by Stewart McConnell

A TROON running club are challenging people to dust down their trainers and get into shape for summer by signing up for a new venture.

Troon Tortoises launched their Jog Scotland programme at an information session held in Marr College on March 8.

And an eight-week block got underway at the school last Thursday.

Aimed at beginners/improvers and established runners this is an eight-week structured training schedule to get people running. Part of the programme will include membership of the Troon Tortoises and the ongoing support throughout your membership.

Taking charge of the sessions are four experts with different skills: Sharon McNicol, Morag Barr, Ricky Sheriff-Short and Kate McKean.

Sharon has been running for four years and is currently studying Health, Fitness and Exercise. She is a local to Troon and has become an established runner completing her first and second marathons last year.

Her knowledge on health and fitness is excellent and she regularly puts the Troon Tortoises through their paces with her cool down sessions and circuits.

Morag is a Troon Weight Watchers expert and guru who knows exactly the struggles people have with exercise and keeping fit.

Her expertise with diet, fitness and motivation is infamous around Ayrshire. She has been running for three years now, having never run before and become addicted. It’s all about feeling good and reaping the benefits for Morag and she focuses on short steady runs instead of distance.

Edinburgh native Ricky is fairly new to Troon and was useless at anything remotely exercise-related and his sports day events were legendary for being the only one to be last at everything.

However that all changed when he went under the tutelage of Troon Tortoises regulars Robert Miller and Colin Buck. He was coached and mentored from 5k to 10k to half marathon and will be doing his first full marathon this year.

Kate has been running for 32 years, has 14 marathons under her belt and will again be doing the London Marathon this year. She is a regular at all the club nights and events and her infectious motivation and positivity keeps everybody going when the going gets tough for new runners.

For more details call 07720 863192 or Troontortoisesmembers@gmail.com or see the group on Facebook and twitter – Troon Tortoises.