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People setting off at the final night of the Couch To 5k Run back in March 2019. Photo by Dermot Crean
By Tom Dillon, PRO, Born to Run
If you are looking for a way to put your best foot forward this New Year in terms of fitness, getting active and making new friends, then the Tralee Born to Run Couch-to-5k is just for you.
The hugely popular training programme that transforms people with no running experience into fully-fledged 5k runners is back.
“The Born to Run Couch-to-5k is for the person who has none or literally no running experience, literally straight off the couch,” said Ann O’Shea, who will be one of the mentors leading the programme.
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“It starts off with a gentle one-minute jog, then you walk for two minutes, then run again for another minute and so on. The time running gradually increases each week and by the end of the eight weeks you will be able to run 5k at your own pace without stopping.
“Along with getting active, it’s a great way to get eating healthy, make new friends and spend a half-hour dedicated to yourself so come down, give it a chance!” said Ann.
Friends Kathleen Curtin and Mary Holly, who graduated from last year’s couch-to-5k, said they couldn’t recommend it highly enough.
“I heard about the Born to Run Couch-to-5k so I said I’d go along,” said Kathleen, who had very little experience of running when she signed up last January. “Running the 5k without stopping was a huge achievement for me. The best thing is the friends you meet out running, they are just amazing people and I’d encourage everyone to sign up.”
When Kathleen turned up on the first night of training last January with Mary Holly and another friend, Hilda Jones, it was the start of a memorable year for them.
“Myself, Kathleen and Hilda went down the first night,” said Mary, “everybody made us so welcome, it was unbelievable. I love Born to Run.”
Recalling her best running memory, Mary added: “The day we took part in the Born to Run 40 mile relay in July, the three of us – we got wet, we got sunburned but we had a great day and I could not believe I had run 8 miles after starting from nothing in January.”
While everyone will have their own personal goals, and each runner will take their own enjoyment from running, the first step forward for the new recruits begins next Tuesday, January 14th, at 6.30pm at the Aqua Dome car park.
Training will run every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evening at the same time over the following eight weeks, with sessions lasting roughly 30 minutes.
The Born to Run Couch-to-5k programme is free but people are asked to register at www.active.com.
Participants must be over 18 and for safety reasons, must wear a high-vis vest. More information, including the link to register, is available from the Born to Run Tralee Marathon Club facebook page or www.borntorun.ie.
