LAST week, I had the pleasure of once again of being interviewed by Iona Ballantyne for the #Alba360 podcast, which focuses solely on women in sport. On the show they highlighted two amazing women who have absolutely applied themselves to achieving their best in their own particular sport.
PE teacher Melanie Woods was left paralysed from the waist down after being hit by a car while out cycling in 2018 and spent seven months in hospital rehabilitating.
Fast forward to 2021 and she represented GB at the Tokyo Paralympics. If only it was as easy as that, but grit and sheer determination saw her through, as well as the inspiration she got from watching the 2018 Winter Paralympics held in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
The same attitude must be inherent in Meryl Cooper, the other athlete featured. She is an ultra trail runner and has been selected to represent Team GB in the 80km trail race at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in November.
You don’t have to go to these lengths to get fit though. In fact, I have the perfect challenge for you!
While we have all longed for normality to resume, lockdown offered many the time they perhaps never had beforehand to keep active.
Now that many people are back in the office working 9-5, it’s unfortunate but true that we can find it a bit more difficult to set aside some time to keep fit and active.
So if you are up for it, help is at hand in the form of a new Step Count Challenge from Paths For All, which sets two each year, one in spring and the other in autumn. The next one runs from October 25 to November 21.
Don’t worry if you still work at home as I am sure with the numerous apps and gadgets that are available, you can set up the challenges to work remotely.
However, involving your workmates, friends or family, setting up teams and walking together to compete against each other, is a great way to ensure you keep good mental health also.
If you want to register or just find out more visit www.stepcount.org.uk/index
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