If running has become part of your lockdown life, join a club
“The miracle isn’t that I finished,” quipped John Bingham, an American marathon runner and author. “The miracle is that that I had the courage to start.”
One thing I have noticed during these weeks of lockdown in Stirling, it is the huge number of people out pounding the pavements and utilising their coveted daily opportunity for getting out for a run.
I am sure some have begun to recognise how time effective and cost effective running is for keeping fit. Trainers on, out the door and away you go with the wind in your face and the sun on your back.
Most will be aware of the unparalleled physical health benefits associated with this ancient pastime, and as we stress our muscles, our lungs, and our heart, they all strengthen during the recovery period after the run. During more recent years, the mental health benefits associated through running are now being increasingly highlighted by charities like the Scottish Association of Mental Health (SAMH), with mental health being a particularly important consideration at the present time of lockdown as we try to adjust to reduced social interaction.
So maybe you, or someone you know, has embraced running during this period of lockdown, and maybe you have even been enjoying it. If so, you may wish to consider keeping the momentum going, and consider getting involved in a local athletic club like Central AC when lockdown concludes.
As an active member of Central during these past 20 years, I have had the pleasure of training with other people in my community, and in so doing, enjoying the social interaction, the positive health benefits, and the camaraderie of the group as we train and compete together. Our philosophy, regardless of age and ability, is to encourage and support our members to achieve their goals, under the tutelage of our motivational, our knowledgeable, and our friendly, qualified coaches.
At our training base at Stirling
University we have runners in their teenage years training alongside runners well into their sixties, making for a unique training environment, with all standards accommodated.
The club offers free initial four-week trial memberships and this is a great opportunity for those looking to continue their new-found love of running, once we bid farewell to lockdown. Find out more at www.centralathletics.co.uk.
MichaelWright Cenral AC secretary Stirling Marathon winner 2018 and 2019
• We want to hear from your club – no matter the sport. Send us details and a photo and we’ll feature you in a future edition. Email news@stirlingobserver.co.uk