The Networks history

The Crediton Running Network, or CRN as it is known by its members, was founded in 2011 after  the sad demise of the Women’s Running Network, a national network of clubs with a base in  Exeter.  The WRN was for women only and had a strong ethos of inclusivity, favouring beginners but also  providing training for some near elite runners.  Crediton had never had a running club apart from the WRN. Many people ran on their own and  those more ambitious runners would have joined Southwest Road Runners in Exeter or other  clubs in the area. When 2011 arrived a decision had to be made on how to proceed. Some of the  WRN members from the Crediton area had been in positions of responsibility in that organisation  so it was a fairly easy transition to establish our own Crediton based club which was to include  men. It was decided that the same philosophy of inclusivity should be established in the newly  named CRN—so named as a sort of homage to WRN and an acknowledgement that it had done  a great deal for many women runners.  The club received backing from MDDC and the Crediton Club and formed a sort of partnership  with the Lords Meadow Leisure Centre where club runs mostly started and finished. Some leaders  had already received LiRF (leader in running fitness) training from the WRN so it was possible to  start leading runs in Crediton. Backing from England Athletics (the governing body in the running  world which also provides insurance) was sought and CRN became an affiliated club. Permission  was granted for the club to use the seal of Crediton and local colours of black and gold or yellow  were chosen. A committee was formed, a constitution was written and we were off! In an opening  ceremony Mayor Frank Letch cut a ribbon and a speech was made by local marathon  phenomenon Ian Webber. The Crediton Courier gave a great deal of publicity to the club’s  establishment.  CRN soon began to recruit members and to run beginners running courses. More people trained  as leaders and a few as coaches. Saturday morning training runs for the half marathon and  marathons were started. Strength, agility and stretching became part of what was on offer, as well  as advice on how to deal with injuries and niggles.   Another aspect of CRN’s early days was the organising of “social runs”. These were typically on a  Saturday or a Sunday and were open to all runners. A small fee was charged which was used to  support a charity and there was cake. There was always cake. These runs often took place away  from Crediton and explored routes out in the wider countryside.   At its height CRN had over 100 members on its books with a fairly impressive retention.  “Satellites” were formed with such organisations as Queen Elizabeth Academy and Ernest  Jackson where runs would take place from their premises. CRN joined InStep Devon, an England  Athletics backed network of running clubs around the Exeter area. It provided leader training  subsidies and help with running events as well as hosting its own events.  In 2009 the WRN started the Crediton Crunch. Memories of the 2008 credit crisis lingered and this  10k (ish) mixed terrain race was a welcome distraction from all of that. The WRN ran it for 2 years  and then in 2012 CRN took it on in conjunction with Ernest Jackson. It became a very  successful and popular race and formed part of the InStep Devon championship. CRN continued  with the Crunch for nearly every year until Covid came along and then it was done as a ”virtual”  race with people running it on their own.  Covid and the resultant restrictions has taken its toll on CRN, now 10 years old, along with many  organisations. It is back up and running and hoping to re-establish itself as the vibrant active club  it has always been.