Trail running in the Trym Valley, discussions with top ultra runners, networking, and a strong sense of community made our inaugural Bristol Local Meet Up an evening to remember.
(From left: Dan Beaumont, Hannah Cox, Damian Hall, Ash Tuck, Flora Beverley, Nina Davies, Allie Bailey, Joss Ford)
Green Runner Nina Davies writes:
Thank you Bristol! We’re still buzzing after the launch of our Local Meet up evening last week. It was an uplifting night from beginning to end.
Over 100 runners gathered in the warm evening glow and headed out for a beautiful trail run led by our friends at Bristol Trail Runners, whilst our hosts at the Kings Arms pub waited to greet them home with refreshments and an inviting atmosphere.
Allie Bailey kicked off the evening sharing her incredible journey from consumer addict to becoming a PreLoved sports (un)sponsored athlete with her usual passion and energy. The personality-packed panel were brilliantly moderated by recent ultra convert and Green Runner Joss Ford. From helpful running and sustainability tips to honest chats about social media pressure and period pants, we were treated to some fantastic insights by experts Damian Hall and Flora Beverley, from local community leader Ash Tuck and the newest runner in the room Hannah Cox as she prepares for her extraordinary 100 marathons in 100 day challenge across India.
The evening was perfectly summed up with some heartwarming feedback from a member of the audience: “Thank you so much for the time and care you must have put in with your team setting up such an amazing green runner event on Weds night in Bristol!
“Great venue and panel were engaged in the spirit of the night and built up tangible synergy between themselves and the assembled crowd. Joss as chair brought out the best in the panel with his warmth and humour.
“I wittered on from the audience about being a glory hunter and in a low wattage way tried to inspire the non Green Runners to sign up!!!”
We’re excited for more uplifting evenings like this as we launch Local Meet ups across the UK. Bristol and Nottingham have already shown what we can do together when we combine our collective mission with local community energy and deeper connections.
Thank you all.
Clara Von Eye illustrated the evening beautifully from her vantage point in the crowd