#Run&Talk for Mental Health Awareness Week 2026

Run AND talk - what could be better than going for a chatty run with friends?! It’s exactly

what we did for Mental Health Awareness week 11-17 May.

3 Run & Talk sessions were held by Mental Health Champions across the week at different

locations, Bishopstoke Cemetery, the Golf Course and Weston-Shore. Each run focused on a

relaxed and chatty pace allowing the opportunity for a good natter whilst doing something

active.

The theme for this year’s Mental Health Awareness week was action, moving beyond

awareness, and promoting positive steps to support mental wellbeing for yourself, for

someone else and for all of us.

The Run & Talks really captured the spirit of this - exercise, social connection and being

outside in nature can all help to support mental wellbeing.

The first Run & Talk, led by Clare World, was held on a regular club run night taking in some

scenic paths through the woods and allowing the session to fit seamlessly in to the existing

running week with the offer of a friendly ear from a mental health champion.

The second Run & Talk led by Jo Culpin was an inclusive nice, easy pace from the Golf Course on a 6km multi-terrain route and even included a wildlife sighting of a deer!

The last Run & Talk of the week led by Tracey Middleton was a social run/walk along

Weston-Shore and a loop around Westwood taking in views of the sea and many tree’s.

Solent Running Sisters Mental Health Champions provide a supportive space for members

using a positive and patient approach. The Run & Talk campaign was created by England

Athletics alongside the charity Mind with the aim of improving mental health through

running. Please look at the Mental Health section under Welfare on the Solent Running Sisters

website for further information and places you can go for help.

Mental health is complex, on a continuum and different for everyone, and as a club, we

recognise that mental health is as important as physical health. Mental Health Awareness

Week provides the perfect reminder there are Mental Health Champions in the club and

regular Run & Talk events throughout the year.

Our next Run & Talk session is on Thursday 2nd July from the Golf Course followed by a talk

from a nutritionist. More details to follow soon.

We hope you can join us on a future Run & Talk!

Your Mental Health Champions,

Gin Tinbridge, Clare World, Jo Culpin, Tracey Middleton, Rebecca Storer, Sarah Beasley,

Georgia Hollis, Jo Cartwright and Welfare Officer Karen Curtain.

Written by Tracey Middleton