MEMBERS of the newly formed Heathcote Running Club will set off on their inaugural five-kilometre run tomorrow.<\/p>\n
Runners will start with a stretch and warm-up near the toilet block beside Barrack Reserve at 8am and anyone interested is welcome to join them.<\/p>\n
“I came up with the idea after noticing a few posts on local pages expressing an interest in a parkrun,” said organiser Nicky Walker, from At the Bar Fitness & Nutrition.<\/p>\n
“I personally can’t offer up time each Saturday so thought creating a running group and online forum for people of similar abilities to meet up would be a good way to go about it.<\/p>\n
“Within a few days of posting about the running club on my business page, Michelle Chapman from Heathcote Health reached out with the surveys for parkrun.”<\/p>\n
Heathcote Health is sponsoring a Latrobe University Occupational Health student project entitled: Heathcote parkrun Pilot.<\/p>\n
One of the students, Ben Williams, said the running club will be great for Heathcote and fit well with the proposed parkrun.<\/p>\n
“It’s all about improving health and fitness and I am sure many people will support both ventures,” he said.<\/p>\n
As a trainer and gym owner, Ms Walker said she enjoys the mental benefits of being active, alongside the physical fitness.<\/p>\n
“Financially joining a gym may not be achievable for everyone so I love that running or walking is something free for people to get involved in,” she said.<\/p>\n
“At The Bar fitness has put two teams in The O’keefe Challenge in the last two years.<\/p>\n
“The camaraderie coming from these has been one of the best things I’ve experienced, so bringing a fraction of that on a weekly basis seems like a no brainer.<\/p>\n
“We have a team of three at the moment… Justin loves a long-distance run and is training for a marathon, Aaron enjoys interval training with short and sharp runs…<\/p>\n
“I am much more a runner for the mental health benefits and social aspect so a coffee afterwards with friends is what gets me out there.<\/p>\n
“We will be heading to Fodder for coffee, post run, if anyone is keen to come and have a chat as well.”<\/p>\n
Ms Walker said she welcomes more input, and planning committee members.<\/p>\n
“The more community support and engagement we get the more we acknowledge how much this service is appreciated and needed,” she said.<\/p>\n
“Whether people are interested in casual runs, training for events or using each other for accountability and motivation, there will be something for everyone.<\/p>\n
“Getting parkrun up and going is definitely still a goal too.”<\/p>\n
Visit Heathcote Running Club Facebook page for more information.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MEMBERS of the newly formed Heathcote Running Club will set off on their inaugural five-kilometre run tomorrow. Runners will start with a stretch and warm-up near the toilet block beside Barrack Reserve at 8am and anyone interested is welcome to join them. “I came up with the idea after noticing a few posts on local […]<\/p>\n