Three 'Parkruns' in Meath kickstart on Saturday
The Irish Heart Foundation has teamed up with parkrun in a six-week initiative to get the local communities in Meath moving. People interested in getting active are welcome to attend their free, local parkrun event each week, to walk at their own pace.
On Saturday March 2nd, the Irish Heart Foundation is encouraging everyone to join their nearby parkrun event and walk for both health and leisure. Register for parkrun at www.parkrun.ie/register, choose #IrishHearts as your club and print the barcode before turning up to walk with your local community. Parkrun events take place in three locations in Meath - Navan, Oldbridge and Deerpark and are free, safe and easy to take part in alongside your local community.
People looking to get active can take up the Irish Heart Foundation’s Move More Walking Challenge; a six-week challenge to allow people achieve physical activity guidelines and walk a 5km route at their own pace with the goal of completing a parkrun walk. Each week, participants will be encouraged to increase their step count, increase the distance they walk as well as introduce some mobility, stretching and strength exercises. Video demonstrations and heart health information will be shared in the weekly parkrun e-zine and parkrun volunteers will be provided with the opportunity for free CPR training.
Janis Morrissey, Head of Health Promotion, Information and Training at the Irish Heart Foundation said: “The Irish Heart Foundation has a long-standing commitment to promoting walking through the Slí na Sláinte programme, with mapped and measured walking routes throughout Ireland and Walking Leader Training for those wishing to lead a walking group in their community or workplace. We are delighted to team up with parkrun to encourage more people in Meath to walk at parkrun events and will assist people with information on healthy eating, physical activity and heart health.”
Matt Shields, Country Manager at parkrun Ireland said: “By teaming up with the Irish Heart Foundation, we are delighted to get more people walking and assist them with video demonstrations and heart health information along the way. Volunteers will have the opportunity to access free CPR training and help protect the lives of our members.”
Regular physical activity can improve your wellbeing as well as reducing your risk of high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke. Make walking part of your life with your local community.
Meath parkruns – Saturday at 9.30am
Navan parkrun Blackwater Park, Windtown Road, Navan,
Oldbridge parkrun Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre, Oldbridge
Deerpark parkrun Deerpark Park, Deerpark Heights, Carlanstown,