“I suddenly thought, why not me?”
This month, we are absolutely delighted to celebrate Roz as our Runner of the Month.
A familiar face at our Monday and Wednesday evening runs, Saturday trails and special events, Roz brings warmth, humour, encouragement and a brilliant energy to our RLJ community. She is always up for a chat, always ready to cheer someone else on, and always has a way of making the miles feel that little bit lighter.
But what makes Roz’s story especially inspiring is not just that she shows up, it is how she keeps showing up. Through injury, frustration, hot weather, slower runs, wobbles in confidence and everything else life throws in the way, Roz has kept going. Slowly, steadily and with real perseverance.
Finding RLJ
Roz has been running for around 20 years, although she says that, apart from a love of swimming, she has never considered herself especially sporty.
Over the years she has completed a couple of half marathons and plenty of 10k runs, but often found herself feeling disheartened on race day after months of tough training. As life got busier, weekday runs became easier to skip and weekend runs became the default. She noticed her pace beginning to slow, adding around 10 minutes to her 10k time within a year.
It felt like the right moment to look for a local running group again.
“I was thrilled to find RLJ,” Roz says. “There were people at my running level, but also faster than me, giving me an incentive to increase my speed, get fitter and lose a bit more weight in the process.”
Why she keeps coming back
For Roz, RLJ has become about much more than running.
“Joining the running group has been great for my wellbeing and gives me a real boost for the week,” she says. “No matter what kind of day you’ve had, you can chat away with your fellow runners about funny things that have happened and also put your troubles into perspective.”
She loves the variety that RLJ offers, trail running, special events, fitness sessions and different distances, but also the way the group introduces her to routes she would never have found on her own.
“I love discovering new secret parts of Surrey,” she says.
And in classic Roz style, she adds that she is still waiting for the perfect group photo where she looks at it and thinks, “I don’t look too bad there!”
“It’s good to have goals,” she laughs.
The power of community
Roz says she is genuinely touched that people describe her as encouraging, positive and a pleasure to chat with.
“I always think I’m such a grumpy, old misery guts!” she jokes. “I’m constantly in awe of my fellow runners and I’m genuinely thrilled to see everyone at each session.”
That sense of care is something Roz brings naturally. She checks in with people, notices when someone has not been around for a while, and helps create the kind of welcoming atmosphere that makes RLJ feel so special.
“I think it’s rare to find a group where everyone is so supportive and genuinely lovely,” she says. “I’m really lucky to have found the group.”
Since joining RLJ, Roz has taken part in trail runs, evening swims and paddleboarding - things she says she may never have considered without the encouragement of the group.
Coming back from injury
Roz’s recent running journey has not been without setbacks. After a hamstring injury during her last 10k, Coach Becky encouraged her to see a physio.
Roz admits she had always been nervous about going to a physio, worried she might be told not to run anymore. But one appointment gave her reassurance, practical strengthening exercises and the confidence that she could continue.
“It was a real confidence boost,” she says.
Since then, there have been a few bumps along the way - including falling over right outside her house at the very start of a run - but Roz is determined to keep moving forward.
“For me, being able to keep up with the Intermediates group has felt like such a huge achievement,” she says. “Right now, it’s important that I’m getting out running during the week and doing so slowly and steadily.”
She has even stopped running with her Apple Watch for a while so that she can focus less on pace and more on rebuilding consistently.
Learning to listen to her body
Injury has taught Roz that running alone is not enough.
“Strengthening, trail running, fitness, these are all essential for keeping yourself in shape for those long-distance runs,” she says.
She is now thinking more seriously about overall fitness, especially as she prepares for her next big challenge: a half marathon.
Roz has signed up to run the London Landmarks Half Marathon in April 2027 for charity, after hearing other RLJ women talk about their own half marathon experiences.
“I was green with envy,” she admits. “Then I suddenly thought, why not me?”
Having already completed two half marathons in the past, Roz sees this as her opportunity to train better, get fitter and hopefully achieve a time she is really proud of.
What running gives her
For Roz, running is essential for her wellbeing.
“It means a break from work, a chance to enjoy nature, changes in weather, landscapes, high street shops and discovering hidden corners of Surrey - all the things you miss when you’re driving,” she says.
She often experiences what she calls a “running epiphany” - those moments when a solution to something stressful suddenly appears mid-run.
And that is one of the wonderful things about running. It is not just about fitness. It is headspace, confidence, community, problem-solving, adventure and joy.
Advice for women who feel nervous to join
Roz has a brilliant message for any woman who worries she is too slow, too unfit, too nervous or not “runner enough” to join RLJ.
“It always amazes me just how many people say they’re not a runner,” she says. “It’s simply all in the mind.”
Her advice? Do not worry about how you look in running gear, because being in a group makes that so much easier. Everyone runs at different speeds and abilities, and there will always be someone at your level.
“You won’t get left behind,” she says. “And you may even surprise yourself at just how well you do.”
Funny moments and favourite memories
One of Roz’s proudest running memories is crossing the finish line at the London Winter Run with her running buddy Jill in a fantastic time of 1 hour 10 minutes.
Her funniest RLJ moment is slightly more unusual.
After cutting her hand in a fall, Roz still wanted to join an evening swim, so she taped a black rubber glove to her hand to keep it dry.
“It sadly didn’t really work,” she says. “I ended up swimming with one hand, my black glove sticking out above the water like Feathers McGraw. The lifeguards kept thinking I was asking for help!”
Runner of the Month
Being named Runner of the Month came as a total surprise to Roz and at exactly the right time.
“I was over the moon,” she says. “I can honestly say it came at just the right moment, as I was not having the best week due to running injuries and the hot weather is not my friend.”
Roz thought she might never be chosen because she does not join the Early Birds sessions, so seeing her montage in the email was a very special moment.
“It was truly a wonderful surprise,” she says.
Looking ahead
Roz is proud of completing half marathons, proud of her 10k time at the London Winter Run, and proud that she keeps doing things that scare her.
Next, she is looking forward to increasing her speed and distance, cooler weather, running in the rain, getting better at paddleboarding, continuing to learn BSL with her Deaf colleagues, and perhaps even returning to the ukulele so she can entertain friends and family.
When asked to describe RLJ in three words, Roz chose:
Jolly. Energising. Inspiring.
And we think that describes Roz perfectly too.
Roz, thank you for everything you bring to RLJ, your humour, kindness, encouragement, honesty and determination. We are so proud to have you in our community, and we cannot wait to cheer you on as you train for your next half marathon.
If Roz’s story has inspired you, perhaps this is your sign to explore an Unlimited Membership with Reigate Ladies Joggers.
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.