Home Local News Hundreds get up and running for award-winning Couch to 5k programme

Hundreds get up and running for award-winning Couch to 5k programme

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During the summer, 250 people took part in St Helens Sports Development’s ‘Couch to 5k’ programme, over 60 of whom went on to run a full 5k at the successful St Helens parkrun in Victoria Park

The award-winning St Helens community sport project, which gets people off their couch to completing a full 5k in just 10 weeks, enjoyed another successful turnout for its summer programme, with 250 people registering.

St Helens Sports Development’s ‘Couch to 5k’ programme has seen over 2,500 inactive local people get involved in physical activity by attending weekly sessions on Sutton Leisure Centre’s athletics track where they have slowly built up their fitness over 10 weeks.

Couch to 5k – which was named Community Project of the Year at the Merseyside Sporting Champions Dinner 2016 – costs just £10 for the ten weeks, (33p a session if attended three times a week), and gives participants the option of running a full 5k on the tenth week at the successful St Helens parkrun in Victoria Park.

Councillor Sue Murphy, Portfolio Holder for libraries and leisure, said: “Since the start of the programme in 2015, feedback has been phenomenal, and I am pleased to say most people recording a weight loss, improvements in sleep, mental health, and general fitness”.

Sports Development Officer, Gemma Harkness, added: “There’s no pressure at all because you work at your own pace in a safe and supportive atmosphere where trained staff are on hand to support you throughout the programme and keep you motivated.”

Sessions take place every Monday and Wednesday, 6pm to 7pm, and Saturdays, 9:15am to 10am. The Christmas Couch to 5k has just started and will commence at St Helen’s parkrun on Saturday 9 December. Why not follow their progress and join us in the New Year?

For more information, or to register your interest in the January 2018 course, email gemmaharkness@sthelens.gov.uk

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