“Having reached the age of 60 I wanted a form of outdoor, weight-bearing exercise which was more energetic than walking but did not require other skills. Although I was a complete beginner and very slow, the support and guidance I received from Jan encouraged me to persevere. I am now much fitter and healthier and have realised that running is something anyone of any age and ability can try."
Carol
“I find it hard to believe that twelve months ago I thought I couldn’t run, and now I’ve proved I can by running 13.1 miles last week in my first half marathon. This has only been possible by the invaluable support, guidance and structure shown to me during the early days”.
Helen
"I was not sure I would be able to run as my body shape is like a 'weeble'. However, I can now run 3 miles without stopping. Sometimes I was tempted to give up but my trust in and support from Jan gave me the motivation to keep on, which paid off in the end. I am now a runner! Thank you Jan"
Mel
Coaching for Health and Fitness
If your goal is to be fitter and healthier, to be able to develop a sustainable exercise habit that fits most easily into a busy life – and you’ve no wish to become the next Paula Radcliffe, as a coach and personal trainer I can help you to consider the benefits of incorporating walking/running into your life and moving from where your fitness levels are today to where you want them to be in the future.
If you are going to invest your time, energy and hopes, then it is important to do it right. Getting fitter and healthier should be enjoyable; it should be appropriately challenging, motivational and provide measurable on-going improvements. At the end of each session, you should feel you’ve worked hard, but are looking forward to the next one.
You should be supported in knowing where you want to get to, with a clear well thought out and appropriate personal goal. You should have a well structured plan, designed specifically around you and your goal and you should be able to enjoy the necessary resources and support to meet the challenge you have set yourself with focus, commitment and confidence.
Since 2006 I have coached over 30 people to achieve their personal fitness goals. For most of these, the sport has been of secondary importance. What they really wanted was to;
Be a bit fitter and healthier
Achieve a specific goal such as the ‘Race for Life’ or the London Marathon
Have some time for themselves
Lose some weight
Achieve something for themselves
De-stress
Do something different
Feel better about themselves
Using a combination of my skills as a Life Coach and as a UK Athletics Fitness in Running and Walking (FiRW) Coach, I have provided appropriately structured individual programmes and on-going support to enable people who had not been involved in doing much exercise previously, to achieve their personal goals, to sustain their interest and levels of fitness and make walking and running an integral and enjoyable part of their lives.
Many people believe that they can’t run, may have had a negative previous experience, feel they are too big/old/unfit or that it’s something a certain ‘breed’ of people do. However the truth is that other than for medical reasons anyone can do it. The answer lies in doing it right. This means starting at the right level and progressing properly in appropriately structured steps towards the clear goal you have set yourself, whether it is to walk a mile, use a combination of walking and running to be able to do 3 miles or to run the London Marathon.
Why choose walking and running?
It’s simple – it doesn’t need a specific skill
Outside of medical restrictions, anyone can do it
It fits easily around busy lives
It doesn’t take up much time. 30 - 40 minutes twice a week is all it needs
It’s cheap – you only need a good pair of trainers
It gets you out in the fresh air
You can do it wherever you are, you don’t need a gym or leisure centre
Improvements are easily measurable and quickly attained
It can be something enjoyed alone or as a social occasion
How does it work?
First of all you will have a telephone coaching session. This will enable you to look at the reasons why you want to increase your health and fitness and clarify the outcomes you want to achieve. We will talk about your previous and present exercise experiences, how you would like exercise to fit in to your lifestyle and give you information about how a programme can be designed and support provided to match your goals and needs.
Based on the information you give me, I will ask you to carry out an initial 30 minute session, which may be walking or a mixture of short periods of walking and jogging – all at conversation pace - and then ask you let me know how that went.
I will then design an initial schedule based on your goals and fitness level for you to carry out two or three times a week for a maximum of 30-40 minutes per session.
Each week, I will support you either by email or phone, whichever you choose. I’ll encourage you, believe in you, adapt and develop the schedule as necessary, look with you at what helps motivate you and also any internal or external obstacles which threaten to undermine your intentions and your ability to get out there and do what you want to do. I’ll cheer with you as you achieve and progress. My ultimate intention is to give you the experience, guidance and knowledge to enable you to take charge of your own on-going fitness goals and training after your goal set with me has been achieved.
Costs
If you would like to experience coaching, I offer a free 20 minute ‘taster’ session. Please phone me or fill in the on-line form and we will arrange a mutually agreed time for the session.
Initial telephone coaching session 60 mins
Telephone coaching 30 mins
Telephone coaching package 12x30 mins
Email coaching package upto 2x per week x12