Braunton women launches all-female running group

A woman from Braunton has launched a new female running community focused on enjoyment rather than competition. 

Mellissa Hudson, the founder of Happy Feet Runners, created the group to provide a supportive space for women to run together without feeling pressured by race times or pace.

Mellissa, who has openly shared her struggles with mental health, found running to be a lifeline during tough times.

“Running helped me massively,” she explained.

“I ran for myself for a few months before signing up to my first 5km race. I continued to run regularly until I gained the confidence to enter my first half marathon in April 2024. Ultimately, this was by far one of the hardest challenges I have ever faced, but it was extremely rewarding.”

However, as she continued her running journey, she noticed an overwhelming pressure from the online running community to compete with fast times. 

“Often, I would see other runners posting their individual progress online at fast paces that I was unable to compete with. This caused an increasing amount of pressure that I unknowingly applied on myself, which wasn’t what I needed as my goal was to enjoy myself and cross the finish line no matter the time,” she added.

In response, Mellissa decided to form Happy Feet Runners, where women of all ages and abilities can focus on the joy of running rather than their speed.

She said: “We don’t put pressure on ourselves by focusing on the timings and instead, we just focus on the enjoyment that running brings to our community. The aim is to provide a safe and comfortable space where females can enjoy running whether they are a seasoned runner or are just starting out, there is a space for all ages and abilities.”

Happy Feet Runners meets every Saturday morning at different locations around North Devon, offering participants a chance to explore new routes and support local businesses with a post-run treat at a nearby café. 

“Each week, we meet in a different spot, so women from all areas can get involved and enjoy the community spirit,” Mellissa said.

“Our first run is on Saturday, 5 October, meeting in Barnstaple, and I can’t wait to see the group grow.”

Women interested in joining the community can find all the details on their social media pages: Facebook – Happy Feet Runners, Instagram – happyfeetrunnerss.