Jay is an accomplished ultra runner and founder of the Left Handed Giant Run Club in Bristol. Jay is extremely passionate about creating a positive and supportive environment for people to come together, run and be outdoors. This is shown by the 200 people a week regularly joining the runs throughout the week.

We dive into all things community run clubs, creating space for other people, and Jay's own journey into the outdoors.

How did you first meet Kickback Coffee? 

I first got to know Kickback through The Peak Divide - Kickback is their coffee partner, and I was a beacon runner. I met Lauren and the team, we got talking about all things running, being outdoors and community groups. We soon came to realisation Lauren and I were doing very similar jobs! We very much share the same passion and goal of opening up the outdoors to a wide range of people. I think we also understand that many people have different entry points into experiencing the outdoors. From then, we have continued to support each other in events - coffee and run club beer at events and support in each others mission. 

What is LHG Run Club? 

It’s a free, positive, supportive environment, bringing people together to run around Bristol!

I started Left Hand Giant run club in Bristol over five years ago. As all good ideas, it started in a pub with some friends. I never really clicked with any other run clubs, and I wanted an environment where I could run what my mates and share time and a beer with them after. I didn’t want the environment to be in any way about showing off abilities or completion. or any pressure about feeling like the run was too slow and allow everyone to engage with each other. 

I approached the LHG owners about my idea - luckily they share my passion for running! The run club started from convincing 17 of my friends to join me for a run and a beer. We now see around 200 people a week at one of our runs! It’s important we continue to offer this supportive environment and bring people together to spend time together outside. Especially as winter nights are drawing in- I like to give people the extra time and be as present as much as I can when I meet new people. I’m a big believer in giving someone five minutes and it will mean five million to them.

What are the things people don’t see behind running a run club? 

A lot of the organising and behind the scene work! Run club has got so much bigger than I ever imagined and I want to make sure I stay true to my values of starting in the first place. I spend lots of time communicating with our members and our run club leaders, who play a huge part in the running of the club. Without them volunteering their time and energy, it wouldn’t be possible to bring together people in the way we do. I really feel it is important for me to give them my time and ensure they have new tools to help them progress.

My time is also spent finding new ways to open up opportunities for our members. That might be creating new events, planning longer routes but still welcomes people trying new, longer runs and supporting others on events that also speak true to our members. It is also important that the run club remains free for everyone to join. It’s my job to think of creative ways of bringing partner and brands on board to support us in our vision.

How did you discover the outdoors?

Well I wanted to be a football player, so I was always out playing. Somehow managed to snap lots of ligaments in leg so I knew it wasn’t going to work out. No one liked women’s football at the time anyways! 

My experience with the outdoor took a turn when my Dad died. It really hit me hard, I had some bad addictions and I wasn’t in a great space. I knew I had to do something about it and that’s when I found running. It was a bit challenging not having many ligaments left in my leg but I was determined to stick at it. 

It started with a Sports Relief 5k and I remember thinking this is the hardest thing I have ever done. As I finished, on my post run high, I signed up or a half marathon and not long after I signed up for a marathon. Road running soon became something I committed to and spent a few years running lots of road races. 

Until I signed up for my first 50k ultra trail run. It killed me. So much harder than anything I had experienced on the road. However, this experience completely change my mindset towards running, in both how I was experiencing the outdoors and what I was using running for. This felt like an adventure, seeing so many different landscapes, traveling from one place to the other. 

This really helped me shape a new outlook on life. Being on the trails with so many encouraging and welcoming people, made me appreciate just being outside, slowing down, taking in my environments. A big thing for me too was getting to share the experience with others and with others that were so positive and encouraging about being outside.

What is your definition of Adventure? 

This is the hardest question… Adventure equals excitement. To go out and do the things that bring you the excitement and joy that keeps you coming back for more. For me the unknown is something I seek and always come back to. Putting myself outside my comfort zone, be that in a new place or back to back running days. For me it's that adventure of seeing new things, pushing my body for as long as it can and most importantly just doing it all with a smile on my face and making it fun!