General News
29 June, 2023
Up for a run? Join us
LAKES and Craters Running Group are calling for budding runners to join them.
LAKES and Craters Running Group are calling for budding runners to join them.
The running group meets three times a week to run along the streets of Camperdown, finishing up with a coffee and conversation.
Members of Lakes and Craters Running Group Shane McCann and Gary O’Neil said the group began as part of a boot camp group that used to run in Camperdown
“There were four or five that used to do a boot camp at the football grounds in Camperdown around 10 years ago,” they said.
“It started there, then some people stopped doing it and the boot camp ceased.
“It then started up with running; there’s still five of them still running with the running group.”
The group meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6am, and on Sundays at 8am, to run, with meeting places including the Camperdown Bakery and the Camperdown Newsagency.
The running group are also actively involved in the community as well.
Mr McCann and Mr O’Neil said the running group participated in this year’s Anzac Day dawn service.
“We’re thinking of helping out with the Royal Children’s Appeal in Camperdown next year; a lot of the streets don’t get done, so we’re thinking of running the streets as a group,” they said.
“We try to do as much as we can for Camperdown within Camperdown.
“It will be good to have new members from different age groups, genders and abilities. It’s a social group, so it doesn’t matter what age, gender, how fast or slow you run.
“We do participate in runs, so if there’s anyone aspiring to improve their running and to do a marathon or half-marathon we still train for those.”
Mr O’Neil and Mr McCann said the group usually meet up after a run for coffee and conversation, saying it was positive for the group to be able to enjoy each other’s company.
“It’s good for your mental health when you’ve got a group supporting you as you’re running, and you can come back and have a coffee and a chat,” they said.
“We look after each other in times of need, and the group gets behind each other and makes sure any member is tracking okay.
“It’s a really good group to just get out and enjoy each other’s company and have a run and keep your fitness up.
“It’s really good for your physical fitness and for your mental health. The more the merrier.”
Flexibility is also available within the group, with organising other days to run possible if needed.
Mr McCann and Mr O’Neil said they invite people to give the running group a go.
“Just believe you can do things; don’t think that age is a barrier, not only in running but in anything,” they said.
“We know a lot of people who have said they’d love to do running, but they’re not fast enough or they haven’t run for a lot of years.
“It doesn’t matter; you can learn, and don’t let it stop you doing something that you want to do.
“We’ll look after you and get you through, and you can make up your mind if you want to do it or not.”
Anyone interested in joining up can get in contact with Mr McCann or Mr O’Neil, with no formal membership for the group.