Group running. Image Credit: Brian Talbot https://www.flickr.com/photos/b-tal/3419761761

A newly launched ‘walk/run’ initiative is encouraging Salford residents to get fit and help newcomers transition from walking to running.

The scheme that started two weeks ago, offers a free week-by-week group that is designed to build the fitness and confidence levels of new runners, with the main intention of the group to increase the running time each week of the participants.

Organisers of the initiative, Walkden Jolly Joggers, have seen a great reception from the community and wants to encourage more people to get involved to talk and socialise with their runs.

Group leader of Walkden Jolly Joggers, Helen Walstow, 43,  said: “So ​the ​walk ​runs ​are ​basically ​a ​version ​of ​a ​’Couch ​to ​5k’ ​but it ​keeps ​more ​walking ​in.

“We ​slowly ​build up. We started on sixty seconds but this week it is a ninety second run. ​So ​we ​do ​a ​three ​minute ​walk, ninety second run and repeat until we’ve done 5k then next week we will do a two minute run.”

She continued: “You’ll ​see ​a ​lot ​of ​people ​going ​to ​​’Couch ​to ​5k’ ​and ​by ​week ​five, ​week ​six, there’s ​no ​walking.

“You ​know, a ​lot ​of ​people ​who ​join ​them will ​end ​up ​struggling ​and ​they’ll ​end ​up ​not ​going ​back.”

Helen set up the Walkden Jolly Joggers feeling there was a lack of accessible and free running clubs in the area.

She said: “I ​came ​over ​here from ​Yorkshire ​and ​I ​couldn’t ​find ​a ​local ​running ​group. ​I ​was ​travelling ​to ​ones ​that ​are ​about ​40, 50 ​minutes away.”

The distance between the local running groups were causing her an issue, so Helen decided to make her own group.

She said: I’ve ​been ​a ​run ​leader ​for ​five ​years and ​I ​had ​a ​running ​group ​for ​quite ​a ​long ​time ​so I’m ​just ​going ​to ​build ​my ​own.

“I ​wanted ​to ​kind ​of ​base ​it ​off ​what ​I ​had ​before because ​that ​was ​free. I ​found ​a ​lot ​around ​here ​charged and I ​want ​things ​to ​be ​free.”

Although improving people’s health and fitness is a key aspect of the scheme, Helen wanted to encourage the social aspects of the group and how it can help with mental health, as she said: “I’m ​all ​about ​coming ​and ​having ​a ​laugh more ​than ​the ​running ​or the walking side. ​

“To ​me, ​that’s ​very ​important,” she said.

“​I’ve ​worked ​in ​mental ​health for ​years and ​to ​be ​able to ​go ​out ​and ​talk helps.

“Itmight ​be ​the ​only ​person ​they ​talk ​to ​that ​week or they might ​have ​stuff ​at ​home that they ​are ​able ​to ​get ​off ​the ​chest.”

Meeting place of Walkden Jolly Joggers walk/run group, Boatshed Fishing Lake, opposite Nando's
Meeting place of Walkden Jolly Joggers walk/run group, Boatshed Fishing Lake, opposite Nando’s

Walkden Jolly Joggers have also received backing from Salford’s Health Improvement Service, with the extra funding allowing the run-club to offer more to the community.

This week is the last week newcomers can join with the group meeting at Boatshed Fishing Lake at Ellesmere Shopping Centre, Walkden, every Friday at 5.45pm.

Register for the walk/run group here: https://groups.runtogether.co.uk/WalkdenJollyJoggers/Runs

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