A Place for Any Pace

Meet Iain Strachan: Founder of RunAyr

In the wake of the pandemic a renewed focus on health and wellbeing has seen many of us dust off our running shoes (or indeed purchase our first pair) in an effort to stay fit and well.

For Iain Strachan, running was a passion long before it became a trend and as we sit outside in the sunshine by the beach sipping coffee and chatting, I immediately see why he is able to motivate people to get off the couch and onto the pavements: his humility and authenticity is palpable. He’s in it for the right reasons and he wants to take others on the journey with him, no matter their starting point.

The idea of launching a running club started pre-lockdown. Having always been a casual runner Iain found himself veering more towards running as a primary form of fitness after years of football injures left him unable to play any longer. However, it wasn’t until the country went into full lockdown that he started to see the extensive range of wellbeing benefits associated with running.

“Running kept me sane. When I ran I felt free. I felt the shackles of lockdown coming off – it was a weight we were all carrying. The more I did it, the better I felt. I was watching friends, strong characters, being impacted by negativity during the pandemic and so I got them out running too. We built up challenges which over time got us fitter, physically and mentally. By the time we came out of Covid we were running 100k a month and had never felt better.”

The experience fuelled his ambition to launch his own running club and after teasing the idea over social media for a few weeks in advance, Iain finally launched RunAyr at the start of June this year, turning up at Ayr beach at 9am on a Sunday morning with no idea who, if anyone, might turn up.

“Some of my friends from back in Glasgow, who I’d run with during Covid, came through to support me – I was terrified that first day! I wasn’t sure how to structure it, who might show up or what expectations there might be of me and the club. The biggest thing for me was that I wanted to make people feel welcome. There are so many running clubs out there which are competitive and isolating but I wanted RunAyr to be different. We’re a social running club where it’s all about supporting each other to improve health and fitness.”

Much to Iain’s surprise 20 people turned up that first day including many who’d never run before.
“I couldn’t believe these random strangers turned up and listened to me on that first day. Even now, a couple of months in, I find it nerve wracking because I care about it. I promote it as ‘a place for every pace’ and people need to feel that vibe.”

And feel it they do. This is a club which has grown week on week attracting men and women of all ages and stages. Iain’s fiancée, Carley, is a key member and supporter of the club and actively encourages women who are interested in running to come along and give it a go. At the recent ‘Girls Takeover’ run, led by Carley, 50 runners showed up (a club record) many of whom were women stepping into their running shoes for the first time. Iain, Carley, and other members who are more experienced runners keep pace with the newcomers, ensuring good habits are formed from the outset and no-one runs alone.

“The biggest downfall when you’re running alone is not having the discipline to pace yourself. With support you develop a consistent pace. We all need a pacer to help us at the start.”

It’s with pride that Iain goes on to talk about the changes he’s witnessed in people who’ve bravely come along to tackle that first 5k. While improving fitness is a core goal, this is also a club where social connections are being built and friendships forged. Though he is reluctant to admit it, this is a man who is changing lives in his local community. He is supporting others to improve their fitness, build their confidence, shift their mindset and change their lifestyle. Members are seeing the ripple effect, choosing to skip alcohol on a Saturday night because they want to run well on the Sunday morning, and changing their diet to see food as fuel for performance as they set new fitness goals.

“Members are coming up with ideas all the time, wanting to push themselves and set new challenges having achieved the 5k goal. They’re amazing. I’d love for us to enter events as a club, perhaps the Glasgow 10k and one day maybe even a marathon. I would run alongside anyone wanting to give that a go. I know what a big deal it is when you commit to that. I did the Manchester marathon last year and when I ticked that box I decided I was going to do an ultra-marathon next which I did in July this year (the 50k Run the Blades). Wherever running takes us as a club, though, getting those 5ks under our belts will always be our core purpose on Sunday mornings.”

One of Iain’s proudest club moments since starting RunAyr was watching his mum and dad turn up one Sunday to run a 5k with him, something which would not have been possible for his dad had the charity Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland not supported him through his recovery after he had a stroke two years ago. Not surprisingly, it’s the charity Iain now supports through his running.

Overcoming personal challenges resonates deeply with Iain having watched family, friends and club members overcome adversity through sheer determination, resilience and of course running.

“Whatever your reason for running and whatever your long-term goal is, that first 5k can feel like Mount Everest. Then you do it and all of a sudden it’s the 10k that feels like Mount Everest and so on. The important thing is to just come along and start. If you can’t run at first don’t worry, come and have a brisk walk – you’re up off the sofa and that’s what counts.”

As a plus, at the end of every Sunday run, club members gather at The Remedy Café where they can enjoy a well-earned coffee, some cake and a chance to socialise with like–minded new friends. RunAyr is much more than a running club; it’s a community and a fast growing one at that. There’s only one rule – no egos allowed. It’s a rule which is central to the inclusive, empowering ethos Iain has nurtured and which has attracted so many members to date. There couldn’t be a more welcoming environment for the would-be runner out there, so if you’re thinking of heading along you can be sure that those who have already taken that first step, and know how hard it is to show up, will be right there by your side cheering you on all the way.

Interested? Get in touch with Iain through
Instagram @runayr_