George Couzens, 28, created the group after noticing many people wanted to improve their fitness and mental wellbeing but felt intimidated by traditional running clubs.

PT George, founder of the run club (Image: Supplied)

Instead of focusing on pace, competition or performance, Elevate Running Club has a reputation for being welcoming, supportive and beginner-friendly.

“If you’d asked a lot of our members a few months ago, they’d probably have told you they hated running,” Mr Couzens said.

“A lot of people want to get fitter or improve their mental wellbeing, but they don’t want to turn up somewhere and feel like the slowest or least experienced person there.

“Traditional running clubs can feel intimidating if you’re a complete beginner or someone who’s never thought of themselves as sporty.

“I wanted to create something where nobody felt judged, nobody gets left behind and there’s no pressure to be fast.

“It’s still about running and helping people improve, just in an environment where people actually enjoy doing it.”

Elevate (Image: Supplied)

The club now attracts a wide mix of ages and abilities, from........

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