Athletic club kicks off ‘Couch to 5k’ programme

FRESH from the huge success that was the running of the Charleville International Half-Marathon, which attracted in excess of 1,000 runners a week ago and the phenomenal success of teenager club member Noelle Lenihan at the Paralympics Rio, North Cork Athletic Club is once again starting a ‘Couch to 5k’ Programme – which began on Monday evening Ballysally Business Park on Charleville’s Railway Road.

The programme is for everyone who wants to either start or get back running after a lay-off. Even if you can only walk a couple of miles at the moment - this programme will help in preparation to getting fit in a very simple way - it won’t be easy, but it will be worthwhile.

There was a large number of members present in Milford on last Wednesday night to welcome their club mate Noelle Lenihan home from Rio with her Paralympic bronze medal.

Earlier in the day Noelle returned with the Irish team to a huge welcome at Dublin Airport. She also got a fantastic welcome at her school in Hazelwood College just over the Limerick border in Dromcollogher, where the pupils afforded her a guard of honour from the school gate to the actual building.

The Milford teenager resumed her scholarly duties in preparation for her Leaving Certificate on Monday, which she will sit next June.

Meanwhile, the club’s Juvenile training sessions continue at Doneraile Park in preparation for the first cross country event, which is on Sunday, October 2. These training sessions will be useful to see what level of fitness the athletes have at the start of the new season.

If they haven’t already done so athletes are requested to give their names to either Michael, John or the club registrar Colin Ruane will be there to record them.