It's the start of a new year and as is always the case, there will be plenty people looking to embark on a healthier lifestyle in the weeks and months ahead. One way in which many of them will choose to get fit is by starting to run - and who can blame them? We all know the benefits are immense. 

Perhaps you started at a jogscotland group yourself, maybe you still run with one? Have you graduated up through the ranks and now find yourself leading some runs? What those at jogscotland HQ want to know is: "Could you inspire others to improve their wellbeing by getting active with jogscotland?"

The initiative's Leadership in Running Fitness course will teach you all you need to know to become a jog leader, so you can set up your own group, or lead with an existing group. The course is delivered through a combination of online and in-person learning, and they have just added new dates to the calendar through to spring, so why not make 2023 the year you take the next step on your jogging journey?

Leadership in Running Fitness 2023 Dates

• 5 February – Scotstoun
• 19 February – Livingston
• 11 March – Aberdeen
• 25 March – Grangemouth Stadium
• 15 April – Inverness
• 16 April  Meadowmill

You don’t have to be fast to be a jog leader – some of the best jog leaders are those who remember well what it was like to be a beginner, and can really relate to those taking their own first steps. A spokesperson at jogscotland said: "The most important things are to have a passion for helping others get active; a willingness to understand the obstacles that can make that a challenge, and the enthusiasm to help people overcome them."

You can find out more about the Leadership in Running Fitness course on the jogscotland website.

Image: jogscotland