Fit4Life is proving to be a runaway success with the participating athletics club boasting impressive turnouts as the leagues approach mid way. The Fit 4 life project is aimed at providing opportunities to people who wish to develop a healthier lifestyle through running and in the process enjoy themselves, make new friends and achieve personal goals. The project started in September and at present we have 13 Fit4Life running leagues around the country up and running, with over 500 registered members on the first full week of action. The leagues are seen as a benefit to clubs by providing an access point for the recreational runners and have provided a substantial increase in senior members registering with the organising athletics clubs. In Wicklow, Sli Cualainn benefited by over 50 new club members within the first 3 weeks of the project. They have averaged around 90 runners in each of their races and will be having their presentation event in the first week in December which will conclude their series. Over in Kilkenny the joint project between Kilkenny City Harriers AC and Kilkenny Recreation and Sports Partnership is held every Saturday morning, with a course catering for all abilities. Among the participants, women are outnumbering the men by about 3 to 1. As the league moved towards the halfway stage there was a further influx of participants, bringing the total involved to date to well over 50. To enhance the social and competitiveness aspect of the league the organisers introduced a team format. The introduction of the team format proved to be everything the league hoped with numbers topping 70. The message in Kilkenny is quite simple ‘Get out, get moving, get fit’ University College Cork is now into its second week of the leagues with numbers at present topping 40. The leagues, on a Wednesday night at Mardyke Arena, are proving popular with both men and women and an age range from 18yrs to 60yrs taking part. The excellent social aspect of the leagues are shown in their full capacity in Cork with all competitors welcome to post race refreshments and get to mingle with their fellow fit4lifers. Three further events are planned before Christmas and the Organisers are anticipating more success and enthusiasm from all with Spot prizes in each race along the way and on conclusion of the league, prizes will be awarded in various categories. Raheny got running on the 11th October with impressive turnouts on the first and second night. In Raheny the clubs numbers have been boosted by the numbers participating. On a wicked Wednesday the club were astounded by the commitment of their members when on a very wet night the league went ahead as strong as ever proving that in rain or shine you can get out and run. Dunboyne are into their second week of Fit4life. The runners are a blend of experienced runners and people out to achieve their goals. The scenic route runs around the Dunboyne Castle Walls. The great community atmosphere is present within the league organised by Dunboyne with impressive turnouts and rival athletics clubs happy to send volunteers to help with the organisation proves that everyone in the athletics community is embracing the concept of the series. Rathfarnham AC got their Fit4Life off to a successful start on Tuesday October 10th. The league held at the clubhouse, down to the Dodder and back into the village are run on a Tuesday night with 52 registered members so far. Paul Fleming of Rathfarnham commented that "the runners all enjoyed themselves and word is beginning to spread, we can see this being a runaway success." Limerick’s Fit4life league held in the grounds at the University of Limerick got off to a scary start on Halloween. Despite the counter attraction of trick or treating for Halloween, 40 runners took part over the 4km course on the campus. Participants ranged from the serious runner to those who just wanted to walk or jog with company and enjoy themselves and get a little fitter. The series continues in the University every Tuesday for the next 5 weeks at 6.45pm. Crusaders are well into their 4th week of the league and got off to a solid opening evening with over 35 attending from all walks of life from experience to novice participants, the Dublin based club continue there dedicated approach by trying to include the support of local recreational running groups and the vast Dublin city community who generally spend their lives in traffic. North Donegal started two weeks ago and has 4 different bases, Letterkenny, Donegal Town, Bundoran and Stranorlar/Finn Valley. This league has proved to be an overwhelming success with the Letterkenny race running in conjunction with Grace Boyle, Cancer Awareness, attracted an unprecedented crowd of walkers, joggers and Runners. This league has proved to be a massive success with over 100 participants, the series continues to grow at every level. Sligo has finished their League with over 100 entries completing the series and continuing to run on a recreational basis. This is the first completed series and huge thanks goes to all the work of everyone involved in particular Terry Hayes, Ray Flynn and Anne McHugh. So get down to your local Fit4life league and enjoy the benefits of a healthier lifestyle, remember by exercising gently and regularly you can: • improve energy levels • make new friends • enhance your self-esteem • help long-term weight loss • enjoy better sleep Being more active can also have specific health benefits by reducing the risk of: • heart disease • certain cancers • strokes • diabetes • obesity • high blood pressure • osteoporosis (brittle bones) It’s never too late. A slight change in your lifestyle can make a big difference to your health at any time and whatever your age. So contact Athletics Ireland to find out about registering for your local Fit4life running league.
Fit4Life Details| Venue | Athletics Ireland Contact | Day of League |
|---|
| Raheny | Bart Rogers | Wednesday |
| Dunboyne | Bart Rogers | TBA |
| Rathfarnham | Pat Ryan | Tuesday |
| St Abbans | Pat Ryan | TBC |
| Sli Culainn | Ryan Montgomery | Thursday & Saturday |
| Crusaders | Ryan Montgomery | Thursday |
| Kilkenny | Jacqui Stokes | Saturday |
| UCC | Jacqui Stokes | Wednesday |
| CIT | Jacqui Stokes | Saturday |
| Limerick | Gary Ryan | Tuedsay |
| Tralee | Gary Ryan | TBA |
| Donegal | Eamon Harvey | TBA |
| Sligo | Eamon Harvey | Wednesday |
RDO Contacts Eamon Harvey eamon@athleticsireland.ie 0872797548 Jacqui Freyne jacqui@athleticsireland.ie 0872629950 Ryan Montgomery ryan@athleticsireland.ie 0872631441 Paul McNamara paul@athleticsireland.ie 0872693675 Pat Ryan pat@athleticsireland.ie 0872621310 Bart Rogers bart@athleticsireland.ie 087 2696577 Gary Ryan development@athleticsireland.ie 0879830570
