Stride Magazine 2021 - Issue Three

stride

the jogscotland magazine | Issue three 2021

Inside The 4J Studios jogscotland Annual Award winners 2021 Jo Pavey’s top tips for joggers Our Menopause Friendly campaign “I was a lockdown jogger – but it took jogscotland to make me love running!” jogscotland.org.uk

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2 Our fun, friendly jogging groups are perfect for people who want to get active for the first time, or more experienced runners.

Nobody is “too slow” to join jogscotland – total beginners welcome!

Mums on the Run helps mums enjoy the physical, social & psychological benefits of being active outdoors. You can take your wee one to class with you in the buggy too!

Running has never been so easy!

Whatever your age, whatever your ability Morning, noon and night • Towns, cities, villages Parks, pavements, trails, woodlands, beaches, schools and workplaces For more information visit www.jogscotland.org.uk or call 0131 539 7341 www.facebook.com/JogScotty • www.twitter.com/jogscotland

jogworks

Our Junior jogscotland resource pack is full of games to help you show primary school age children that stride physical activity is fun! jogscotland magazine | Winter 2016

Encouraging employees to be more active makes good business sense. Jogworks can help avoid some of the physical and mental health issues affecting the workplace.

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Meet the Jog Crew

Jo Stevens

Sue Gyford

David Fallon

Development officer

Digital communications and press officer

Head of Development

jo.stevens @scottishathletics.org.uk 07903 180 453

Angie Sutherland

Carol Robison

Coaching administrator (Jog Leader course bookings)

Membership administrator

coaching @scottishathletics.org.uk 07393 674 262

david.fallon @scottishathletics.org.uk 07960 582 838

sue.gyford @scottishathletics.org.uk 07880 037 574

membership @scottishathletics.org.uk 07391 845 783

Stride – the jogscotland members’ magazine Editor: Sue Gyford

Designer: Adrian Hallam, 3fiftysixmedia Ltd

Published by scottishathletics. Copyright©2021 Scottish Athletics Ltd. www.jogscotland.org.uk

www.twitter.com/jogscotland

www.facebook.com/jogscotty

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Welcome!

by Sue Gyford

Stride magazine | Issue three 2021 Welcome to our final edition of Stride magazine for 2021.

There’s been so much going on in the jogscotland network! Annual Awards season is always one of our favourite times of year, and in this issue you can read all about our 2021 winners – a group of people that we’re immensely proud of. We also have some top tips for jogscotland members from our Guest of Honour at the 4J Studios Awards Dinner, five-time Olympian Jo Pavey.

There’s news of our new campaign around menopause and running. We’ve learned from recent conversations with our joggers and jog leaders just how many people find running through this stage of life challenging.

Being well-informed about the signs and symptoms of perimenopause and menopause is a huge help, and feeling free to chat with others is really useful, too. We want our jogging groups to be places where people feel supported to stay active through menopause, and so we’re inviting our groups to take some simple steps to become Menopause Friendly and it’s brilliant seeing several already doing that.

We’ve real-life stories from both the most experienced and the newest of jogscotland members. Reading about how two generations of the Glennie family are now jog leading with On the Run Cumbernauld is amazing – between them all they have decades of experience to share. At the other end of the scale, our cover star Sara Cassidy made the step from being a new, solo, lockdown runner to joining Inchture Jogscotland and has never looked back.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the jogscotland community this year – every single jogger and leader to have stepped out with their group has helped make our community what it is. We wish you all a safe and happy festive season -

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Award winner Joanne Tominey

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p14 The Glennies

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Contents News and events

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4J Studios jogscotland Annual Awards 2021 8 Welcome to our new jog leaders!

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A marathon weekend 12 Down the generations 14 Our Menopause Friendly Campaign is launched 19 I’m a lockdown runner – and I love jogscotland! 21 Jo Pavey, MBE – my top tips for jogscotland members 23 David Syme - Jogging along

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Jog Leader Conference

27 Just click on a title to go straight to the page!

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News and events Leadership in Running Fitness We are delighted to have the first of our Leadership in Running Fitness (LiRF) courses for 2022 now available for booking. LiRF is the course that will qualify you as a jog leader, enabling you to set up a jogscotland group of your own, or lead with an existing group. The course comprises several online modules, followed by an in-person practical session on the dates/venues below.

Alloa - 6 February Glasgow - 13 February Meadowmill, East Lothian - 6 March Kilmarnock - 12 March Dundee - 13 March For more information see https://jogscotland.org.uk/jog-leaders/jog-leader-courses/

Aberdeen takeover

In the wake of Storm Arwen, a lot of favourite running routes along the east coast were left literally picking up the pieces, as trees fell and debris flew. It was fantastic, then, to see jogscotland Bridge of Don members still able to complete a takeover of Aberdeen parkrun on 27 November, filling all the volunteer slots in what we believe was the only parkrun in the north east that day. Well done, everyone!

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Scottish Women in Sport Awards After Alison Miller-Duff was named as jogscotland Achiever of the Year at our Annual Awards (see p8), we were delighted to see her also become a finalist at this year’s Scottish Women in Sport Awards! Alison made it to the final three in the Inspiration in Sport category, in recognition of all she has achieved with her running following a kidney transplant. We’re so proud of Alison, and we know that everyone at her jogging group, Ready, Steady Go Pitreavie, is too.

#SheCanSheWill When Active Scotland asked us to help them celebrate Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week in October, we were only too pleased to help. Representing jogscotland in the Active Scotland video for the week was Lan Pham, who is a jog leader at jb’s joggers in Leith, and also volunteers to lead the group we run in partnership with the charity Saheliya. Thanks for flying the flag, Lan! Watch the video

Festive Runs As December rolls on, we’ve enjoyed seeing lots of jogscotland groups organising festive fancy dress runs to get their members into the spirit of the season. We’re impressed by the outfits sported by Run Porty Run at their Santa Dash, and JogScotland Westhill at the Den Dasher 5K in Turriff!

Having fun at the Active Girls Day session held by Pitreavie AAC jogscotland magazine

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4J Studios Awards 2021 The winners of this year’s 4J Studios jogscotland Annual Awards were announced at a fantastic celebration dinner at the Glasgow Hilton on 9 October.

It was wonderful to be back for our first awards dinner in two years, and to really show our appreciation for some of the people who represent the very best of jogscotland. Hosted by Bryan Burnett, with Guest of Honour, five-time Olympian Jo Pavey, MBE, the night brought together our jogscotland heroes with the cream of scottishathletics talent.

jogscotland development officer Jo Stevens said: “After a particularly difficult couple of years, it’s amazing how the spirit of the jogscotland community hasn’t wavered.

Everyone is still out there, supporting each other to achieve new things, sometimes against great odds – and the stories of our award winners just go to prove that.”

This year’s winners were:

Achiever of the Year Alison Miller Duff – Ready, Steady, Go Pitreavie

Alison has a genetic condition, Alport Syndrome, which not only meant her kidneys started to fail in 2018, but also caused deafness in both ears. She promptly signed to her local jogscotland group, to try and stay as healthy as possible. She soon had to begin dialysis, but kept coming back to the group whenever she was able. She underwent a kidney transplant in September, but started walking for exercise within weeks, beginning to run once again in early 2021.

She even completed a half marathon in May 2021. She’s a much valued, fun member of Ready, Steady, Go Pitreavie.

Leader of the Year Neil Nairn – Fenwick Striders

Neil founded Fenwick Striders after a number of villagers asked if he would help them start running. He also coaches and leads two other groups – Glasgow Dental Hospital & School Runners and Parklands Country Club in Newton Mearns. He organised a half marathon which got the whole village involved – local businesses sponsored the event, the pub welcomed runners and families after the race, and local people were photographers and marshals. Neil also provides training and pastoral support for mental health issues and suicide prevention. He is a patron of the charity Touched by Suicide.

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4J Studios Awards 2021

Group of the Year Let’s Go Linlithgow

Let’s Go Linlithgow celebrated its third anniversary this year and has grown from a single jog leader running one session a week, to having 15 jog leaders leading five sessions a week. The group is now formally adopted by Linlithgow AC, offering joggers the opportunity to attend beginner track sessions, and bringing a new stream of members, pacers and coaches to the club. At the start of 2021, the group offered its first ever virtual C25K and C22K groups with weekly zoom calls, emails and access to a closed facebook group. This was very successful, with most participants now attending in person.

SAMH Mental Wellbeing Award Joanne Tominey – Jiggly Joggers

Joanne juggles a full-time job with a family including two young children who have learning difficulties and a chest condition requiring daily physio. She turned to Jiggly Joggers to help her deal with stress and anxiety. Although initially very nervous, she forced herself to attend her first session and has never looked back. She has now completed two half marathons, has given up her anxiety medication, and says this has been the first year that she has ever felt truly mentally strong. She has made many new friendships and has now trained as a jog leader, and provides a listening ear to others who may be struggling.

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4J Studio Awards 2021 continued We are proud of all those who made it onto this year’s awards shortlists. While there can only be one winner in each category, all our finalists can be very proud of their achievements. They are:

Achiever of the Year

Glynis Buchan – Ellon Jog Scotland - Glynis was chairperson for seven years, and has time for everyone. Since 2018 she has run over 11,000K in a daily exercise challenge.

Fiona Findlay – Anster Allsorts - Fiona is an NHS worker, and covid made life challenging - but she managed to improve her 10K speed and signed up to become a jog leader.

Leader of the year

Irene Leask – Jog Cowdenbeath - Irene kept in touch with everyone in her group to motivate them during lockdown. She also gives a huge amount to the wider running community.

Jane Malcolm – jogscotland Penicuik - Jane ran a lockdown half marathon in her garden for SAMH. She is open about running through menopause, encouraging others too.

Group of the year

Isle Jog - Isle Jog is based in Stornoway and started two years ago on a cold, dark February day. The group quickly grew to 30 joggers who are a happy, positive group of all abilities.

Milestones Jog Scotland - Milestones is a supportive, inclusive and warm group. Leader

Catriona Whitelaw makes running fun, always encouraging people to set and beat new goals.

SAMH Mental Wellbeing Award

Laura Heeps – jogscotland Hazlehead - Laura lives outwith Aberdeen, so was isolated from her group during lockdown. She set herself challenges and by the end of June had recorded 465 days of exercise.

Laura Wall – Ready Steady Go Pitreavie - Laura has used running to manage psoriatic arthritis, which causes debilitating joint pain. She has many times turned things around by using exercise to bring her pain to manageable levels.

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Welcome to our new jog leaders!

An incredible 376 new jog leaders were trained by the scottishathletics coach education team in 2021. They all took part in our blended learning Leadership in Running Fitness (LiRF) course, which sees candidates complete a series of online modules, followed by an in-person practical session.

Once in receipt of their UK Athletics jog leader licence, they are free to set up new jogscotland groups in their communities, or join the team of leaders at an existing group.

A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to train as a jog leader this year! We’re so grateful to everyone who makes the step to share their passion for running with others.

Coaching coordinator Alison Grey (pictured) said: “We’re delighted to have trained 376 new jog leaders this year. We know jogscotland is really bouncing back with enthusiasm from the periods of covid restriction, and what better way to prove it, than to have hundreds of people joining the jog leading community?

“They’ll be a great asset to their groups and it’s exciting to be setting them off on a pathway that we hope will bring them years of fulfilment, as well as supporting many new joggers into the sport.

“What’s also really pleasing is that the digital element of the Leadership in Running Fitness course taken by jog leaders – initially introduced out of necessity during covid restrictions – has now become a useful tool run alongside and enhance the in-person element of the course.”

• W ant to become a jog leader? Find out about our courses at https://jogscotland.org.uk/jog-leaders/jog-leader-courses/ jogscotland magazine

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A marathon weekend Sunday 3 October 2021 was a significant date in the running diary, with the Loch Ness Marathon Festival, the London Marathon and Virtual London Marathon all taking place. After last year’s Covid cancellations, there was even more buzz than usual as people pinned on their race numbers and took to the streets.

Well done to everyone who took part!

Photos: Loch Ness Marathon and jogscotland members

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Down the generations

By Jim Glennie of On the Run Cumbernauld

Jim, Heather, Morven and Lewis

Jim and Heather Glennie love jog leading – so they were delighted when their children Morven and Lewis followed in their footsteps, and now all four lead at the same group.

Jog Scotland Cumbernauld was set up in the very early 2000s by my wife Heather and Alistair Lunn, along with Susan Addison and Marie McChord. Myself and Tom McChord soon joined them. At the time we were affiliated with North Lanarkshire Leisure, but eventually the group became independent and changed names to On The Run Cumbernauld. Membership is now above 100 and up to 70 run regularly on a Monday night regardless of the weather.

Running has been a long-term passion for us both - a love of sport was probably inevitable as we are both nurses. Heather had started running with the Women’s Network in Glasgow a few years prior to undertaking the jog leader course with jogscotland. Her main aim was to spread the physical and mental health benefits of running and to ensure the basic principles of this exercise was shared with those starting out to ensure good technique and injury prevention, and ultimately to set up a group in Cumbernauld.

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I had been running since the early 1980s, running the first Edinburgh Marathon in 1982 and thought it was time to give something back (and also to learn to stretch after a run!). When I became a jog leader I was able to share my own experiences of distance running and successfully encouraged many to train and run distances they previously would never have considered.

We never believed in those early days that we would make so many friends for life through jogscotland Cumbernauld and are forever grateful.

We’re now delighted to say that we have passed the baton on to the next generation. Our children Lewis and Morven had started running at primary school age and were members of Airdrie Harriers for several years. Both were into other sports as well at school - football, badminton, swimming, basketball, dancing and cheerleading. As teen activities became more varied, running for both of them took a back seat for a few short years.

But more recently they both picked up running again – and also became jog leaders! They have been great at organising and encouraging others to get involved especially during the last 18 months, and it makes us very proud to see them both follow us into jog leading. They both have their own goals but continue to encourage and support others at every opportunity. Morven organised a number of events during the lockdown and people competed in virtual teams over a variety of distances on a weekly basis to keep motivation up and add in a bit of fun, while continues over

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Down the generations continued Lewis organised the runs from Croy via the Tak Ma Doon Road (1000 foot elevation in 2.5 miles) to Stirling (14 miles) then a few weeks later ran this in reverse.

More recently Morven, Lewis and myself set up weekly track sessions for runners at Greenfaulds School that is open to all levels of runners - even at 5.30pm on a Friday night it is well attended and appreciated by members.

Further to this Morven has entered the Barcelona marathon as her first marathon next year along with myself and Lewis. Morven and I are members of Airdrie Harriers, where Morven now helps the children’s groups and I has recently joined the committee. We are both members of the endurance group trained by Derek Hawkins.

Over the years we’ve taken joggers on a huge number of race trips. Several years in a row Heather organised trips to Inverness for the Loch Ness 10K and Marathon.

Probably most notable was the 10K with a home-made costume of Nessie with several of the runners joined together! They ran the 10K, entertaining the spectators on the way, and raising a healthy sum for Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland.

Heather even organised two trips to Lanzarote for the joggers for the International Running Challenge, which is four races over four days (a 10K, a 13K run up round and down an extinct volcano, a 5K beach run and finally a half marathon). On the second trip, 12 joggers participated and had the distinction of winning a group award for epitomising what the event was about ie. encouraging and supporting others, regardless of ability. We also had the distinction of doing the conga on the final stretch on the first beach run which brought great amusement to the other participants (but no PBs)! This has become a regular family trip for us and in 2019 all four of us participated in these races. In fact, we are just back from there this year.

Running allows us to combine holidays with our passion for running, and now includes David and Cristina, Morven and Lewis’s partners. Importantly, running has brought great happiness and togetherness to the family.

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Our Menopause Friendly Campaign is launched We are delighted to have launched the new jogscotland #MenopauseFriendly campaign, to help our joggers learn about running through menopause, and help our jogging groups become as menopause friendly as possible.

We want to change the script around menopause. We can’t alter the physical facts of it, but we can help those going through it. We want to create a world where jogscotland members going through menopause: • C an feel strong, confident and proud of themselves, even when they’re facing difficult physical and mental challenges.

• Feel free to talk about their experiences without shame or embarrassment.

• A re informed and empowered, so that they can get the support they need from medical practitioners, friends and family.

• A s a result of those things, stay active through menopause and beyond, at whatever level suits them.

As our #MenopauseFriendly campaign launched on 22 November, we published on our website three pages full of useful information for joggers and jog leaders: • Running and Menopause – introduction • Menopause – advice for joggers • Menopause – advice for jog leaders For those reading the print edition, just visit https://jogscotland.org.uk/active-living/menopause-and-running/ and follow the links.

The resources we are launching have been put together with the help of a small focus group of jog leaders with lived experience of running through menopause, our partners SAMH, and sharing information from the NHS Inform pages on menopause. continues over jogscotland magazine

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20 Menopause Friendly Campaign continued

Menopause Friendly Jogging Group logo We have also launched our Menopause Friendly Jogging Group logo. The logo is designed with both our ‘runner’ logo, and a fast forward sign, to show that life doesn’t have to go on pause for menopause. It can be used by groups where the jog leaders pledge to: • E ducate themselves on the symptoms of menopause and the challenges of running through it.

• M ake their groups supportive to joggers going through menopause by using the tips on our new web pages – for example with flexible sessions and an openness to talking about menopause.

• S hare information about running and menopause on their group’s social media to inform joggers and normalise it as a topic of conversation.

So keep an eye out for the logo. If your group isn’t using it yet, why not mention it to your jog leader and see if they’d be interested in taking part?

We also marked the campaign launch week with a webinar for jog leaders on running and menopause, with Dr Juliet McGrattan, expert in running and health, a former GP and award-winning author. Juliet has written and spoken extensively on the topics of women’s health, running, and menopause, and gave our leaders a huge amount of useful information and advice.

As the campaign launched, development officer for jogscotland Jo Stevens, said: “We have been hearing more and more from our jog leaders and joggers that they are looking for support to get through menopause and remain active.

Our aim is always to break down barriers to getting – and staying – physically active, so it makes sense for us to join the growing movement of people removing the stigma around menopause and the challenges it can bring.

“One of the greatest things about our jogging groups is that members are so supportive of each other. When we launched the I’m here movement, we saw how much our jog leaders were able to lead change by welcoming conversations about mental health and wellbeing at their groups. The #MenopauseFriendly campaign is just another step forward in that work, and we can’t wait to see our amazing jog leaders and their joggers take it forward. We’re particularly grateful to the jog leaders who have contributed to this work so far.”

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I’m a lockdown runner – but it took jogscotland to make me love running!

By Sara Cassidy of Inchture Jogscotland I decided in February during the lockdown to take up Couch to 5K. I was working from home a lot more and it gave me a break away from a computer screen and got me out in the fresh air - definitely good for my physical and mental health. I could concentrate and focus on my feet hitting the pavement and the music and forget all the stresses.

I had tried running before but soon gave up as I found it so hard, but now I know it is because I went too hard too fast and overexerted myself.

This time, I used the Couch to 5K app, but I must admit that I didn’t fall in love with running right away – in fact I often wondered why I was putting myself through each run. I set myself a couple of personal goals that I wanted to achieve – 5K in 30 minutes and to do a 10K by September.

Then in March I saw a post on the village Facebook page asking if anybody was interested in setting up a running group. I was thinking this would be good as motivation was something I was struggling with, and in due course jog leader Linda Craddock said she could take us through the beginner and intermediate programmes. continues over

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lockdown runner continued Meeting up with all the girls on the Friday night was great – I never knew running could be a social sport, but I was happy to be proved wrong! At the beginning of April the girls were talking about the Auchterarder Running Festival, and I originally signed up for the 10K, however by the end of April I just felt 10K was just too easy for me and I wanted to push myself, so I signed up to the double dare – both the 10K and Half Marathon races. Linda was very supportive and gave me some useful hints and tips.

With the help of the running group, I ran my first 10K – I was very proud. It was during these months that I got the running bug and understood what people meant by a runner’s high. At the end of May I took park in the Let’s Do It Spring Bank Holiday Virtual 10K and received my first medal. Over the summer months I trained hard for the half marathon, and on 19 September along with Fiona McGuiness, another member of the running group, we completed our first ever half marathon. It was a virtual race, so we got to choose our own route and we had our families and friends come out to cheer us along. We completed it in 2hrs 45minutes, and then on 26 September I did the 10K too. To say I am proud would be an understatement.

I would like to do another half marathon in 2022, and go to the actual race this time with the atmosphere, and feel the hype. I want to beat my time – I would like to complete it in 2hrs 20 minutes. I would also like to complete a marathon before I am 40. So, for me it’s more training and more social runs and just enjoying it.

The jogscotland group has been amazing I am so glad I joined, and I look forward to our Friday night runs.

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Jo Pavey, MBE – my top tips for jogscotland members We were delighted to have five-time Olympian Jo Pavey, MBE, as Guest of Honour at our Annual Awards. After the event, she sat down with our own Sue Gyford for a catch-up. We’ve included an extract of the interview here, but you can watch the full thing on YouTube, where you can find out what she had to say about each of our Award winners, and more.

Thanks for joining us Jo - how did you enjoy the 4J Studios Annual Awards?

It was such a great night. I just think it’s actually fantastic that scottishathletics is associated with jogscotland, the fact that you’ve got that link between people like elite runners at clubs and then you’ve got the running community - it’s so important. jogscotland is so inclusive and I’m so impressed by the work that’s done to get everyone involved in running.

What advice do you have on fitting running into a busy schedule?

We’ve all got busy lives whether it’s juggling family life, work life. Getting out and being active I think, when you get back in you just feel destressed and ready to face the rest of the challenges you’ve got.

I’m quite flexible, just working around family life. I do definitely try and get out running every day and sometimes continues over Among Jo’s roles at our Awards Dinner, was presenting the Athlete of the Year Award to Laura Muir. By Bobby Gavin www.thatonemoment.co.uk

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24 Jo Pavey continued I’m still running twice a day because I just run when I can. Often my second run could just be going on the treadmill for half an hour and then sometimes running when the children are at school.

A big thing I like doing is getting out and being active with the family. We can all go somewhere and be active whether the kids are on their bikes or running a bit.

What tips would you offer to people who are apprehensive about getting started with a jogging group?

It’s only natural, I mean when I was first going to go to an athletics club I was worried, would everyone be too fast or whatever, what’s it going to be like?

But what you must realise is, the running community is the most welcoming community you could ever have. There’s so many running groups like jogscotland groups - just go along to one of them and you’ll see how welcoming it is. You don’t feel like you’ve got to run continuously - go out and walk for a bit and then maybe jog for a couple of minutes, and just gradually increase the amount of time you’re running and decrease the amount of time you’re walking.

You’ll be surprised how you start to make progress.

Definitely don’t start running every day because that will mean you’ll be at risk of injury, just build it up gradually maybe a couple of times a week to begin with. But be confident in yourself, believe you can do it and just realise by going

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25 along that the running community is really inclusive. Even if you go along to your local jogscotland group and introduce yourself, and say “I don’t feel confident to take part tonight, I’ll just see what it’s all about,” and you’ll realize how welcoming everybody is.

You’ll soon get the running bug and go for it.

For more experienced runners, what are your tips for keeping the enthusiasm alive, especially as we get older and our times may start to drop?

There’s always goals you can set yourself, it doesn’t matter if the goals are different goals than you’ve had before. I’ve enjoyed trying to run a certain time for 10K and I know it’s not going to be the times that I ran a few years back, but it’s still fun to try.

Also, keep entering events, and it doesn’t matter if you don’t run as fast as you’re hoping, you’re still being part of an event and it gives you a real boost when you cross the line. You get to chat with other runners and you’ve all done that event together.

Always set yourself some goals - it doesn’t have to be a goal to run really quick, it could be a goal to take part in something new. I sometimes think I’d quite like to run an ultra in the future because I’ve never tried that. Nowadays people do all these amazing challenges and I feel like I’m missing out on something there! So I’m thinking that’s something I haven’t done yet, there’s always something new you can try. Make it fun, do varied sessions, get out in the great outdoors but most of all, make it enjoyable, that’s the main thing.

Jo Pavey in action on the track.

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Title Jogging along

by David Syme

Running in the rain Let’s get the downside over first – you get wet.

Sometimes it is just a wee bit wet, but (and I can see some of you nodding agreement) sometimes you become soaked to the skin. Really soaked to the skin, not just exaggeration for effect. Even if you are wearing the latest waterproof clothing the chances are that you will have wet feet. There are puddles, splashing vehicles, wet grass and dripping trees, poor visibility and mud. Only cross-country runners enjoy mud, but they are a breed apart.

So where is the upside of running in the rain?

For a start the solo runner often has tracks, paths and minor roads uncluttered by good-weather users, such as pram pushers, casual walkers and cyclists.

The lonely, splashing rhythm of a solo run gives a wonderful opportunity to Think Deep Thoughts, make career-affecting plans or to add wet-weather kit items to that Christmas or birthday wish-list in the head.

For members of a jogging group which meets at a set time whatever the weather the camaraderie will ensure that you will meet up as usual. When you all start there will be a general feeling of “What are we like?” as you all agree that you must be crazy, but in a lovable way. Off you go, complaining in a jovial way about the choice of route, or reminding others about that run a few months ago “much worse than this and we all survived.” The banter will be lively: “Should have worn my water wings!” “I’ve just stepped on a trout!” “No need for a shower after this!” Perversely the harder it rains, the deeper the puddles, the more the group will enjoy the outing. Bring it on!

If you are the leader of a group meeting up in heavy rain it is recommended that you applaud all present for turning up, and remind them that when running in the rain, the first hour is the worst.

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jogscotland magazine

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Issue three 2021

27

Jog Leader Conference 2021 For this year’s Jog Leader Conference, we decided to take advantage of online platforms to make our conference easily-accessible to those all over the country. We ran a series of four hour-long Zoom sessions in October, covering a range of topics.

The week kicked off with a catch-up on the latest news from jogscotland and our partners SAMH, with plenty of time in breakout rooms to chat with other jog leaders.

Our keynote speaker on day two was Olympic Marathon Runner Steph Davis, who talked about her Tokyo experience, and offered some brilliant tips to the leaders – such as being realistic about what level you’re starting at when you plan your training: Lofty goals are all very well, but achievable ones are more useful!

We heard from Dr Daryl Cowan of University of the West of Scotland, on the research he’s done around what creates a motivational atmosphere at a jogscotland group. The takeaway was that people are most likely to stick with jogging when their jog leader runs the group in a way that makes joggers feel a sense of competence, of autonomy and of relatedness to others.

We finished up with a presentation by Elspeth Alexander on pelvic floor health for runners (pictured with her demonstration pelvis!). It was a fascinating and useful session, teaching us all that pelvic floor weakness and related symptoms like incontinence don’t have to be endured – they can be improved.

Thanks to all the jog leaders who joined us. jogscotland magazine

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Issue three 2021

Walk, jog, run with jogscotland Get fit and have fun with our sociable, supportive jogging groups for all levels – beginners welcome!

Affordable, friendly sessions with trained Jog Leaders.

Find your nearest group at www.jogscotland.org.uk/local-groups