Sharon Ball

As some one who has returned to the gym to get fit after many years of not taking regular physical exercise I am keen to promote this new initiative from Bath & North East Somerset Council.

 Women and girls who would like to improve their fitness are being invited to take part in the next “Running with the Girls” course, organised by Bath & North East Somerset Council.

 The Council’s Sport & Active Leisure team is offering the perfect way to improve health and fitness with more beginners’ running courses for females who have done no previous, or very little, running. 

 The courses are led by qualified running coaches who can guide groups of beginners through from low levels of fitness and lack of running experience to five kilometres (three miles), of gentle jogging.  The leaders also offer advice around suitable footwear and clothing, and running technique, alongside promoting a safe and social environment with an element of fun at each session.

 This autumn’s courses will be offered in the Bath, Paulton and Keynsham areas, starting in the first week of September.  They will last for eight weeks, starting with an information session, followed by seven active running sessions.  Each course costs £30 per person and must be booked in advance by contacting Sport & Active Leisure on 01225 396429 or emailing getactive@bathnes.gov.uk.  Booking is essential for the information sessions which launch the courses in Bath at Odd Down Playing Fields on Monday, 1 September; Keynsham on Wednesday, 3 September, at Keynsham Leisure Centre; and Paulton on Thursday, 4 September at the Village Hall.

Sport & Active Leisure will also be offering ‘Kick Start’ courses to those wishing to improve their running distance from five Kilometres to 10 Kilometres (around six miles) from November. 

 I will certainly be joining the Half marathon training courses that will begin in the New Year as I hope that by then I will be fit enough to meet the minimum  requirement for  women to be able to complete six miles upon entry, before building up to the half marathon distance of 13.1 miles.

 I encourage all ladies if possible to come and join us.