BROMSGROVE runners are being invited to get involved with a new training course enabling them to organise official running groups.

Budding coaches are now able to participate in and compete a Leadership in Running Fitness Course, and hold a free course of popular Couch to 5k running sessions.

Couch to 5k, supported by the NHS, is a structured nine week running program for absolute beginners, including downloadable podcasts so people can run to music. Coaching is designed to develop running technique, speed and stamina progressively over time.

Once qualified participants will be free to run running groups as official Run England groups.

The course is free and is being launched after Bromsgrove District Council successfully bid for £5,000 from Run England, which is the official England Athletics recreational running project.

John Godwin, the council's head of leisure and cultural services, said: “We want to help as many people get running as possible, and an important part of that is providing support and training so that people in the community can run their own events, whether for friends and family or on a wider basis.

“This course will provide the skills needed to deliver fun and safe sessions to groups of runners with different abilities, including new runners and those who already run but want to progress.

“If you have discovered running as part of our Couch to 5K programmes or simply love running, please get in touch and find out how you could set up your own club.

"Help pass your experiences on to others, so that they can make their own success stories.”

For more details, or to set up your own running club, call Hayley Gwilliam from the district council’s sports development team on 01527 881404 or email hayley.gwilliam@bromsgroveandredditch.gov.uk.