Leader’s blog Sept 2023 – James Underwood

On the first Wednesday of each month, we’ll be sharing the stories and insights of our group leaders. If you are interested in giving leading a go, talk to your group leader at club, or email hello@hydeparkharriers.co.uk we have tonnes of resources to help you, training sessions and support.

This month, we’re chatting to James Underwood who often leads group 3 on a Tuesday evening, and has ran some of the North Bar Sunday run sessions too.

How did you get in to leading?

I like to help, and after a fair amount of back marking, I stepped up to lead.

What do you love about leading?

I love encouraging people. One of the best things is seeing people do well, grow in confidence in their own abilities.

Do you have any interesting or creative ways of leading?

I like to try and show parts of Leeds that I was first shown via club (like the ginnels from the ridge to Woodhouse Lane), and I like to do occasional themed runs, like routes that go past houses I lived in or to see the Leeds Bear Hunt bears that are dotted around the city.

What would your advice be to anyone thinking about starting to lead?

Don’t be scared! If they don’t like it, they can ask for their money back! People always appreciate you’re a volunteer and that you’re doing your best – even if it goes wrong! You can always start by back marking, then maybe shadowing a group leader, or pairing on a route, that way you can gain confidence before taking it on yourself.

Do you have any specific stories about leading you’d like to share?

I once led Group 3 a couple of times in a row and then led a group at North on a Sunday, there was quite a lot of crossover between the 3 sessions, and it was only on the third outing I realised I had some people I was taking on the Woodhouse ridge for essentially the same route yet again!

James’ final thoughts on leading are that “it is really rewarding, and not as scary as it might first seem!”

Thanks James for your insight on run leading and for regularly volunteering to lead group sessions!

If you are interested in giving leading a go, talk to your group leader at club, or email hello@hydeparkharriers.co.uk we have tonnes of resources to help you, and can provide training sessions and support.