Volunteering role helps Jog Leader to improve as well as helping others to improve

1 June 2010

Volunteers' Week, which runs from June 1 to 7, is the UK's annual celebration of the work volunteers do. To mark the event, here we highlight some of the volunteering work taking place within sport in Derbyshire.

Martin Stephens has been a volunteer Jog Leader for Jog Derbyshire since January.

He set up his group, Melbourne Joggers, based at Bill Shone Leisure Centre in South Derbyshire, and the group now meets every Tuesday evening.

Martin is an experienced runner who has completed several full and half marathons, 10k and 5k races, and he is also a volunteer triathlon coach with Absolute Triathlon Club in Nottingham.

After hearing about Jog Derbyshire through a friend, Martin decided to get involved and train as a Jog Leader. His group has helped give more than 20 people an opportunity to try jogging for the first time or get back into jogging after a long break, and regularly attracts an average of ten members to each session.

Martin said: “I decided to get involved with Jog Derbyshire because I thought it would help me to improve my coaching and leading skills in running.

“I am also training for an Ironman triathlon so am out training and running anyway, so being a Jog Leader helps me to improve as well as helping other people to improve. It also forces me to keep finding new routes instead of just plodding along the same route all of the time, which keeps it more interesting.”

By giving up his time and volunteering with Jog Derbyshire Martin has helped members of his group to see a real difference in their fitness levels and jogging abilities. Some also took part in the Melbourne Fun Run in April, completing either a 5k or 11k distance.

Martin said: “I enjoy the social side of being a jog leader and have had really good feedback about the group.

“Jog Derbyshire is a really good way for anyone with an interest in coaching or leading to get into it, and the support network – the website, booklets etc, which it provides makes it very easy. It is nice to have that structure.

“Becoming a Jog Leader is a great thing for anyone who enjoys running and socialising to do.”

Martin is one of more than 50 Jog Leaders, many of whom are volunteers, who lead jog groups from venues across Derbyshire each week. To find out more or to get involved go to www.activederbyshire.co.uk/jog (opens in a new window).

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