Over 4,000 people flocked to Bournemouth seafront on Sunday to compete in the annual Bournemouth Half-Marathon.
There has been a huge influx of young people taking up running across the country over the last year, and the Bournemouth half proved no different.
“I think a big part of it is the fashion and style element of running,” said Calum Goddard-Mucklow, who has amassed over 36,000 followers on Instagram.
Calum, alongside his fiancé Issy Sedgwick, have documented their journey on Instagram from non-runners to completing marathons.
“I think seeing people online achieve amazing things and have so much fun doing it is really motivating,” said Bournemouth native Issy.
“As a female runner, seeing these girls online doing really well, I wanted a bit of that,” Issy added.
Both Calum and Issy are keen to encourage more young people to take part in running, whether that be races or just as a casual hobby.
“Don’t compare yourself to others, they’ve got a completely different journey to you. It’s about getting out there. Getting out the door is the hardest part,” Calum said.
“I used to hate running, and now I’m here at my second half marathon. I never thought I’d be able to do this, I never thought I was a runner, and now I’m here,” Issy added.
Entries are now open for the 2025 edition of the Bournemouth Half Marathon, with Calum and Issy hoping there will be many more taking up their new favourite hobby.
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