Running duo have Coronavirus to thank for a slower pace of life to fast track their fitness ambitions.
Birmingham’s first city running tour has hit the ground running thanks to the arrival of a new homegrown team, Run of a Kind.
City running tours may not be a global or even UK first but Run of a Kind are pioneering the phenomenon in Birmingham, adding a new dimension to the existing tour set up here in the Midlands. Based on the popular tourist walking tour activity, a running tour is simply a more unique (and faster!) way to see and study a city with a local guide.
Lucy Canham, Founder of Run of a Kind, is a keen running tour enthusiast in her usual day job as Cabin Crew:
“Sport and fitness have always been a big part of my life, having been a keen hockey player and track runner through school and university. I started flying 4 1⁄2 years ago as a way to see the world. I discovered the running tour concept in London through my friend Vanessa, founder of Secret London Runs and have since completed running tours in 20 different countries over 6 continents. I think it’s fair to say I’m one of, if not the, biggest running tour fans in the world! They combine everything I love to do: keeping fit, exploring, learning and meeting lovely new people.
I’m originally from Malvern and whilst Birmingham’s no Rio de Janeiro, since moving to Moseley 2 years ago I’ve come to love Birmingham and feel very much part of the adopted Brummie community. There’s so much history and culture here that we know is bringing international and domestic tourists in their millions each year. We’re showing them the city from our perspective, still learning as we go and meeting fresh new faces!”
Canham put her ambitions into practice when she was one of the many airline colleagues put onto the furlough scheme, along with fellow local running enthusiast, Hannah Green.
“I’ve wanted to set this up for a while but as I suppose with many dreams, we often don’t find the time to make them a reality. I suddenly found myself grounded in more ways than one. I’ve had time to strategise and structure the business, as well as study for and write the tours.”
Whilst the team will debut with their ‘Best of Birmingham’ tour, a 10km route stopping in and around the city perimeter, their aim in the long run is to tour other corners of the city in collaboration with local businesses and individuals.
“We’re no historians and we know we may not be able to answer every single deep-rooted question (we may have to politely point you to Google). However we promise our runners will go home with a few new facts and friends, an awareness and understanding of the city in new ways, accompanied with a massive smile and love for Brum.”
The ‘Best of Birmingham’ tour, which start from Monday 13th July, can now be booked here via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-best-of-birmingham-running-tour-tickets-111948053642. Tickets are £15 each and include post-run refreshments.
Tours will be limited to 5 runners from up to 5 households, plus guide, for the time being, in line with government and England Athletics guidelines: https://www.englandathletics.org/athletics-and-running/news/guidance-update-step-2/
