Sometimes they pass.

Everyone nods and smiles.

There’s a route where we cross the river twice, gently connecting south side suburbia with inner city floodlighting, these women in woolly hats and DayGlo vests quietly padding past the waterside developments.

The BBC glows purple and green to complement us. On the return loop we pass the beginners group, lumbering breathlessly along the road, shiny new jackets tied around waists. Everyone gradually returns to the sports centre car park, red cheeked and breathless but happy with the night’s work. A quick chat then dispersal and home. Dinner waiting, work done for the day, the Wednesday night feeling is a good one.

These are the dark winter runs skirting the edge of the park on well lit roads; in spring and summer its hills and sweeping drives see flashes of lycra through the trees, mixing with the children playing, walkers and dogs.

Extract from project leaflet