The programme is aimed at bringing people together to train with others of similar ability.

The features of the programme are:

A reasonable level of physical fitness is essential to good health, and good health is something we all desire. Developing and maintaining physical fitness is a challenge for most of us. One of the most natural and effective ways to achieve this is through walking and running. Everybody can walk and run. You can start at any age, no previous experience required and you can choose a pace to your level of fitness.

The Fit4Life programme is suitable for beginners through to regular runners. The emphasis is on meeting with people of a similar ability on a regular basis. You will be under the guidance of a qualified Fit4Life leader. Those leaders will set out a schedule suitable for your needs. The training nights will feature group runs, with each group composed of people with similar fitness levels. These groups will range in ability from complete beginners up to regular runners and they will each train at their appropriate level and abilities.

Pictured in the McWilliam Park Hotel in Claremorris at the Fit 4 Life Launch in Mayo. Mayo Athletic Club Brendan Conwell, David Huane, Mary Gleeson, Padraic Killina, Anne Ronayne, Mayo Sports Partnership, Michael McGrath, PJ Hall. Photo © studio 094.

It should be pointed out that you can be an absolute beginner and you don’t have to be too fit to join the group in your area. The ideas is to start off slowly at your level in a very enjoyable and social way and build on your fitness slowly and at your own pace and level.

This programme is working throughout Ireland and has already had wonderful success in the West. Galway for example has been a real success with hundreds of new people meeting up a few times per week to ‘meet n train’. Friendships have been forged and the health benefits are enormous. The programme’s real success is that it gives people exactly what they want………

Athletics Ireland has developed this programme called Fit4Life which is aimed at people who would like to run and walk on a regular basis. The Fit4Life programme is organized by athletic clubs throughout the country and it is open to people of all ages, fitness levels

The Fit4Life programme is a national programme and is organized through the network of athletic clubs throughout Ireland. The clubs have qualified coaches to guide participants and provide advice. The Fit4Life programme will take place at specific times in each club and everybody taking part will begin together and reconvene again at the end. The club will provide participants with items such as safety vests for night runs, gloves and running diaries. All participants will be registered with Athletics Ireland and thus are fully insured.

Pictured in the McWilliam Park Hotel in Claremorris at the Fit 4 Life Launch in Mayo. New Members: John Timothy, Elizabeth Murphy, Michelle Reynolds, Veronica, Denise Healy, Jim Donnelly, Photo © studio 094.

Mayo Sports Partnership’s Community Sports Development Project Worker Anne Ronayne has been fully behind this ‘meet n train’ initiative and has been working on the co-ordination and development of ‘meet n train’ groups in the county alongside some of the clubs in Mayo for some time now.

"I think this idea of ‘meet n train’ makes a lot of sense. It can be difficult to be enthusiastic sometimes about exercising on your own especially in the evenings after working all day. When you have a specific time and place to ‘meet n train’ it makes getting fitter so much easier. You know you have to be there and the programme is absolutely designed for you because it gives you exactly what you want. If you want to walk that is great, maybe you prefer to jog or maybe you are more serious about your running, if so then this programme will suit everyone, women or men at any level.

 

This programme has proved a wonderful success in other counties, especially Galway where there are now hundreds of new ‘Fit4Lifers’ meeting up and having great fun in the process. I think we all recognize the importance of some form of exercise built into our week and this ‘meet and train’ is the perfect option for you.

Here is an opportunity for other communities too to start their own ‘meet n train’ groups. It is such a simple concept and costs relatively nothing. It is an ideal chance now more than any time to build exercise into your day, with all the talk of doom and gloom there is nothing like a walk or jog to keep your body and mind in great shape and make new friends in the process. I encourage everyone to give this a try. I think for too long athletic clubs have been looked on as a place only for the very competitive runner. This is changing and clubs are experiencing rejuvenation. Athletic clubs in Mayo have recognized this and I really applaud and congratulate them for getting behind this fantastic ‘Fit4Life’ programme.

My advice is to go along to Claremorris, Ballina or Swinford whichever area is best suited to you and enjoy yourself!!!!!"

 

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Mayo Sports Partnership

www.mayosports.ie or 094-9047025