North Westmeath AC C25K gets locals up and running
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The North Westmeath AC runners on Sunday week last at Tullynally Castle.Image 2 of 7
Brian Mahon from Coole, Samantha Vanwik from Collinstown, Nuala Shaw from Collinstown and Paul Hardman from Whitehall.Image 3 of 7
Siobhan Yeoman, Tanya O’Neill and Noleen Fanning.Image 4 of 7
Marieke Fritz and Ronja Goronzy before the run.Image 5 of 7
Amy Townley (Castlepollard) and Laura Lynch (Fore).Image 6 of 7
Darragh O’Brien and Niamh Morgan at the C25K event.Image 7 of 7
Eamon Campbell and Mel Leahy from North Westmeath AC.Following the success of North Westmeath AC’s Castlepollard 5K in August, the running club wanted to give back to the community and get Castlepollard, Collinstown and surrounding areas and villages in north Westmeath up and running.
After the 5k, the feedback was that the local communities wanted to learn to run in a fun and enjoyable way and so the eight-week Couch to 5K programme began.
The programme is designed to get anyone from the couch to run five kilometres, and on September 9, North Westmeath AC, with the assistance of club members Paul Hardman, Niamh Murtagh Morgan (chairperson) and Paula O’Connor, welcomed more than 30 participants to the grounds of Castlepollard Community College.
They met each Monday evening for the eight weeks and ran their first 5K on the grounds of Tullynally Castle on Sunday November 3, in a club organised event.
The runners then celebrated their achievements with breakfast at Castle Varagh Hotel, and each received a bespoke Tullynally Castle medal and ‘Couch to 5K’ certificates.
Niamh Murtagh Morgan said everyone had an enjoyable morning and it was heartening from a club perspective to see how participants’ fitness and confidence evolved in the eight weeks.
North Westmeath AC will continue to support these new club members to maintain and progress their goals as a club, she said.
The programme has sparked more interest in the community about running and the club are considering the possibility of holding another Couch to 5K programme in the new year.
On behalf of North Westmeath AC, Niamh thanked her club committee colleagues and club members for their ongoing support; Castlepollard Community College for the use of their track, Tullynally Castle for the use of their grounds, Quest Merchandise for the bespoke medals and Castle Varagh Hotel for the breakfast reception on Sunday November 3.
North Westmeath AC always welcome new members – details are on their Facebook page; email northwestmeathac@gmail.com.
Club members meet and train three times a week; a social club recovery run on Mondays at 7pm from Murphy’s Hardware, Castlepollard, a speed session training session on Wednesdays at 6.30pm at Castlepollard Community College; and a long run (distances to suit everyone) on Sundays at 8am (9am in the winter), from the school.