At Reigate Ladies Joggers, Runner of the Month is never just about speed, pace or distance. It is about attitude, consistency, courage, kindness and the energy someone brings to the group. This month, we are so delighted to celebrate Victoria as our Runner of the Month.
Victoria is one of those people who has brought such warmth, honesty and energy to RLJ. Her story is powerful, relatable and deeply inspiring, not because she has always found running easy, but because she started, kept going, and allowed running to become something much bigger than exercise.
“I always thought I just couldn’t run”
Victoria only started running in 2023. Before that, she describes herself as the typical woman who believed running simply wasn’t for her.
“I had always been the typical ‘oh, I just can’t run, it’s too hard’ woman,” she says. “I had never exercised at all until my mid-50s.”
Then, at the age of 56, life became heavy. Menopause, stress, Covid, family illness and loss all led Victoria into what she describes as a downward spiral. At a time when so much felt outside of her control, exercise became the thing that helped her take some of that control back.
And once she started, she went all in.
“I have a bit of an obsessive personality (understatement of the year!) and running became part of my life, my haven, my safe space.”
Victoria joined a team, signed up for races, started with 5ks and then moved on to half marathons. Running quickly became more than just a habit. It became part of who she was.
Finding a new running family
After seven years living in the US, Victoria moved back to the UK in September 2025. While in America, she had been part of JWS, a women-only running team, and it had become one of the best parts of her life there.
So, when she arrived in Reigate, finding a new running community was high on her list.
“I know most people join running teams looking for motivation or discipline, but that wasn’t what I needed,” Victoria explains. “I had built those on my own already. I was looking for community, for help discovering the trails in my new area and, above all, for like-minded women who hopefully would become new friends.”
And that is exactly what she found at RLJ.
Victoria still vividly remembers one of her first runs with the club. Coach Colette led the group through the beautiful trails around Reigate Heath. The sun was shining, there was a cool breeze, and the women were chatting and laughing as they ran.
“I suddenly felt an overwhelming wave of happiness, a sense of being blessed,” she says. “I don’t want to get overdramatic - as any good Spaniard, I have a penchant for drama - but it was pretty freaking magical.”
The power of running together
Even the most motivated runners have tough days, and Victoria is refreshingly honest about that too.
“I hate hills, yeah, I know, what am I doing in Reigate? and I hate the heat,” she laughs. “Running with RLJ is exactly what I need.”
For Victoria, running with the group makes the hard parts easier. Sometimes it is the distraction of chatting to someone along the way. Sometimes it is the encouragement of seeing others huffing and puffing but still pushing through. Sometimes it is knowing that, if it is not your day, someone will walk with you, wait for you, or help you keep going.
“We wait for each other, we walk with each other if it’s just not one of those days, or we inspire each other to just keep going.”
That is such a beautiful description of what RLJ is all about.
What running has given her
When asked what running has given her beyond fitness, Victoria says there is almost too much to list.
“Pride in myself for sticking to it, I never ever thought I would. Health. Friendship. Peace. A shared hobby with my two sons. So much more.”
She proudly mentions having the VO2 max of a 35-year-old, but the physical benefits are only part of the story. Running has given her friendship through the Monday and Thursday morning RLJ groups, mindfulness through trail running, and something incredibly special to share with her sons.
“We run half marathons together,” she says. “Nothing makes me happier than hearing them say, ‘Mum, should we all sign up for this race?’”
Her message to women who are nervous to start
Victoria’s advice to any woman who feels too busy, too slow or not “runner enough” to join a group like RLJ is powerful.
“Invest in you. Find time for you. Make room for your health, your wellbeing.”
She recognises that women so often put everyone else first: family, work, pets, responsibilities. But her message is that looking after ourselves is not selfish. It is essential.
“It all falls apart if we don’t look after ourselves, and running is one of the most powerful tools you have for you. You can run anywhere, any time. Do it. It’s so, so worth it.”
And for anyone feeling worried or unsure, she wants you to know that you are not alone.
“We all felt that way. Worried, unsure. And we all did it, and we all love it. Join us. I promise you we’ve got your back. I promise you it’s absolutely worth it.”
Runner of the Month
Being named Runner of the Month came as a complete surprise to Victoria.
“I so totally did not expect it,” she says. “And I didn’t realise it would impact me this much.”
Victoria explains that she can sometimes feel like she is “too much” - too intense, too Spanish, too full of energy for “lovely, quiet, no-drama Brits.” But reading the kind words that came with her nomination made her feel seen and appreciated exactly as she is.
“It made me feel like I belong, appreciated for being me.”
And that, really, is everything.
Victoria also says that the award reminded her of something she loves about RLJ: you do not have to be the fastest or the strongest to be celebrated.
“It’s all about the attitude.”
What she is most proud of
Looking back over her running journey so far, Victoria is most proud of one thing: that she stuck with it.
Through injury, snow, heat, disappointment, not finishing her first marathon, and showing up to that first session without knowing anybody, she kept going.
That resilience, openness and joy are exactly why Victoria is such a worthy Runner of the Month. She reminds us that running can become so much more than movement. It can become community, confidence, friendship, healing and a way back to yourself.
Congratulations, Victoria. We are so lucky to have your energy, humour and heart in the RLJ family. 💜🇪🇸
If Victoria’s story has inspired you, perhaps this is your sign to explore an Unlimited Membership with Reigate Ladies Joggers.
It is more than just running or power walking; it is community, confidence, friendship, accountability and time carved out for you.
An Unlimited Membership gives you access to regular runs, power walks and fitness sessions, with support every step of the way. It really can change your life, one session, one conversation, one run at a time.