Couch to 5k kicks off again!
The couch to 5k kicks off again in 2026. Even with the first two runs down, it’s not too late to join in!
The Couch to 5k takes part on a Wednesday 5pm-6pm and the group also meet on a Sunday at Halton Moor Boxing club at 10am for a walk, run or just a cuppa. They cover a variety of distances and all abilities are welcome. Whether you are starting the Couch to 5k or a seasoned runner, there is a run to suit you.
Recovery Runners is an established all-inclusive running club founded by Dean Smith and Jamie Heselden. The Couch to 5k is a program which follows the ‘Couch to 5k NHS app’ building your cardiovascular ability over the course of 9 weeks. During 2025 the club successfully built 60+ runners up to the goal of running a full 5k.
Group shot of runners outside 5 WAYS
I spoke with Dean earlier this week where he spoke on the year just gone, where a lot has happened. After gaining sponsorship from ‘Getting clean’ a Recovery based mutual aid organisation Recovery runners have followed steps in becoming a Lived Experience Recovery Organisation (LERO) helping Leeds move towards a Recovery City.
Recovery runners also gained Charity status, becoming a Community Interest Company (CIC) Launched their website and through the club’s history have been put up for and won various awards including the Inspirational Community Champions Awards following their partnership with the Parklane Foundation. Along with the honour of of being asked to join with BBC Radio Leeds in a 3 Legged race to help raise money for Children in Need.
Dean stressed “We don’t do it for the awards, we don’t for how great we are because it’s not about us. It’s about the people but it is nice to be recognised. Nice to see that people see what we’re doing and allows us then to say a few words about who we are and what we’re doing now”.
Various members also took part in the Abbey dash where they braved the whether to complete the 10k run. This is a great testament to the runners who not only stuck out the couch to 5k but went on and progressed up to running a full 10k.
Dean mentioned how great it is for people not only to stick at something achieve their first 5k but continue to run each week because of the friendship bult and sense of support when taking part as part of a community.
“We’re a walking Talking club with a run thrown in”.