Run club in full stride

Started in 2024 by local professional triathlon coach Sarah Mulkearns, the club has built a dedicated base of junior and senior runners across several weekly sessions.

“We do multiple runs every week, social runs on the weekend and get involved in lots of events,” Mulkearns said.

“We've got Sweat versus Steam coming up that we'll have lots of participants in.

“We have runners that do all kinds of different runs from 5K right up to marathon and ultras so it’s a really great community that we’ve developed there.”

The club’s regular weekly schedule includes two junior sessions on a Monday, the first for kids aged six to 11 from 3.45pm and the second for those 11-plus from 4.45pm.

For adults, runners can get an early start or a late one, or both, with a Wednesday session at 5.50am and a Thursday one at 5.30pm.

These sessions are interval- and fartlek-based, catering to any ability level.

All four sessions are held at the Echuca Primary School Oval.

“Someone could be running 4km pace and someone else could be run-walking at a 7km pace, but then after certain intervals we’ll always come back together for drinks and high fives so that they’re still supporting each other, but running at their own pace, their own level and ability,” Mulkearns said.

The first week of sessions is free, with a cost of $10 per session afterwards, or a discounted rate of 12 for $100.

There is also a weekly free social run on Sundays, with time, location and distance all changing week to week, as announced on the club’s Facebook page.

Outside the physical benefits, Mulkearns said the social aspect was also a great reason to get involved.

“People say that they’ve formed friendships from the run club,” she said.

“It’s all part of it to have a community of people who are interested in similar things come together and be able to share that experience together and now have friends that they didn’t have before.”

To get involved or find out more, visit the Echuca Moama Run Club Facebook Page.