A running club from Harpenden is celebrating its 10th anniversary but is already turning its eyes to the future.

Herts Advertiser: Members of Harpenden Arrows Running Club, including Colin Wareham (white shirt) and new chair Graham Harper (check shirt), cut the cake at their 10th anniversary BBQ.Members of Harpenden Arrows Running Club, including Colin Wareham (white shirt) and new chair Graham Harper (check shirt), cut the cake at their 10th anniversary BBQ. (Image: Archant)

Harpenden Arrows came into existence as a way of bringing like-minded athletes from the town together.

Ten of those 50 founding members still remain in the club and the chairman for the opening 10 years, Colin Wareham, is thrilled at the direction the club has gone in during its formative years.

He said: “There were enthusiastic runners, but the nearest clubs were at St Albans, Luton, Hemel and Welwyn Garden City.

“From a standing start and with no experience in running or setting up a club, I am thrilled that it has grown to where we are today and delighted with all the achievements the members have accomplished.”

Part of the ethos was to be a fun and social club that is accessible to everyone, whether they were doing their first first few miles or running a marathon.

And from those early beginnings the club has seen a total of 484 people come through the doors, and currently have around 200 on their books.

Some of those have enjoyed great success.

The club were the winners of the Run Herts Division Three Midweek Road Race League for 2017, with both mens’ and women’s individual winners Paul Goodwin and Laura Hicks.

They also had 25 compete in the Virgin London Marathon while Andy Jordan clocked up 137.5 miles to finish fourth in the open category at the Belfast 24-hour Ultra Endurance Event.

Being part of the community is also a big part of the Arrows.

Wareham said: “We like to support local initiatives where possible, such as helping with the Herts 10k for the Rennie Grove Hospice Care, arranging the one and five-mile running events for the YWAM Harpenden summer fare, and our own 5k invitational event for local running clubs.”

Harpenden Arrows club nights are on Tuesdays and Thursdays every week at 7:30pm in the sports hall at St George’s School in Sun Lane and everyone is welcome.

The membership has ages ranging from U20 right through to over 70, with all the current over-70s members still running marathons.