Fun, friendly, local
Nob End Run Club is a social running club based around the beautiful area of Nob End Nature Reserve in Little Lever, Bolton. We run twice a week — Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings — on the track, the roads, the trails and the canal towpaths of Bolton and the Irwell Valley.
We're about turning up, running together and having a laugh. Some of us race marathons and ultras, some of us are on our first ever 5k. Everyone gets the same welcome — and the same pint or coffee afterwards.
Our home patch
Nob End is a Site of Special Scientific Interest where the River Croal meets the River Irwell, next to the Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal and the Prestolee locks. Its lime-rich grassland is famous for orchids and wildflowers — and its paths make for brilliant running.
We draw runners from Little Lever, Farnworth, Kearsley, Radcliffe, Prestolee, Breightmet, Bury and across Bolton.
Jimmy Hark
🏅 Bolton Civic Medal recipient, 2025
Jimmy Hark leads Nob End Run Club. He's a personal trainer and the co-founder of a local gym, and through the club he has created free, welcoming spaces where people of all ages and abilities can get active and make lasting friendships.
Jimmy plans and leads the club's sessions — from structured track nights at Leverhulme Park to social pub runs and Sunday miles — and makes sure every new runner is welcomed, looked after and never left on their own.
Bolton Civic Medal
In December 2025 Jimmy was one of the recipients of the Bolton Civic Medal, the borough's highest civic honour, presented by the Mayor of Bolton. Recipients are chosen from community nominations by an independent panel.
Runners say Jimmy and the club have helped them through some of the hardest times in their lives — rebuilding confidence, supporting their mental health, helping them overcome addiction, and even inspiring new careers in fitness.
Without its people, there is no run club.
The track, the towpath and the pub are just places. What makes Nob End Run Club is the people — the ones who turn up on a cold Wednesday, cheer the last runner in, and bring a mate next week. That's why everyone is welcome, whatever your age, pace or background.
Follow the club
Start points, socials and race plans go up here first.