The jogscotland 4J Award Winners 2020!

The 4J Studios jogscotland Awards have been awarded for 2020, in a special online awards show hosted by Bryan Burnett – if you missed it, you can watch again here!

In a year unlike any other, there was plenty to celebrate, after many months in which the jogscotland community continued to pull together, and get active, even when they couldn’t be together in person. We’re delighted to confirm that the winners are:

jogscotland Achiever of the Year

Diane Davidson – Jed Joggers
Diane joined Jed Joggers on its first night, initially unsure of her ability – but that soon changed. Running with Ben Smith on his 401 Challenge boosted her confidence so much that she took on Jed Ultra. Since then she has achieved a silver medal in GB Ultra Manchester to Liverpool, completed a 24 hour track event for charity, covering 82 miles, and cross trains for triathlon events.
But she has never forgotten her roots, supports fellow group members, and is working with local schools to encourage young people to get out and running. During lockdown she took on multiple challenges including a virtual Lands End to John O’Groats where she was first female finisher. She is praised as “truly dedicated and inspiring to all”.

jogscotland Jog Leader of the Year

Alan Falconer and Suzanne Mattison – Inverness jogscotland
Alan and Suzanne have always been encouraging and supportive jog leaders, but really excelled during lockdown. Alan set countless challenges to keep members active and enthusiastic, from running bingo to supermarket sweep (running past supermarkets – not clearing out the shelves!). Meanwhile, Suzanne logged every single mile that was run by members in spreadsheets, a huge task as she calculated group totals: They ran more than 25,000 miles – right around the world. Alan and Suzanne’s constant encouragement meant that members not only endured lockdown, but thrived – many improved their running, became more confident at running solo, and explored their home city to a whole new degree.
They have also kept an eye out for anyone who was struggling, offering a listening ear and keeping in touch with members so that nobody felt isolated or alone.

jogscotland Group of the Year

Jiggly Joggers
Jiggly Joggers was founded in 2018 in the East End of Glasgow, to provide an inclusive, non-judgmental group for plus-sized women with little or no running experience. In three years, the group has grown from 10 to 130 members. The majority had not run before but many have now completed their first half marathon.
During lockdown the group held socially-distant relays which raised thousands of pounds for local charities, arranged donations of food parcels to their local food bank, and gave boxes of treats to frontline key workers in local care homes.
Founder Elaine Leitch has received the Glasgow Lord Provost’s special recognition award, and the group has this year been awarded funding from Big Lottery to allow them to expand further.
It is described as life-changing and empowering – not just a jog group, it is a place to meet and connect with other women to find peer support on issues such as social isolation and mental health issues, to gain valuable experience through volunteering, and to grow in confidence and fitness.

SAMH Mental Wellbeing Award

Mums on the Run Inverurie
Mums on the Run Inverurie has always provided support for new mums to return to exercise safely, and that didn’t change during lockdown. The group moved online and took with it a wonderful sense of community spirit, providing structure to dauntingly long weeks, with members sharing both goals and struggles through the times of lockdown.
Weekly online challenges were set, along with virtual social events like bingo and quiz nights. Leader Jess Parson encouraged self-care, engaging with the outdoors and mindfulness. A day-long virtual relay was organised to raise money for a local charity supporting maternal mental health.
More than a running group, it has maternal mental health at the forefront and makes a difference to all the mums who attend, physically, emotionally and socially.