Start running. Lose weight
“The weight will fall off you when you run.” And that’s a promise. The man who made it is Matthew Glennon, a coach at Mullingar Harriers and a runner with a great deal of experience and skill.
Now that we’re at the start of another year, Matt and the Harriers are encouraging allcomers to join them as they prepare for the season ahead.
And they mean allcomers: beginners are especially welcome to the training sessions, Matt emphasised.
The club is well set up to help runners who have no experience but are keen to try it out. Tom Cully takes the beginners groups, said Matt: “Tom is great at motivating the beginners. The training is time rather than distance – everyone starts together and everyone finishes together, and he gets everyone involved.
And if you are hoping to drop a few kilos, Matt guarantees: “The weight will fall off you when you run... if you want to lose weight, you will lose weight running.”
It’s easy to get involved too, he adds. “As long as you can walk, that’s enough. The way we see it is, it’s nice to get people on board – the more the merrier. Once you have a decent pair of runners – and that doesn’t have to mean expensive, you can get good runners for €45 – that’s all you need along with shorts and shirts.
“We have training for any distance, for anyone who has never done a run before, and for anyone who’s thinking of doing a 5k or a 10k or a marathon, if want to start from scratch, or if you want to increase your level of training.”
As well as beginners, Mullingar Harriers have scores of casual runners and dedicated teams of serious runners, so there is something for everyone. At this stage, there is a small group preparing for a marathon in Barcelona, a large group training for a half marathon in Rotterdam (attracted by its reputation for having the second flatest route in the world and the potential for recording good times), and others with their sights set on a half marathon in Lisbon – most of whom started with the Harriers’ Fit4Life group.
You don’t have to travel abroad either, as there are yet more training for the Bohermeen half marathon on March 1 and the Spring League at Belvedere in May – and, Matt advises, if you would like to do the Dublin Marathon, now is the time to start.
“If you’ve never done that distance before, start early and that way there is no heavy training. Now is the time to build a base. Start with Tom’s group and work your way up from there.”
If you would like to try running, contact Matthew Glennon on 086 2743119 or contact the club at info@mullingarharriers.com.
Training times: Tuesday, 7-8pm at the club grounds; Wednesday, Fit4Life, 7-8pm (adults only) at the club grounds; Thursday, 7-8pm, club grounds; Sunday, 11am, Belvedere House and Gardens (proof of club membership required for entry to Belvedere). The only charge for any of the training groups is membership of the club at €70.