Westfield’s endurance running hero, John Reynolds, is this week asking the community if they would be interested in a running club for people of the parish and beyond.

John, who is well known locally for completing huge feats over a phenomenal amount of miles, most recently conquering his fear of heights to take part in the Mont Blanc Massif over the Alps, his most testing challenge yet, has raised money locally for charities such as Time is Precious and the National Osteoporosis Society, based in Camerton.

Currently, he is training a large number of Time is Precious runners in preparation for the Bath Half Marathon, which takes place on Sunday, 13th March. Some have gone from never running before to being able to run distances of 10 – 11 miles so far. The team have been out three times a week, come rain or shine, dedicated to raising money for the charity and getting the job done!

John says: “It would be really nice to set up a running club in Westfield, and I just want to see if we can get a base and start from there, put the feelers out and see who is interested. It would be great to represent the area and do something positive for local people.

“I began training the Time is Precious team in October last year, and most had never run before. We began by doing a small jog and walk around the Industrial Estate with plenty of stretching in between. Now they are running distances of around ten miles – it is incredible to see how they have progressed.

“There are some hills in the area that they thought they would never get up – now they run them twice a session! It’s so good to see their faces when they get to the top, as they take in what they have achieved. We have great banter and I always make sure they are not sore and stiff – it’s about making the whole process gentle and achieving great things.”

On the subject of great things, John will be running two 75 mile circuits on the Friday and Saturday before the Half Marathon for Time is Precious. He will be covering Westfield, Bath, Keynsham, Bristol, over the Clifton Suspension Bridge and out to Dundry Hill before heading over to the Chew Valley, Wookey Hole, Wells and Shepton Mallet before returning home each day. By running in to Bath on the Sunday morning from his home in Westfield, John says he will have completed 160 miles by the time he gets over the start line. His plan is to bring up the rear of the TIP runners, carrying the charity’s flag and to help give encouragement to any who are finding the course difficult. And of course, then he will run home!

John says it has been a “real pleasure” taking the team out on training runs, which has seen anything from 12 – 49 local runners taking to the streets, three nights a week. He has also been taking a children and young people’s group from ages eight to thirteen out in the Priddy area to learn about off-road running. John has also been travelling around the area visiting local schools to speak of his running adventures, hoping to inspire the younger generation to be active.

His advice for first time Bath Half runners is this: “Go really steady for the first lap of the race and enjoy the crowds; think about all of the training you have put in so far and just go and have a good run. It’ll all come together in the end!”

This year the Time is Precious team will be joined by Patrons, local actor, Will Thorp and comedian, Russell Howard. The race will be a family affair for Russell, with his actress sister, Kerry, brother, Daniel and Coleford cousins, Lewis, Jake and their Auntie also taking part.

In August, John is hoping to run from Land’s End to Yeovil where the Wessex Truck Show, which helps to raise money for Time is Precious, will be taking place.

To register your interest in a new running club in Westfield, getting fit, having fun and learning techniques to run longer distances, contact John by emailing: [email protected] or Westfield Parish Council on: 01761 410669, email: council@westfield parishcouncil.co.uk