It’s 7.30pm on Monday 9th February and it’s snowing. Only lightly but it’s beginning to settle. Nevertheless, half a dozen hardy souls emerge onto Broadfield Road to go on a training run. Some are running the London Marathon in ten weeks time and they can’t afford to miss a session. On a night like this there’s not much about but even so they’re all dressed in bright/florescent gear. Can’t take chances with the traffic.

Their route picks its way through back streets towards Attercliffe. Not very inspiring scenery but on a night like this the inspiration comes from within. They’ll only cover about seven miles tonight but that’s not the point, this has been a battle of wills. The hardest part can seem to be actually stepping outside the front door but on club night, when you know your friends are going to be there too, training is something you look forward to, not dread.

The snow and ice that we experienced in February now seems a long way away. Those who ran the London Marathon and the Sheffield Half Marathon, whose route included an excursion up Ecclesall Road, and both took place on the same day were faced with warm conditions. Not ideal for distance running.

Nether Edge always seems to be full of people out for a run, especially with the lighter summer evenings. Not so easy when the pavements are blocked by parked cars or seemingly continual utilitarian roadworks but once away from the major roads its wide leafy streets form a quiet, pleasant if rarely flat environment. With a short trip to Endcliffe Park you can then run to Buxton with hardly having to step onto a road!

Since September last year, Steel City Striders have been using Heeley Baths as one of their weekly training venues. The club actually has about 200 members but numbers running from Heeley usually range from a dozen to as many as twenty when the weather is good! Routes cater for most types and different groups are sometimes formed according to ability if numbers allow. Even so, no-one is ever left behind.

Steel City Striders Running Club may not have any stars but if you want to run for fitness, train for a race or just be sociable (the curry night is a favourite) then they may suit you.