Every month at Reigate Ladies Joggers, we choose one woman to celebrate as our Runner of the Month. It is never just about pace, distance or race results. It is about consistency, courage, attitude, progress and the way someone shows up for themselves and for the group.
For May, we are so pleased to celebrate Molly Hill.
Molly first came to RLJ around ten years ago for a beginners’ course, but like so many of us, life moved on and running did not quite stick at that point. Then, in December 2024, she saw RLJ pop up on social media again and knew it was time to give it another go.
Before coming back to running, Molly says she was not doing much exercise and had started to feel sluggish, with low energy. That decision to step back into a running group was the beginning of a real shift.
Like many women, Molly remembers her first session very clearly.
“I remember thinking I couldn’t run for longer than about two minutes and I did feel like not coming back - but I did, and I’m so glad I stuck to it.”
That sentence will resonate with so many women who are nervous about starting. Those first sessions can feel daunting. You can convince yourself that everyone else is fitter, faster or more confident. But Molly kept coming back, and that consistency has made all the difference.
Since then, running has become much more than exercise.
Mentally, Molly says running has helped her feel lighter. After a busy day, getting out for a run gives her space to calm her mind. Physically, she feels fitter and more toned, but one of the biggest changes has been the impact on her migraines.
Molly suffers severely with migraines, and she says running has helped them ease massively. After a difficult year health-wise, running gave her a sense of control when other things felt outside of her control.
“A good run always made me feel I had some control over my health, when I couldn’t control other things, so that has been a huge saviour.”
That is one of the reasons we do what we do at RLJ. Running and power walking are not just about miles. They are about confidence, headspace, strength and feeling connected to your body again.
Molly has become such a positive presence in the group. She loves the support of running with others, the conversations along the way, and the feeling of everyone cheering each other on.
“It makes you feel like not giving up if you are struggling sometimes. I know if I didn’t have a group I wouldn’t be held accountable.”
That sense of accountability and community is so powerful. Sometimes you do not need someone to push you harder, you just need people around you who help you keep going.
And Molly has definitely kept going.
She has taken on trails, hills and, most recently, a half marathon. That challenge was not easy. She found the training hard to commit to at times, but running for charity, raising money and having the encouragement of the RLJ community helped her see it through.
Her mindset has grown alongside her running. Molly says she is learning to have more willpower, and that the importance of health has made her more determined to give things a go.
“We are very lucky to be able to run and be fit.”
That is such a simple but powerful reminder.
When asked what she would say to another woman who is nervous about starting, Molly’s answer is exactly what so many need to hear:
“Just go for it! Once you start, you will feel so much better and even if it is just one run a week, it is worth it.”
Molly, being named Runner of the Month is so well deserved. You have shown what can happen when you keep showing up, even when the beginning feels hard. You have challenged yourself, supported others, built confidence and become such a lovely part of the RLJ community.
We are so proud of you.
Congratulations, Molly - our May Runner of the Month.