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Find your new tribe with this brand new (and free!) couch-to-5k programme

Published 14:55 1 Aug 2025 BST

Sarah McKenna Barry

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Coming soon to six parkrun locations across the country.

Brought to you by Vhi, Presenting partner of parkrun

From the pink pilates princess trend taking over our Instagram feeds to the rise and rise of cross-fit competitions, it's easy to feel like the whole world is part of a fitness programme that just feels too expensive, too extreme and just a little bit out of reach.

Some corners of the modern fitness world can feel very exclusive, but if you're looking to kickstart your own fitness journey in a simple, effective way - and meet a whole new circle of friends along the way - we've got some very good news for you.

Your Happy Pace is a brand new couch-to-5k programme from Vhi that's backed by qualified coaches, geared towards beginners and completely free to join.

The six-week programme supports running newbies and those who may be returning to the sport after a long break discover the joys of parkrun. However, unlike many other programmes, Your Happy Pace comes with a built-in support system to make the training all the more enjoyable. Participants receive real-life in-person training from qualified coaches as well as a tailored training plan, free webinars and a supportive running community group chat on WhatsApp.

What really sets Your Happy Pace apart is its focus on showing up as you are. You won't find yourself feeling shut out by talk of calorie counting or personal bests. Instead, you'll find a supportive community of coaches and fellow runners ready to uplift you at every turn, and the research backs this up. According to a study carried out by Vhi, 99% of parkrun participants said the weekly run makes them feel more socially connected to others, while two in three said they've made friends or social connections that extend beyond the event itself.

The mental health benefits also speak for themselves, with 99% of parkrun participants stating that the event has a positive impact on their mental wellbeing the following week.

Ready to start reaping some of these benefits for yourself? Sign-up to Vhi's Your Happy Pace today. The programme is completely free, however places are limited with 50 spots on offer at each of the following parkrun locations:

Poolbeg parkrun, Dublin
University of Galway parkrun, Galway
Ballincollig parkrun, Cork
Mungret parkrun, Limerick
Castle Park, Kilkenny
Letterkenny parkrun, Donegal

You can find your tribe by signing up at this link right here.