If you've ever been out walking the dog on a Sunday morning in south Liverpool and found yourself engulfed by a seething fluorescent flash mob of nattering runners, the chances are you've just had your first encounter with the Happy Bus. But what exactly is the Happy Bus? A vehicle? A cult? A state of mind? Allow head conductress Rachel to explain.
How did it start?
Penny Lane Striders have always organised informal long runs on Sundays. In January 2013, we were gearing up for the Four Villages Half-Marathon, when it was cancelled due to dangerous road conditions the day before. Disaster! All that training wasted … so some bright spark suggested meeting at the club and running a half-marathon in club vests anyway. And that’s what we did! I planned a route around the parks, and a gang of us just had a laugh. We found a broken sledge in Allerton Towers, and I had a go – it went like a dream! As we were laughing about it, two runners from another local club ran past. They commented on the fact that we seemed to be having a good time rather than training really hard, and said they would beat us hands down (or words to that effect!) at cross country the following week!
Where it began
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Yes, he really is in shorts and a vest
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What happened next?
The bus really began to gather momentum during training for the Chester Marathon in October 2013. Quite a few of the passengers had previously run one or more marathons, but many were new to marathon running. The Happy Bus enabled us to practise using gels and other fuelling strategies, as well as encouraging each other around longer and longer routes. We saw an awful lot of Otterspool Prom, but when race day came, despite severe nerves all passengers completed the marathon with a smile!
Post-Chester, the bus metamorphosed again. We started to use Otters Café on the prom, which brought the added bonus of a hearty post-run breakfast! We also developed the idea of running loops, which meant that people didn’t have to do the full distance but could still be part of the bus.
Post-Chester, the bus metamorphosed again. We started to use Otters Café on the prom, which brought the added bonus of a hearty post-run breakfast! We also developed the idea of running loops, which meant that people didn’t have to do the full distance but could still be part of the bus.
Maiden voyage
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Going global
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Is it just a Penny Lane Striders thing?
We collect passengers from other clubs, as well as new Striders. We can have up to 30 or so people and several dogs, running at their own pace and enjoying each others’ company. We’ve got a detailed knowledge of where there are toilets open early on Sunday mornings (!) and we have even been known to run anti-clockwise around the parkrun course at Princes Park! We have had some scary moments –occasional trips and slips and some more spectacular falls, but it’s been fantastic. We meet lots of people on our way and whether runners or dog walkers or people just going about their business, we often get a smile and a wave.
Outside HQ
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Another busload
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Where do you go?
We have recently extended the loop idea. A few hardy souls meet even earlier to do some extra miles, then the normal Happy Bus leaves at 8am to run 7 miles followed by a 3 mile section. It is possible to get in 18 or 20 miles this way, and still be finished by 10am with the whole of Sunday ahead.
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