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04/12/2021

£4,000 in grants for Vale of York

Vale of York has been awarded £4,000 in grants from Selby Town Council (£3,432) and Selby District Council (£540).

This will enable us to buy new indoor athletics equipment and continue Athletics 4 All till at least the end of 2022.
Official publicity coming soon, but I thought you would all like to know about our early Xmas present!
 
We have more bids in the pipeline and charity status submitted for approval so this is just the beginning.
 
Thank you for all your support getting our grassroots community initiative off the ground.
 
If anybody can offer help in terms of coaching, administration or volunteering in any way as we grow then please let me know. Full training and development is provided and we will meet your course costs as long as you can commit to us for a year.
12/09/2021

First and Third Female for Vale of York Duo

Nicola Henderson picked up the prize for first woman in the F40 age category at the Bramham 10K today, while VOYAC team mate Emma Winter took third place.

Both women were delighted with their results.

Nicola said afterwards, “It was a tough course with a brutal climb at the end. I just had to hang on for the last mile. I couldn’t do much more.”

Emma marvelled at her medal from her first ever 10K race. “This first one is so special,” she said. “But now I want more!”

The women were joined at the event by Lee Lockwood, who was using the race as training for his sub 4 hour marathon attempt at York Marathon in four weeks’ time.

Lee was as sanguine as ever. “It’s another training run in the bank,” he said. “Bring on the marathon now.”

02/01/2021

Beginnings Are Easy

Beginning of a road race

Beginnings are easy. It’s middles that are hard.

Take your typical New Year’s resolution to eat healthy and get fit. Setting a goal like this, with the energy and excitement of a New Year promising a new you, is a piece of cake. But how will you be getting on two weeks in, as we approach the middle of the month?

If you have given up already, you are not alone. According to research by the University of Scranton in the US, a staggering 92% of all New Year’s resolutions fail. If you want to be part of the 8% that succeed, you need to get better at the difficult middles. You do this by making plans not goals.

The plans you make should be specific and realistic. Visualise your new behaviours in as much detail as possible. What time of the day will you exercise? Where will you go? What will you say when someone offers you a drink in the middle of Dry January? If you can visualise some specifics and rehearse them, you stand a much better chance of success. Be realistic about what you can achieve as well. If you’ve not run for years, you will not finish a marathon by the end of the month. Walk before you can run, or else you are setting yourself up for failure.

Middles last a long time, so before you start, make sure you have support along the way. Don’t do everything on your own. Buddy up with someone who will encourage you and hold you accountable. A good friend won’t berate you for making minor mistakes, and you shouldn’t beat yourself up if you fall off the wagon once or twice. Dust yourself off and jump back on again. Do not let perfection be the enemy of good.

Above all, enjoy working towards a healthier and fitter you. Don’t obsess with outcomes like losing weight, but enjoy moving your body more and eating nutritious food. Let your plans take care of the processes in the middle and the outcomes will take care of themselves.

COVID has hit everyone hard, so Vale of York is here with tips and tricks every week to keep your 2022 health and fitness plans on track.