Instinctive Sports

In 2009 Instinctive Sports celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary, with members past and present dancing the night away at a formal ball held at Boringdon Hall. 

The club moved to its present location at the College of St Mark and St John (Marjons) in 2004 to take advantage of the various sport related facilities and the proximity to the moors.

The club was formed by a group of like minded individuals who were interested in keeping fit, and so they started meeting, on an informal regular basis.  The emphasis started in the beginning, and which continues today, is on enjoyment, group participation and encouraging people to become involved in running and physical exercise.

Currently the club has just under 100 members, an even mix of male and female runners of all abilities, beginners just starting out to the more experienced and well travelled, and all ages, from 18 all the way up to 80.

A lot of our members started out with very little or no running experience and, with the motivation and encouragement of training with others, have developed into mature competitors in local and national events.

Our main training night is on Tuesdays throughout the year, meeting at 7 o’clock in Room 310 of the Marjons main building.  From here we have easy access to the Plym Valley path and Roborough Down.  Members also meet up on a Sunday morning, at a venue announced on the preceding Tuesday, for what is usually a longer run for those interested in building up their mileage.  Specialised training takes place on Friday evenings in preparation for the London Marathon, and even when this event has finished, during the summer months, there is a regular Thursday evening ‘fun run’ at various locations, always starting and finishing at a local hostelry.

Our members participate at all levels, in all types of event from the Saltram 5km through the Plymouth ½ Marathon up to the 32 mile Dartmoor Discovery and as far  a field as Dublin, London, Jersey and Cyprus.  We regularly arrange group trips, including an annual outing to the London Marathon for runners, family and supporters.

Our club race is the Plym Valley Challenge, a new race introduced into the running calendar in 2009.  It is a multi-terrain event held in June, comprising of 10-ish miles through the National Trust area of Plymbridge woods.  Proceeds from this event are donated to the National Trust and to our designated charity, St Luke’s Hospice at Turnchapel.  In turn, the charity invites the club to take a leading part in the Light Up A Life celebrations each December.

If you would like to try us out, please contact Dave or Steve, or come along on a Tuesday evening, we will always make you feel welcome – go on be INSTINCTIVE!

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