We’re a small, friendly running club based at Garforth Leisure Centre, just off Ninelands Lane in Garforth, Leeds. Every Tuesday evening we meet in the leisure centre car park at 7.15pm, ready to head out running at 7.30pm. Most groups cover 5 – 7 miles, with longer options for anyone who fancies stretching their legs a bit more.
New members are always welcome. As a guide, we usually suggest being comfortable running 4 – 5 miles in around an hour. If you’re still building up to that, our annual beginners course (usually starting in April) is a great way to get going.
We’re an England Athletics–affiliated club, which means members get discounts at many races and events. There are often savings with local businesses too, such as Up & Running. Each year we also receive a London Marathon club place, giving members another chance to take part if they miss out in the main ballot.
If you’d like to know more, have a browse around the site, check out our Facebook page or drop us an email.
Our history
Kippax Harriers began back in 1983, when a group of keen runners decided they’d like to train together. The friendly atmosphere has stayed with us ever since, and we’ve grown steadily over the years with plenty of new faces joining.
We keep each other motivated with club competitions, shared goals and plenty of encouragement. There are annual awards, plus a Runner of the Month prize celebrating improved performances, standout achievements or brilliant contributions to club life.
We’re also proud organisers of the hugely popular Leeds Country Way Relay — a 64‑mile, 6‑leg race looping around the countryside surrounding Leeds. We’ve been running it (and running in it) since 1991, and it’s become a real highlight of the local running calendar.
Alongside that, we host our own club social runs, handicap races, and take part in all sorts of events as a club — from PECO Cross Country to 10Ks, half marathons and full marathons.
And the rat on our logo? One of our founder members, Les Kitching (who still runs with us), tells the story. The club originally toyed with “three blind mice, see how they run”, but it didn’t quite stick. Later, we organised a local race called The Rat Race, and the rat became our mascot. The rest is history.
Secretariat and club information
We keep things running smoothly behind the scenes with a dedicated committee and a set of club policies designed to keep everyone safe, supported and informed.
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