This is the 11th in a new series of blog posts to help you make the choice to walk more often for health, wellbeing or to get fit, through sharing tips and tricks and providing the motivation and support to do so.
Up to date guidance on Covid 19 is available here. Please be responsible and follow social distancing guidelines.
Love walking? Do you possess these characteristics?
- Welcoming, friendly and sociable
- Informative
- Enthusiastic
- A champion for walking
Why not make 2020 the year to set up a Walking Group in your area?
Why Walking?
The recommended guidelines for physical activity in Ireland state that adults should take part in moderate physical activity for 150 minutes per week and children should aim for 60 minutes each day. However, a report conducted by Sport Ireland highlights that 13% do not meet the recommended guidelines. We want to change that with your help.
Walking has been described as the “closest activity to perfect exercise”. Walking is cheap, accessible, low impact and requires little skill. As a walker you will have noticed changes in your own life from improved mental well-being, increased motivation and improved cardiovascular fitness. Starting a Walking Group is a wonderful way to share your passion as well as a chance to make new friends.
There are two programmes available to facilitate; one for someone who currently includes walking and one for someone who wishes to make walking a more regular part of their life.
As a registered Walk Leader, you can be the driving force to make walking more commonplace in your community. Contact your Local Sports Partnership, Irish Trails or the Irish Heart Foundation for Sli na Slainte for more information about trails and potential walks for your group nearby.
You can register your group here and access tons of free resources to help with setting up your group, finding suitable walks as well as availing of free insurance. Your walking group will be listed and you will be able to start spreading the word about the programme.
Read the rest of the Get Walking series - Finding Walks, looking at Physical Wellbeing and Mental Wellbeing, Being Active during Covid19. Do you need specific Gear? Look at Warm Up & Posture and Are you doing enough?How to deal with Excuses and setting some very important Goals! Read some Top Tips and useful sample Walking Programmes you can use.