An inside look at the Greater Manchester running club where courage, confidence and community always come first.
Although the mid-April drizzle dampened my mood throughout the day, an early-evening burst of bright sunshine and Jane Dennison’s warm smile set the tone for our interview. We met at the Cheadle Leisure Centre in Stockport and agreed to record whilst chatting outside. An orange, MileShyClub running vest and sports leggings indicated she was set to coach a new group of runners embarking on their first club session. Still, Jane’s enthusiastic welcome signalled that our meeting had also been prioritised and she was keen to share the reasons she founded and became CEO of the MileShyClub charity.
Having seen the video of Jane’s TEDx Talk on YouTube, I was aware of the traumatic life experiences which fuelled her passion and drive to build an all-encompassing community network focused on running, physical activity and mental health support. Nevertheless, listening to Jane’s candid recount of the dark isolation which scarred her formative years was a powerful reminder of how deeply she recognises the relationship between despair and transformation: poor mental health as a teenager, too much time spent homeless and between jobs, a divorced single mum in her early twenties and, as friends drifted away to university, a failed suicide attempt and disappearing dreams of further education had sapped all hope.
“I just had nothing to live for,” she said, “and I do think if there had been a MileShyClub near me, it would have given me that connection to my community.”
Although doctors continued to prescribe a range of medications, Jane’s recovery began with swimming but truly took off when she discovered running. By the age of 35, having graduated with a law degree and working at a law firm, Jane’s MileShyClub vision began to materialise.
“I thought, I have so much experience of difficult times,” she said, “I really need to give back. And that’s why I decided to start a beginner running club for people like me who’d never run before.”
The impact of MileShy’s achievements is well documented on the charity’s website, promoting 15 club locations across Trafford, Salford, Stockport and Manchester with over 6,000 members. It also includes a women’s only indoor club designed to ensure privacy for those uncomfortable exercising outdoors or in mixed gender spaces; a Trafford Centre walking group for those with accessibility needs or disabilities and free mental health support groups based on the five ways to wellbeing. Along with the club’s Couch to 5K programmes for new runners or developmental opportunities for those wishing to progress in terms of distance or level of challenge, Jane has built up a team of about 60 trained running coaches and mental health support volunteers, who make an invaluable contribution to a club ethos which champions diversity and inclusion.
Jane explains the club’s mission to ensure that no one gets left behind. “First, from my practical perspective, it means that no one gets left behind during our running and walking sessions, social events or mental health groups. But broader than that, we don’t leave anybody behind in the community, and we’re always challenging ourselves to get out and work with people who really need us.”
“You do it because you love it. You do it because you’re passionate about it. You do it because it’s your vocation – Jane Dennison
When Jane exemplifies her last point by describing the Couch to 5K club recently opened in a migrant hotel, I’m struck by her conviction and relentless instinct to build communities which meet people’s needs and foster human connection. The club’s impact upon individual lives is palpable: a member who lost 14 stone, learnt to run and then tackled 10k; donations from people who have lost loved ones to suicide; physical activities which move people beyond just talking about mental health issues and stories about others living with cancer who use exercise to help with their recovery.
“There’s so many stories,” she said, “I couldn’t pick any particular one.”
Altrincham-based Couch to 5K graduate Fiona Botteril (58) says that in Jane’s world everybody counts and explains how that personal recognition contributed to her own achievements. Attracted by the accessibility of MileShyClub’s Friday morning park sessions and its affordability at just £2 per session, Fiona had not run before and wanted to build up cardio fitness. Although a cold January start and several setbacks threatened to derail her ambitions from the outset, Fiona feels it was the understanding and intentional support she received from the club’s coaches and fellow group runners that gave her the confidence to continue.
“I missed the first two sessions,” she said, “because I had shingles and the coaches were really good. They sort of knew what I was going through and said they’d keep an eye on me so I could build up fitness.”
Fiona describes how she drew strength from the life stories she heard as she ran with the group and the non-judgmental help she received when struggling to keep up. She also said, “Jane is very present. She attended most of the sessions and was at the graduation run itself, she led the warm-up and cheered people on.”
Whilst Jane acknowledges how demanding it is to run a small charity, whilst staying so invested in the lives of all the MileShy members, she is clear about her motivation. “You do it because you love it. You do it because you’re passionate about it. You do it because it’s your vocation.”
And what about those people who still think MileShy may not be for them? “Just come and try a session for free,” said Jane. “Try it and if it’s not for you, then fine. At least you tried, so then you know what you’ve got to lose. At least you can say you’ve given it a go.”
For futher information see MileShyClub