We all have to start from somewhere, just like Claire our Rural Alliance Social Prescribing Link Worker & now England Athletics qualified Run Leader. Claire hosts multiple Couch to 5k groups across Rural Cheshire that encourages local people to get out, improve their fitness and meet new people. Read below for an introduction to Couch to 5k and its benefits...
What is Couch to 5k?
It's an NHS based running programme for complete beginners, based on running 3 runs per week over 9 weeks. But you can adapt that schedule as you please to suit your abilities and progress.
Our Couch to 5k groups in Rural Cheshire
Our groups run for 10 weeks, just to allow a little more flexibility. Within those groups we have participants of age 18 all the way through to 71, anyone and everyone is welcome to join us.
Stay tuned with The Bubble for more groups starting soon!
What to do if you don't live in Rural Cheshire or you don't have time to attend the groups?
No problem! You can complete the NHS programme via their free app, which you can follow for the 9 weeks. More than 6 million people ran with the app in 2022, so it's super popular and easy to follow.
What are the benefits of running?
The list is endless, here are a few;
- Positive impact on physical health
- Reduce the risk of long term conditions such as Heart Disease/Type 2 Diabetes/Stroke
- Weight Loss
- Improve Mental Health by boosting your mood and releasing endorphins
- Reduce stress and anxiety
- Improve confidence
- Actively improve help by making you more tired by the end of the day
Running alone vs. running with someone else?
- Running alone can give you some time to yourself, and some time to think about any worries you may have and help you to think more clearly.
- Running with others can be like therapy in itself by giving you a chance to talk about your worries with someone else and also listen to theirs.
With the rising cost of living, it can be hard to access exercise equipment without a gym but running requires very little equipment (suitable clothing and footwear, a water bottle and yourself!) and is free of charge with or without the NHS App.
If you'd like to hear more about Claire's running groups, or you're simply interested in the topic of running then please click here to access our podcast library, available to listen on multiple free podcast streaming platforms!
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