Staff and students at the College of West Anglia (CWA) have joined members of the public to run, swim and cycle 1,800 miles throughout the week to celebrate National Fitness Day in conjunction with Alive West Norfolk.
The aim of the ‘Alive Active Mile’ event was to encourage people, not matter their level of fitness, to complete one mile to promote wider inclusion in different types of exercise, healthier lifestyles and wellbeing.
Over 1,690 people participated on the day, with CWA sports student booking out slots on the athletics track to complete their miles over the course of a few days.
Some classes participated virtually over Zoom, thinking up inventive and creative ways to complete their miles and promote more active lifestyles, which included dressing up in fancy dress, playing golf and badminton and their gardens.
CWA Sports Lecturer, Shaun McKenna, completed one mile for each staff member at the Sports campus, totalling seven miles overall. He said:
“It was fantastic to see so many of our students take up the challenge and encourage others to get involved.”
CWA Sports students completing their 'Active Mile' for National Fitness Day
Frances Rayner, Community Development Officer at Alive West Norfolk, said:
“It was great to see the students getting involved and using our athletics track. This is a fantastic facility at Lynnsport and was open on the day for members and non-members to complete their mile. We had a wide range of people taking part across West Norfolk from 3-year olds at nursery to 90-year olds at care homes and every age in between so it really was an all-inclusive event that captured the imagination of West Norfolk. For me personally I wanted to help to inspire people to believe that no matter your ability or age you can stay active and there are so many ways of doing it.”
Sports student, Lynette Morrison, completing her mile on bike
Throughout the week, students and staff were also encouraged to share their fitness journeys and the impact of fitness upon their lives.
CWA staff member, Sarah Cox, ran 12 kilometres for NFD. She said:
“Last year I started Slimming world and to date have lost 9 stone 5 pounds. Exercise has been a big part of my journey, I started walking in September, trying to hit 10,000 steps a few times a week then downloaded the couch to 5km app.
Exercise for me has been really important as it has helped my mental health and gives me some time to myself. I have much more energy and my outlook has totally changed. I now challenge myself and have just completed a 65-mile challenge to run over the course of a month.”
Sarah Cox
Programme Manager of Sport at CWA’s Sport Campus, Scott Leadley, said:
“We are delighted to support this initiative in conjunction with Alive Leisure. We have a strong partnership with the leisure centre, with our Sports Campus being based there, and we are delighted to promote the importance of fitness upon physical health and mental well-being.”
If you’re interested in studying a sports’ programme at CWA, please register for our virtual open days taking place from the end of October onwards at cwa.ac.uk/virtualCWA