Doctors urge don’t give up on getting fit
GPs are encouraging people to put their best foot forward at parkrun
JANUARY is coming to an end and already many of us will have failed in our quest to become healthier as New Year’s resolutions fall to the wayside. But good health isn’t just to be attempted in January and there are inspiring ways to get fitter, healthier and even meet new people.
Vhi is once more partnering with Parkrun in an effort to get Ireland moving – even for half an hour on a Saturday morning. The health insurer is trying to encourage people to give the 5km event a try whether as a runner, a walker or even as a volunteer.
Whether you participate in parkrun as a walker, jogger, runner or a volunteer, research shows that it can have a positive impact on your health.
A previous survey by parkrun in association with Vhi outlined the mental and physical health benefits that can be gained from parkrun participation.
Key findings included that more than 90% of parkrunners reported a sense of personal achievement and improvements in physical health. And 83% reported improvements to their mental health while 85% found that taking part improved their levels of happiness.
VHI 360 Health Centres have also recently signed up to the ‘parkrun practice’ initiative which was set up by parkrun Ireland in collaboration with the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) to encourage GP practices across Ireland to develop close links with their local parkrun, and encourage patients and carers to take part to help build local communities centred on wellness.
Dr Suzi Clarke, Consultant Sports and Exercise Physician at Vhi 360 Health Clinic at Dublin’s , Carrickmines says of the move: ‘Our mission statement is to help our customers and patients live longer, stronger and healthier lives and exercise is the easiest way of doing that.
‘The physical and mental health benefits of exercising are well known and the ethos of our Vhi 360 health centres is to promote that healthy lifestyle.’
Parkruns take place in over 22 countries across the world and in Ireland around 10,000 people take part every single weekend.
‘If you have a bit of a competitive nature, it is a timed event so you can come down and try and challenge yourself each weekend,’ says Suzi.
‘If you don’t feel like doing that, you don’t have to either. The event is a really positive one and really inclusive and so accessible to everyone.’
Each weekend at various spots around the country there are runners, joggers, walkers, dog walkers, people with prams and more all taking part and walking their nearest 5kms route.
‘At the very end you have the tail walkers so you know you are never going to be the last person and that is a really nice thing around the inclusiveness and accessibility for everyone.
Research has been done in Britain, Australia and South Africa which found that when once people start doing a parkrun they are more likely to continue to participate and they get a feeling of belonging and so it promotes the uptake of more physical activity.
‘It’s free and the sense of wellbeing you get is great. You have more energy, you sleep better, you feel more relaxed and positive and it improves your self esteem and has a positive impact on your physical and mental health,’ says Suzi.
Involvement in this initiative will enable Vhi clinical professionals to promote the mental and physical health benefits of participation and volunteering at these local 5km parkrun events which are in over 100 places across Ireland every Saturday.
Research has found that encouraging participation in events such as parkrun which can have such positive effects on mental and physical health can sometimes help reduce the need for lifelong medication.
‘Around 30 minutes of moderate exercise five times a week is what you need to do to get those health benefits,’ says Suzi, who describes her own parkrun experiences as a ‘walker-jogger’.
‘That doesn’t need to be in a 30minute chunk - it can be in three 10 minute chunks, and then you also need to do two days of strength-based training, working on your flexibility, taking the pressure off your joints and working on your balance too as you get older.’
ASTARTING point, if you want to try getting fitter, would be to walk even part of the course at your own pace. ‘For people who don’t know where to start, I would just start bywalking to be honest,’ says Suzi. ‘If you haven’t done anything in a long time and you have health concerns then I would have a chat with your GP for reassurance and then start by walking. You don’t even have to walk the whole 5kms but there is no better place to start.’
Matt Shields, parkrun Ireland Country Manager says part of the beauty of parkrun is that it is a community and you get support to meet your goals.
‘Whether you start off walking, jogging, running or as one of our incredible volunteers, we’re certain that you will reap the mental and physical health benefits that parkrun has already provided to thousands of people across the country,’ he says.