Support works best when it matches the difficulty. A friend, group, coach and health professional can each help in different ways. One person does not need to fill every role.

Start with the question

Practical support might mean company, transport, shared care, help finding a route or someone knowing when you expect to return. A friend or family member may be the right person.

Social support might mean walking with others, joining a local group or having someone who understands why the outing matters. Ask about pace, walking, accessibility and the group’s usual expectations before attending.

Training support might mean understanding a goal, planning sessions or reviewing how training fits. A coach may help, but their approach, experience and qualifications need to suit your needs. A public profile is an introduction, not a guarantee. Ask direct questions about scope, communication, fees and experience with people in circumstances like yours.

Health support is appropriate for pain, injury, illness, persistent symptoms, suitability concerns, rehabilitation, nutrition problems or distress. Depending on the question, that may be a GP, physiotherapist, accredited exercise physiologist, Accredited Sports Dietitian or another registered professional. A coach or friend should not diagnose or treat outside their scope.

Find people through RGN

Active members can use Explore to look for public runners, walkers and people who describe coaching services. A Run Card shows what a person has chosen to publish. You can follow a person or form a friendship for the access each person chooses. Ask directly about the practical support or connection you need.

Your Training notes and Pathway reading progress remain private by default. If you choose to share something in Journey, check its audience and include only the detail needed.

Ask one useful question

Instead of “Can you help me run?”, try “Would you walk this route with me on Saturday?”, “Does your group welcome planned walking breaks?”, or “What qualifications and experience do you have with returning after injury?” Specific questions make fit easier to judge.

Your next step: write the difficulty in one sentence, decide whether it is practical, social, training-related or health-related, and contact one suitable person or service.