Following successful launches in Bristol and Manchester, Runners and Stunners opened its Brighton club this month, creating a space for women of all running abilities to exercise and make connections. With more than 15,000 members across the three locations, Jenny Mannion’s refreshing approach is reshaping working out: prioritising enjoyment and connection over pace, distance and performance.
For a lot of women, running alone can be risky and often requires extra planning. Training in the winter months can be particularly affected, with 72% of women changing their outdoor activity routines during winter due to safety concerns and dark evenings. The club offers an important alternative, giving members the ability to run at times they might otherwise feel unsafe alone. Many members even note the club as being the only space they feel comfortable running in, as opposed to being alone, highlighting the growing importance of Runners and Stunners within communities across the country.
“I think it’s about safety in numbers and being supported along the way, like having our ambassadors stay with people who may be slower than the rest of the group so they can catch up. I feel like it does send a big message to see a hundred women running down the Thames. It sends a message that we can be there”.
Jenny has seen numerous friendships form from Runners and Stunners, with meetups happening beyond the weekly runs for coffee, social runs, or even spending Christmas together. Post-run coffee stops allow members to socialise and take the pressure off fitness, inspiring a mentality that exercise can simply be for pleasure instead of aesthetics. Inclusivity is a huge part of the club’s ethos – all are welcome, whether it be a first-time runner or a seasoned marathoner.
After leaving a run club in London feeling discouraged and left behind, Jenny made plans to launch her own running club.
“When I just started going on a run with friends on a Saturday morning and getting a coffee after, my mental health drastically improved. I struggled with how seriously some people took it. I just wanted to go on a Saturday morning, move, have a bit of a laugh and get cake after.”
She didn’t expect the huge response Runners and Stunners received. “At first, we were only getting maybe eight to ten people. By the sixth week, suddenly, there were 150 people there. That’s when I knew there was something special here,” she said, then joking about how she thought she’d made it when there were thirty people in the WhatsApp group chat. Jenny has plans to expand the club all over the country, Edinburgh being next, with hopes of Runners and Stunners even reaching more rural areas. Since starting the club, Jenny has become an ambassador for Lululemon and has partnered with brands such as Lucozade and Dove.
Jenny chose Brighton as the third city for her to launch her running club.
“This year I wanted to focus on Brighton. In cities where there’s a large running culture, there’s space for something like this”.
Some members recently took part in the Brighton Marathon weekend, and Jenny is currently preparing for the London to Brighton run in November, reflecting the thriving running culture in the city.
With Brighton being ranked one of the top fitness-friendly cities in the country, exercise is a part of the culture. Easy access to the sea and the South Downs provides beautiful spaces for running. Combined with the Runners and Stunners’ unique emphasis on community and fun, the club is sure to encourage many women to start running who may not have had the opportunity.
Ultimately, Runners and Stunners is about more than just running – it’s about building confidence, strengthening the female community and ensuring that no woman has to choose between exercise and safety.
For more culture, events and lifestyle features from across the region, explore SALT’s latest stories on saltmag.co.uk/magazine.
