running – RUDDINGTON.info

Kids’ Fun Run Turns Ten

9th February 202411th February 2024 Graham Wright

It’s hard to believe that Ruddington’s free, weekly park run for children aged 4 to 14 and their families is now a decade old! When Rushcliffe Junior Parkrun was launched in Rushcliffe Country Park, at 9am on Sunday 2nd February 2014, it was only the eighth junior event to be set up in the world – and yet it managed to attract 118 participants and 20 volunteers for the very first one. This 2k ‘fun run’ was set up to encourage kids, families and friends to enjoy exercising in open spaces,…

Recruiting Ruddington Runners!

16th January 202416th January 2024 Graham Wright

Do you enjoy running and socialising? If so, a new, free-to-join group of like-minded Ruddingtonians would love to see you. Ruddington Running Club was started by 29-year-old villager Jack Simkins in 2023 but has only been active since the start of this year. Members currently run together twice a week; with one session in the morning and the other in the evening. Jack, who moved to Ruddington just eighteen months’ ago, reveals: “In 2022, while solo training for a half-marathon, I had this idea – why not turn the pavement…

Ruddington’s New Parkrun Life-Saver

10th April 20231st May 2023 Graham Wright

Organisers of the weekly parkruns in Rushcliffe Country Park have taken delivery of a crucial piece of life-saving equipment – a defibrillator – which its own community stumped up the necessary funds for within a day! A social media appeal on March 30th raised the £816 required for the new, portable unit in less than half a day. The defibrillator arrived in Ruddington in time to be officially handed over on Easter Saturday morning by event ambassador Shane Sharkey to Geoff Hardy, Rushcliffe Parkrun Event Director Geoff Hardy (pictured above). Automated…

Rushcliffe 10k Returns

19th February 20239th April 2023 Graham Wright

Runners from Ruddington and beyond are being invited to sign up for this year’s Rushcliffe 10k and Fun Run – which is back at Rushcliffe Country Park next month following a four year absence due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Hosted by Rushcliffe Athletics Club the event will replace the usual Rushcliffe Junior Parkrun on Sunday March 26th and include both a family-friendly 2k Fun Run starting at 10am as well as the Rushcliffe 10k run at 11am. Organisers say the 10k run is suitable for all abilities from novices to experienced runners…

Jon’s Marathon Effort for Bereavement Charity

22nd January 202324th January 2023 Graham Wright

A community-spirited Ruddington businessman is swapping three wheels for two legs to take on the ultimate challenge this spring – running the 2023 London Marathon! Jon Lee, owner of National Car Finder on Easthorpe Street, began his training last July and has regularly been seen pounding the streets of Ruddington (and beyond) ever since – as he prepares himself mentally and physically for the 26.2 mile run around some of the capital’s most famous landmarks on Sunday April 23rd. “Many will know I enjoy playing cricket and watching football –…

Join the Ruddy Rebels!

11th October 202213th October 2022 Graham Wright

Women who want to run with others – or get back into running – are being invited along to a series of FREE ‘Couch to 5k’ running sessions starting in Ruddington this week. They’ve been organised by Notts Women Runners in Rushcliffe Country Park since 2016 – as the sub group ‘Ruddy Rebels’ – but have been on ‘hiatus’ since COVID-19 struck, just over two and a half years’ ago. Rachel Lesesne, one of the three run leaders, explains: “Our last official beginners group graduated in March 2020 {pictured top}, just a…

Ruddington Runner’s Marathon Fundraiser

29th September 202129th September 2021 Graham Wright

A man from our village is running this weekend’s London Marathon in aid of a cause close to his heart – The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). Ruddington resident Chris Cooke will be heading down to the capital to join thousands of other runners this Sunday (October 3rd) trying to complete the 26.2 mile course to raise money for their chosen charities. RNLI volunteer lifeboat crews provide a 24-hour search and rescue service all around the UK and Ireland, while lifeguards keep a careful watch on the UK’s busiest beaches.…

Rushcliffe’s 5k Parkrun Returns

24th July 202124th August 2021 Graham Wright

Ruddington welcomed the return of its weekly 5k Parkrun for adults this morning (Saturday 24th July) after an unprecedented sixteen month gap. It was suspended back in March 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic so participants today were clearly keen to get their running shoes and high-vis back on! Whilst Rushcliffe Junior Parkrun had already resumed on Sunday mornings, for 4 to 10 year-olds, in April, Parkrun UK decided to wait for a further lifting of Coronavirus restrictions before restarting the timed run for the grown-ups on Saturday mornings. Both events remain FREE to…

Ruddington’s Parkrun Returns

4th April 20215th December 2022 Graham Wright

Excitement is mounting amongst younger children from our village (and beyond) that Rushcliffe Junior Parkrun will be back from Sunday April 11th at 9.00am! The usually weekly event in Ruddington’s Country Park has been cancelled for just over a year due to the Coronavirus pandemic – which, of course, led to Government restrictions on large gatherings. However, the green light has just been given to restart Parkrun for four to ten year-olds. With exactly one week to go, volunteer organisers have been checking the kit, putting up information posters and…

Mark’s ‘Run for Colombia’

26th June 202027th June 2020 Graham Wright

A Ruddington running enthusiast is celebrating successfully completing a 129 mile solo challenge this month – to raise money for a project close to his heart which works with rural churches in some of the poorest parts of Colombia. Mark Holden’s face will be familiar to regular attendees of both St Peter’s and Ruddington Baptist Churches – since he is their children, youth and family worker. However the Coronavirus pandemic has recently seen Mark furloughed – so he thought he’d use that extra time to do something positive for charity. “I wanted…