Happy New You!
So you’ve had the same New Year Resolution for years….to get fitter, to lose weight, to become healthier….. but you don’t want to pay out for an expensive gym membership to join the hundreds of other people battling to get on a treadmill come January.
‘Run In England’ groups are a less expensive, more fun and social alternative and there are local groups starting up in Winchester just for you.
Whether you are a complete beginner or have been running for a little while, there are groups that you can join to help you get fitter whilst having fun and making friends. Since May 2010, ‘Run In England’ groups around the Winchester district have helped many beginners to get fit and improve their running.
England Athletics’ Run in England scheme is launching hundreds of groups across the country aimed at those people that haven’t managed to put their tracksuit and trainers on for many years. Sessions provide everyone with the opportunity to take some regular exercise in a safe, friendly, and non-competitive environment. The groups are run by qualified Run in England Leaders and for an annual membership of £20, all members receive a T shirt, water bottle, training log and quarterly newsletters, plus enjoy discounted prices at local running shops.
Run in England Group Leader, Laura Payne comments:
”It has been really great to see all the members of the group improving their running ability and working towards their individual goals. For some, the objective has been to meet new friends whilst for others it has been to increase the distance they can run and the Run in England groups provide the perfect opportunity to do both!”
Winchester’s running groups will take place on Monday evenings, starting on 17th January from the Winchester Sports Stadium. The Beginners class takes place at 6.15 - 7.15pm and the Improvers class follows at 7.30-8.30pm. Other local Run in England groups do take place and more information can be found at www.winchester.gov.uk/activelifestylesscheme.
Cllr Lucille Thompson, Portfolio Holder for Active Communities comments, “The Run In England Groups are a brilliant way for people who may have stopped exercising for a while to get back into jogging and make new friends at the same time. These groups really are a fantastic opportunity to start the New Year.”
Whatever your running goals are for 2011, Run in England groups are there to help you achieve them. You may be targeting a local race that you want to be a part of, one of the hundreds of Cancer Research UK 5K Race for Life events, a half marathon or full marathon or you may simply want that special feeling of making steady progress after you started out thinking you’d never be able to keep going for more that 30 seconds!
For further details or to book a place on any of the above courses, please contact the Active Lifestyles Office on 01962 848725 or email Lydia Lockhart on llockhart@winchester.gov.uk.