runners come along to their weekly running session in north Bristol.
This competitive female only running club was formed by a keen runner, Maureen McKenzie, after she found mixed sex running groups held unreasonable expectations of speed and distance.
is needed now More than ever
Within six months, the Sole Sisters committee had been formed and affiliated with England Athletics.
Penny Greenwood, the club chair, said: “I am really passionate about our club because I firmly believe that it’s running therapy. Every week when we meet, we can have trusted conversations with each other about our lives, offload our woes or asking advice or just having a laugh with each other.
“I genuinely believe that any woman can train for any running event, I didn’t complete my first marathon until I was 48!”
Penny Greenwood taking part in a running event
Sole Sisters have multiple groups to welcome all abilities, ranging from walking, to running between three and six miles. Each group has two qualified coaches – one which leads the women, whilst the other stays at the back, keeping the group together.
“We welcome any ladies from the age of 16 and we have club members well into their 60’s. We love being a women’s only club, as we are not competitive at all and just want women to feel that they can rock up each week, no pressure and run their miles,” said Penny.
“We included our walking group post pandemic to support women returning from injury, or who may have a condition that prevents them from running but they still want company to do a walk.”
At the club’s peak, they had around 200 members and hosted three beginner running courses a year.
Sole Sister members at a running event
Sole Sisters also hosts an annual running event – the Bradley Stoke 10k – where everyone is invited to take part in the friendly, multi-terrain race.
“I am confident in saying that I (and many other club members) would not have completed 10k’s, half marathons or full marathons without the support of my Sole Sisters running friends.”
If you would like to get involved, visit their website.
All photos: Sole Sisters
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