‘We’re still here’: Catching up with some of our January Couch to 5k Graduates

Steph (centre) recently graduated her Couch to 5k programme with Jiggly Joggers.

With the New Year fitness rush and resolutions a-plenty, it is not surprising that January sees the biggest intake of new members to the jogscotland programme and our many community groups across Scotland.

This makes it a popular time for many of our Jog Groups to run beginners or Couch to 5k programmes,  which sees running gradually introduced alongside walking over a period of 8-12 weeks, culminating in being able to run 5km or for 30 minutes straight.

Three months down the line, we caught up with two runners who have recently graduated their groups’ programmes and shared what made them stick around.

+++

Steph, 26, was looking for a running group in her local area, and came across the Jiggly Joggers.

She had done some cross country running while at high school, but very little since and was looking to start afresh again.

Having done some additional research about the group on social media and seeing they were an all female group, which appealed, she applied and went along to her first session this January.

“When I first turned up everyone was so welcoming and we quickly became very close,

“The reason I love this group is because you can speak about anything and everything without any judgement.”

“The impact the Jiggly Joggers has had on me is massive, before I joined I would never think to go out running on my own let along in a group of strangers,

“It has given me confidence and pushed me to do better for myself, I can’t recommend the group enough.

“Elaine who runs the group is a real superstar and brings all the community together to keep fit!”

+++

Holly, 51, was an original member of the Glasgow Southside Slowies, but moved out of the city for over a year.

When she got back to Glasgow, she had an unfortunate accident in the climbing gym. causing an injury that prevented her from climbing or running for six months.

After getting the go ahead from her physio to start running again, she signed up for the January Couch to 5K programme.

“It was an incredible experience. I met some lovely people, got fresh air twice a week and got back into a nice routine,

“It helped lift me out of the depression caused by immobility and pain from my injury.

“As I continued to show up the pain reduced, and now after having completed the training, I’m completely pain-free and am able to run at my old fitness level again, which means the world to me,

“The Southside Slowies are such an inclusive group. The Jog Leaders give their time so generously and make sure everybody’s OK,

“The social activities we have together, like the celebratory graduation brunch, are so much fun,

“Running can be a life-changing experience, and coming back to running after injury can also be very wonderful.”