Back in October, on a cold, dark, Friday evening, just over 30 local residents joined members of North Bristol Running Group (NBRG) to begin their journey to become runners.
Week by week, working in small groups, supported and encouraged by a team of experienced runners, the group increased their fitness and stamina. This was achieved by following a routine of walking and jogging for set periods of time, e.g. one-minute walk, two-minute jog for a total period of twenty minutes. Each week, the group were able to increase the amount of time spent jogging and the distance covered.
Sheila Wilcox, one of the run leaders for NBRG, explained:
“It’s about the fifth week of the course when the magic happens. We see people who struggled to jog for one minute in the first week now able to continue jogging for ten minutes at a time and covering the full 5 km distance, it can get emotional.”
Sheila also described how this year’s group worked hard to succeed, not only training on a Friday evening but also once or twice during each week, adapting their busy schedules to accommodate walk/jog sessions.
On Saturday 8th December, the ‘Couch to 5k’ crew met at The Ridings, Chipping Sodbury to participate in parkrun – a free, weekly, timed 5km run. This event marked the end of the eight week course, and their graduation as runners. They were awarded a medal and celebrated with a sip of well-earned Bucks Fizz!
It’s hoped that the graduates will continue with their new activity of running by continuing to attend the weekly runs that NBRG offer. Another ‘Couch to 5k’ course will be offered by NBRG in the autumn of 2019.
Photo: ‘Couch to 5k’ graduates and NBRG members at Chipping Sodbury parkrun.
• More info: ‘North Bristol Running Group’ on Facebook
This article originally appeared in the January 2019 issue of the Bradley Stoke Journal magazine (on page 25). The magazine is delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH (except August), to ALL 8,700 homes in Bradley Stoke. Phone 01454 300 400 to enquire about advertising or leaflet insertion.