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Ambleside aims for 5K newbies

Scott Umpleby, head of fundraising at the Brathay Trust, has issued a rallying call to all non-runners to compete in the charity’s newest event, the Ambleside 5K, stating: “Our first 5k event is aimed at those who have never run a timed race before or people who don’t believe they can run, but are up for a challenge. Getting off the couch and out of the front door is half the battle”

Indeed, the Ambleside race on Sunday 19 May looks like it may well be a premier setting to kick-start any runners’ CV: the front lawn of Brathay Hall near Ambleside, which overlooks England’s largest lake, Windermere, is the picture perfect start and finish line for all three events with an estimated 1,300 runners taking part.

The 5k will form part of a weekend that includes the ASICS Windermere Marathon, which boasts a unique status as being one of the very few 26.2 mile runs to be set entirely within a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The event was originally staged from 1982-1986 before the Brathay Trust revived the race in 2007.

Speaking of the 5k and how this can be a stepping stone to longer distances, Scott said: “We believe that every young person has the capacity to do extraordinary things. For many that takes great resilience, will power and determination, the same skills we see in those tackling our running, cycling, walking and rowing events. We also know challenge is personal. A 5k race can be as daunting for one person as running 10 marathons in 10 days is for another.

“If you can and you are prepared to follow a programme like the free and widely available ‘Couch to 5k’ you’ll soon find you are running more than you are walking. And then you can run 5k and you have a medal to prove it. Running is great for the body, and for the mind, boosting mood and self-esteem. It’s also free and it should be easy to find a route from home or work.

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