Learn to Run with the #MileShyClub - Online!

At a time when running clubs are not allowed to meet, some innovative ways to keep runners connected have emerged, from virtual relay races to Sale Superheroes pounding the streets!

Now you can get in on the action with the great news that the #MileShyClub are taking their “Couch to 5k” sessions online. The sessions start next week on the 1st June and are due to run for 8 weeks, taking place on Monday and Wednesday evenings at 6.30pm and Saturday’s at 9am. You can learn to run from the comfort of your own home, being taught appropriate warm ups, tips on technique and cool down stretches.

All sessions will be brought to you by #MileShyClub’s award-winning coach and Personal Trainer, Jane Dennison, and will take place via Facebook Live.

“It’s quite daunting to be delivering the sessions via Facebook Live,” says Jane, “But I am looking forward to the new challenge!”

Following the live broadcast, the sessions will be available to view at any time on the main Facebook page for the #MileShyClub found here.

There is a Q&A session this Saturday morning at 9am.

Sessions are free, but the #MileShyClub are kindly requesting that donations are made the Trafford Crisis Fund via the PayPal link set up by the club.

To contact the club, you can email them at hello@mileshyclub.com.

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Coronavirus won't stop us!

So perhaps we’re being a little optimistic! Clearly, whilst we are in lockdown, we are not running together in groups and all our group sessions have been cancelled until further notice.

But all is not lost! Thanks to a few key members (Gordy, Jane and Bronagh in particular), we have been organising online virtual relay races! Individuals in their teams have been running or walking around their local area for 30 minutes, posting the proof online, then ‘tagging’ in the next person in their team to take over the imaginary baton!

Okay, so we know it sounds rather weird, but actually, it’s been a lot of fun and has oddly brought us all together more - we’ve even met new people! We have been asking participants to contribute a mere £2 (minimum) to take part and so far we’ve raised over £1,000 which has gone to directly benefit charities - the first week funds went to the NHS, the second week Wythenshawe Hospital, the third week The Trussell Trust (foodbank) and this week sees Cyril Flint benefit.

Furthermore, a few of our runners have become caped crusaders and have been running through their neighbourhoods in fancy dress, delighting children and adults alike with their wackiness. It’s pretty warm out there so hats off to those who are wearing the heavier costumes. We’ve been putting up a £20 prize for the person who has the best fancy dress and there have been some great entries!

To take part, just check out the events page on our Facebook page. A direct link to it is here.

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One last thing to mention… whilst we might be apart physically, we are still together. Every day there is an online Zoom chat at 6.30pm which keeps us all connected, especially those of us who might live alone. Want to join in? Simply click on this link at 6.30pm to be connected - https://zoom.us/j/2267995896.

#MileShyClub Urmston expands session offering with additional two sessions!

We are excited to announce new changes to our fabulous Urmston group!

***Monday*** night session - as well as the beginner group and 5k improvers, we now have a 5-10k group! This group is being looked after separately by the lovely Dennis and Ian who are keen to support those runners (and we know there will be more!) who want to challenge themselves that bit further. Perfect for those wanting to run a 10k.

A new ***Wednesday*** night session!!! - it's true! Starting in March (4th), there will now be a new Wednesday evening session at 6.30pm, outside the Bird I'th Hand pub! Same place, same time, different day! This is an additional beginner and 5k improver session for those of you wanting to start running for the first time, or wanting to work to beat that 5k time.

All sessions are £2 pay-as-you-go, with qualified coaches teaching you the safest warm ups, correct technique, a variety of training plans and correct cool down stretches - all leading to = success.

All of this WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE without the support of our WONDERFUL volunteer coaches who are working together to make the Urmston group a very special place to be. Big shout out to Janette, Ian, Natalie, Pam, Dennis, Jane and Clare who are all committed to making you the best runner you can be. (And Ann who brings cake every so often!) Kudos!

Learning how to Be Mindful with the #MileShyClub

BE MINDFUL

Our first mental health event for 2020 falls under the theme of mindfulness. Do you get caught up by memories of the past and what happened, or do you fret about the future and where life is leading?

Mindfulness is a practice of appreciating the present moment. Many runners notice the finer detail of the every day - whether it's blossoming buds on a tree after a freezing winter, or the delight of spotting a heron in a local park, taking time out for yourself to reflect is crucial whether you're a runner or not.

As part of trying to be more mindful, the lovely Sophie from Red Sky Yoga will be leading a mindful and meditation session for us on the 21st April at 7.30pm at a venue in Sale (to be confirmed). We will be charging an optional donation of £3 to attend - all donations will go to MIND.

To find out more, check out our Facebook group page here https://www.facebook.com/groups/mileshyclub/ where details of the event will be posted.

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The #MileShyClub receives funding from the Postcode Community Trust

Thanks to players from the People’s Postcode Lottery, we are delighted to announce that we have received funding from the Trust to further the work of our mental health team. The much needed funds will enable us to train our coaches and interested #MileShy members in the MHFA Mental First Aid course. This is a very important qualification for us as it provides us with the skills and experience to help as many people as possible. We will soon be announcing dates for the MHFA 2-day training… watch this space for all the details!

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Bumper attendance across all #MileShyClub sessions - welcome to the Club!

Welcome 2020! What a fantastic start to the New Year! Our GP scheme saw over 150 turn up to the Saturday sessions… we had to create another session to accommodate the large numbers! Numbers in Urmston doubled - something must have been in the water - as nearly 60 turned up for the first session of 2020! Lovely to see so many new faces at our Sale session, as always, and Old Trafford gave us a surprise with new recruits! We can’t wait to get all these newbies through the Couch to 5k plan and into running 5k for the first time. Our club is proof that this programme works!

Doctors prescribe award-winning running coach for 2020

Doctors in Sale are teaming up with an award-winner running coach to encourage people to be more active in 2020.

Jane Dennison, 38, who runs the MileShyClub – a not-for-profit organisation which provides coaching to runners aged between 17 and 65 every week – is backing the NHS Couch to 5k programme. This helps beginners to gradually work up towards running 5k in just 9 weeks.

The programme is now being brought to patients registered with GP practices in Sale at the start of 2020.

Dr Yvonne Burke, Associate Clinical Director at NHS Trafford Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “I often come across patients who believe that exercise is not for them, but it is so important for both mental and physical health. If exercise were a pill we would all take it.

“Many patients from across Trafford surgeries are already involved in the ‘Walking for Health’ scheme we started a few years ago which is run and led by our fantastic volunteers. So we thought it would be exciting to take it that one step further and offer this beginner running course.”

Dr Burke, who is also GP at Boundary House Medical Centre in Sale, added: “Hopefully, it will help people who want to try running to get going and also introduce them to our fantastic running routes in Trafford, and our local Parkruns in Stretford and Sale Water Park.”

Jane, who lives in Sale, has raised thousands of pounds for charity and was made Coach of the Year award at both Greater Manchester and Trafford’s Sporting Awards in 2018.

She said: “I appreciate that trying anything new for the first time can be daunting, and I often hear of failed attempts to give running a try. Through my work with the MileShyClub, a beginner running club, I have coached hundreds of people into running 5k for the first time.

“All participants need to do is complete the registration form, turn up in trainers and with a bottle of water. Preferably with a smile!”

The Couch to 5k course is aimed at those who are new to running, or trying to get back into it following injury or illness. The course will run weekly from Sale Leisure Centre on Saturday mornings at 9am, starting on 11 January.

There is a planned celebratory Parkrun at the end of the course for everyone. There is also a question and answer session on Saturday 4 January from 9-10am at Sale Leisure Centre for those who wish to find out more.

To sign up to take part, please complete a registration form at: www.mileshyclub.com/par-q.

NHS Trafford CCG is also teaming up with Trafford Council in January to promote the importance of health and wellbeing to staff in both organisations – both large employers in the borough.