Doctors in Sale are teaming up with an award-winner running coach to encourage people to be more active in 2020.
Jane Dennison, 38, who runs the MileShyClub – a not-for-profit organisation which provides coaching to runners aged between 17 and 65 every week – is backing the NHS Couch to 5k programme. This helps beginners to gradually work up towards running 5k in just 9 weeks.
The programme is now being brought to patients registered with GP practices in Sale at the start of 2020.
Dr Yvonne Burke, Associate Clinical Director at NHS Trafford Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “I often come across patients who believe that exercise is not for them, but it is so important for both mental and physical health. If exercise were a pill we would all take it.
“Many patients from across Trafford surgeries are already involved in the ‘Walking for Health’ scheme we started a few years ago which is run and led by our fantastic volunteers. So we thought it would be exciting to take it that one step further and offer this beginner running course.”
Dr Burke, who is also GP at Boundary House Medical Centre in Sale, added: “Hopefully, it will help people who want to try running to get going and also introduce them to our fantastic running routes in Trafford, and our local Parkruns in Stretford and Sale Water Park.”
Jane, who lives in Sale, has raised thousands of pounds for charity and was made Coach of the Year award at both Greater Manchester and Trafford’s Sporting Awards in 2018.
She said: “I appreciate that trying anything new for the first time can be daunting, and I often hear of failed attempts to give running a try. Through my work with the MileShyClub, a beginner running club, I have coached hundreds of people into running 5k for the first time.
“All participants need to do is complete the registration form, turn up in trainers and with a bottle of water. Preferably with a smile!”
The Couch to 5k course is aimed at those who are new to running, or trying to get back into it following injury or illness. The course will run weekly from Sale Leisure Centre on Saturday mornings at 9am, starting on 11 January.
There is a planned celebratory Parkrun at the end of the course for everyone. There is also a question and answer session on Saturday 4 January from 9-10am at Sale Leisure Centre for those who wish to find out more.
To sign up to take part, please complete a registration form at: www.mileshyclub.com/par-q.
NHS Trafford CCG is also teaming up with Trafford Council in January to promote the importance of health and wellbeing to staff in both organisations – both large employers in the borough.
