RUN MUMMY RUN STARTED JUST FIVE YEARS AGO AS A FACEBOOK GROUP OF THREE, YET THIS ONLINE RUNNING COMMUNITY HAS GROWN EXPONENTIALLY SINCE THEN, NOW BOASTING MORE THAN 53,000 MEMBERS. HERE LEANNE DAVIES, RMR’S FOUNDER, TELLS LISA JACKSON WHY SHE VALUES KINDNESS OVER COMPETITION, HOW MUCH SHE LOVED SIPPING WINE DURING THE BACCHUS HALF MARATHON, AND HOW DELIGHTED SHE WAS WHEN JO PAVEY PHONED HER TO PRAISE HER NEW BOOK, RUN MUMMY RUN…

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START RUN MUMMY RUN?

After having my second child in 2012, I was struggling to get out and run: my husband often worked late and I couldn’t get to my local running club in the evenings. I really missed meeting other like-minded runners, so I started a Facebook group for myself and two friends, and things grew from there. Our community welcomes women of any ability who’d like to gain support, encouragement and motivation – being a mother isn’t essential, in fact many of our members aren’t mums. Our ethos is based on kindness, so it’s a wonderful place to find friendships, build confidence and enjoy all the good things running has to offer.

WHY DO YOU THINK RMR HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL?