Invicta Vlogs
Running is good for you!
As a keen runner, I was pleased to read a recent article in The Observer (4 November 2019) entitled ‘Any amount of running reduces risk of early death, study finds’. I and members of my local running club quickly shared the link with one another on our What’s App group! The main message I have taken from this article is that you do not have to be a keen long distance runner to gain benefits from running. I love to run and like to challenge myself to run longer distances but I am by no means a speedy runner and I am not competitive in my running. I enter a running challenge and my aim is just to cross the finishing line in one piece - much to my husband’s annoyance, who thinks I should push myself to better my times each event!
The article references the new found fact that:
‘Any amount of running, even just once a week, is better than no running.’
To me, this means we do not all have to be athletes, training three or four times per week. Just going out for a short trot can benefit us greatly! I know this article really helped encourage the Couch to 5k group my running club initiated in our village and experiencing the benefits of running for my own wellbeing has inspired me to encourage our students to get out and run. However, I know running is not for everyone (even though I would recommend the NHS Couch to 5K app as a New Year resolution for anyone thinking about starting to run!).
The article in the Observer also referenced the finding that:
‘According to the World Health Organization, about 3.2 million deaths each year are down to people not doing enough physical activity.’
This is very concerning and at school, through a number of initiatives, we have been trying to encourage our students to keep active. Of course, half the challenge is for us to find a sport we love to do. This is where our new ‘Active Leader’ programme comes in. Miss Lydall, in the PE department, has launched this new activity programme for a Friday lunchtime. Our aim is to promote physical and mental wellbeing through varied physical activities which will also encourage good team work, leadership skills and confidence. The programme of activities have been drawn up by a team of students working with Miss Lydall. Activities include physical games like Dobble, Headbutt, Hungry Hippo as well as Yoga, Dance and some mini House competitions are planned as we move through the year.
Lunchtime is a great time to be active. After a morning in lessons, what better than some fun and active games to improve both physical and mental wellbeing? I hope our students will take advantage of this new initiative and put down their pens and iPads at lunchtime and head over to the PE department for some fun, which will improve their health.
At the end of the Observer article I have quoted, Dr Charlie Foster of Bristol University, who chairs the UK chief medical officers’ expert committee for physical activity, says:
‘Find the activity you enjoy the most and stick with it.’
We hope the Active Leader programme will help our students find the activity they enjoy the most and will continue with it, as they progress through the school.
Mrs Rivers
Senior Assistant Head
