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Start 2022 on the Right Foot with Runuary

Sonia running in the park

As we come to the end of yet another strange year, many of us are assessing how our lifestyles have shifted. Working from home, social distancing and of course, isolating, have all taken their toll. It’s important therefore that we continue to look after ourselves, both physically and mentally. With that in mind, Irish Life Health is bringing Runuary, back at the beginning of 2022. This set of dedicated training programmes will help you commit to running for the month of January, no matter your age, previous experience or level of fitness.

Make Health a Priority

Legendary Irish Olympic winner Sonia O’Sullivan is a Runuary ambassador this year. She explains why it’s a brilliant initiative to get people back running, something that’s been in decline over the past year or so. “Runuary is a reminder to make our health a priority”, she begins. "There’s lots of advice in the programme to support those taking part, covering everything from diet and sports psychology to preventing and treating aches and pains.” 


Couple running in the park

Achievable Goals

Still unsure? Sonia recommends setting up a series of achievable goals, rather than aiming to go straight from couch to marathon! “A great way to motivate yourself is to have a bit more purpose in your running”, she notes. “That means every time you lace up your shoes, you’re doing it for a reason and working towards a challenge that you’ve set yourself.” Fellow ambassador and Irish Olympian Jessie Barr agrees. “Start small”, she says, “and pick an achievable goal. We tend to focus on 5k and 10k, but even running for five minutes might be a huge achievement for someone.” 

Don't Focus on the Fitbit

Wearable trackers are a brilliant way to log exercise sessions, monitor heart rate and set goals. But try not to let your watch put too much pressure on your pace or stamina. “It’s very easy to be discouraged if you’re not going as fast as you’d like”, says Sonia. “You need to be patient with yourself and build up slowly.” For Jessie, how you feel during a run can be a much better marker of its success. “Sometimes I’ll run a certain route just because I like it. I may come in at a slower pace, but the enjoyment was more important to me at that time.” 

Getting Involved

Runuary is a completely free set of programmes and training plans to help you commit to running throughout the month of January, no matter your age or level of fitness.

Sonia sitting down after run

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