Get up and go: an exercise in commitment

It’s back to school time. The unstructured days of summer are drawing to an end and the autumn routine beckons. It’s time to say goodbye to the holiday excuses. September gives us a chance to focus on our new year’s resolutions again; one last attempt for 2014 to get up and go. Take the time to decide what you will do this September to kickstart your exercise routine.

Imagine the person you would like to be by the end of this year. What can you do now to get you moving in that direction? Work out what time you can commit each week to getting active, and put it in the diary. There will always be housework, homework, cooking, caring and jobs to be done. If you are serious about getting moving this autumn you have to make it an appointment in your diary that you cannot cancel. We all have a few minutes to spare each day that can be dedicated to exercise.

You don’t even have to leave your home to get started. There are plenty of exercises you can do in your back garden or even while playing with your kids. We spend so much time indoors, it’s important to make the effort to get outside.

You determine the atmosphere in your home. When you are happy and content, everyone else benefits. You are more calm, relaxed and focused.

Turn it around and picture the stressed, frustrated individual you could also be if you continue not to make time for yourself. Imagine the impact this has on the atmosphere in your home and at work.

Sometimes you have to be a little selfish with your time in the short term to reap the benefits in the long term.

Support

There is so much support out there to help you get moving. Fitness classes, running and walking groups, phone apps, yoga and Pilates classes, fitness videos and interactive games, and gyms are only some of the options available.

Even with this ever-growing number of fitness options, it is not the exercise that is the issue, but the motivation and accountability that is lacking. Put simply, it is too easy to make excuses.

What is going to make you stay committed to your promise on a rainy dark autumn evening? Remember your reasons for getting active. Let that motivate you.

The key is to start small and build up a routine from there. If exercise is too complicated or time-consuming, you will just give up. Get your family and friends involved. Make a commitment to meet someone else. Getting started is the hardest bit. Carve out the time in your day for exercise, and your body and your family will thank you for it.

Set an example for the family this autumn and make exercise your priority.

If you would like to start running, but you struggle to stay motivated, let us help you along the way.

You can start any of our Get Running programmes whenever it suits you. The Get Running beginners’ course will take you right from your armchair up to 30 minutes’ running in just eight weeks. We are there to support you each week with emails, videos, hints and tips to keep you on track. If you are already running 5k, but need a goal or focus for the autumn, why not consider our 10k programme? This will take you from 30 minutes’ running up to 10k in the course of eight weeks.

If you are already running, but have no interest in running a 10k, you really have no excuse as we are delighted to launch a new course this month. Get Running: Stay on Track is suitable for anyone who can run slowly for about 25 minutes, or who is restarting their running.

If you would like to keep running over the autumn, to get stronger over the 5k distance and to build confidence, fitness and enjoyment in your weekly runs, this programme is for you. Stay on Track kicks off next week, and you can sign up now at irishtimes.com/getrunning.

Experiment

Running is not for everyone; it’s up to you to find an activity that you enjoy and will stick to. Experiment with walking, running, cycling, swimming, weights or exercise videos or classes.

If you are lucky enough to live near Portlaoise, take advantage of the fantastic Healthy Town initiative that gets under way today with a series of community-based events, talks and activities to encourage health and wellness.

Mental health, nutrition, fitness, motivation and general wellbeing will all be covered. It’s up to you to make the decision and the time to get active this autumn. It’s not too late to salvage the new year’s resolutions. Let’s get up and go.

For more information about the Healthy Town programme, with new features, tips, recipes and event guides every day, see irishtimes.com/healthytown

Get Running: Stay on Track is designed for people who can run for 25-30 minutes nonstop and would like to do that three times a week. To sign up to this, or to any of our running courses, see irishtimes.com/ getrunning. You can also keep up with us on facebook.com/irishtimesrunning, @IrishTimesRun and email us at fitness@irishtimes.com

Get up, get going: This week's Healthy Town events in Portlaoise Tomorrow : Free public talk "Exercise and motivation" with Mary Jennings, running coach with The Irish Times Get Running programme, Killeshin Hotel at 7pm. Contact: Rachel Ahearne on tel: 01 669 0030 or rachel.ahearne@ogilvy.com

Tomorrow: Yoga for cancer survivors. Registration required. The Cuisle Cancer Support Centre at 11am. Contact: Hilary Brennan at hilarycuisle@gmail.com

Thursday, 11th: IHF Health Check (Public). Family Resource Centre. Contact: Ellen McMeel on tel: 01 6685001 Thursday, 11th: Get into Walking workshop. Portlaoise Leisure Centre, 4pm. Contact: Laois Sports Partnership on tel: 057 8671248; info@laoissports.ie Thursday, 11th: Fast Forward Walking Group, walking group open to all. Different route each week. Meet at the leisure centre on Thursdays. Contact : mybergin@gmail.com

Saturday, 13th: IHF Health Check (Public). Family Resource Centre. Contact: Ellen McMeel on tel: (01) 6685001

Monday, 15th: Walk for life Group. Meet at the leisure centre at 10am. Contact Maura Brophy on tel: 086 8613833

Monday, 15th: Link 2B Active: For those out of work looking to become more active. Various locations. Monday- Sunday. Contact: Laoise Sports Partnership on tel: 057 8671248.

For daily updates, see irishtimes.com/healthytown