ROOKIE runners are being invited to lace up for the popular Coach to 5k course, as it returns to Redditch with four new courses from September.

The weekly nine-week course, which was first introduced by Redditch Borough Council in 2013, is ideal for anyone who wants to ditch the couch and start running.

Cllr Pat Witherspoon, portfolio holder for leisure, said: “If you don’t run and you want to start, Couch to 5k may be perfect for you.

“It’s for all ages, there’s support and coaching from the running clubs Redditch STARS and Kingfisher Harriers, and you will learn to comfortably run five kilometres over the nine weeks.

“Hopefully putting on four new courses throughout the week will mean that anyone who wants to start Couch to 5k will be able to find a session to suit their needs.”

The four new courses include two in the daytime, one in the evening and one at the weekend, starting from Sunday, September 10.

They feature on Sundays at 09.30am at the Abbey Stadium running track, Mondays at 11.30am at Morton Stanley Park meeting at the top car park, Wednesdays at 7.00pm at Arrow Valley Lake meeting at Stitch Meadow, and Thursdays at 9.30am also at the Abbey Stadium running track. They are all £1 per session.

The weekly sessions, which are led by professionals and supported by the NHS, include a series of downloadable podcasts designed to structure each run with music and coaching to develop running technique, speed and stamina progressively over time, as well as a companion smartphone app.

For more information see redditchbc.gov.uk, or contact sports development on 01527 881404 or sd@bromsroveandredditch.gov.uk.