All female Burnley based running group Girls On The Run Club is a 'lifeline'

That’s the verdict of Alexandra Mulrooney on the Burnley based Girls On The Run Club.

Alexandra joined in April last year after deciding to take part in the 2026 London Landmark’s half marathon. Nervous at first, as she was a novice runner who thought she would be ‘left for dust,’ Alexandra couldn’t have been more wrong. Alexandra said: “It is the most supportive, motivating, loving club and I feel proud to be a part of it.

“The best thing has got to be the girls. They’re like family, they celebrate everyone’s wins, we pick each other up when someone is feeling down or struggling with motivation, and it’s so inclusive.”

The club was formed in January last year by keen runner Liberty Thompson. Disheartened by the constant barrage of ‘cat’ calls from drivers each time she went on a run, Liberty (23) almost gave up the hobby she loved. She said: “It can be quite intimidating when you are out running alone and someone in a car or van starts calling out to you or slowing their vehicle down. It was even happening sometimes while I was out running with my boyfriend.”

Liberty, who is a personal trainer at the Gym Group in Burnley, was overwhelmed with the positive response to the launch of her group which regularly has 20 to 30 women out running together on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

She added: “We have runners of all abilities but we all stick together while out and usually do a 5k run each time. The more experienced runners tend to go to the back and we chat all the time, about absolutely everything. One of the best things about the club is, if you’ve had a rubbish day, for whatever reason, coming for a run really helps to lift your spirits.”

Alexandra would definitely second that as she has lost over a stone and joined the gym where many of her fellow runners go. Girls On The Run has also helped her to cope with the challenges of her little girl Ivy’s health issues.

Last year Ivy, who is registered blind, was also diagnosed with nystagmus, severe photophobia, a condition which creates extreme sensitivity to light which makes it very difficult for Ivy to be outside. Ivy, a lively and adorable three-year-old, also has cone rod dystrophy, an eye disorder that causes progressive vision loss due to the degeneration of cone and rod photoreceptor cells in the retina. Ivy has also recently been diagnosed with Alström Syndrome, a rare, inherited genetic disorder that affects multiple systems in the body.

Alexandra added: “After all Ivy’s diagnoses and health difficulties over the last two- and-a-half years, I lost myself, but this club has given me a new focus, a new community, and a new outlook on our life. “

To find out more information about the group go to the facebook page Girls On The Run or Instagram page girlsontherun.club