A good way to slow down

As the New Year fitness buzz subsides and motivation may wane, GoodGym has partnered with Slow Ways; a great way to keep moving during February and March.

Taking place over four weekends from Saturday 18th February to Sunday 12th March, GoodGymmers across the country are invited to sign up to the sessions to complete Slow Ways routes.

What is Slow Ways?

Slow Ways is an initiative to create a national network of walking routes connecting all of Great Britain’s towns and cities as well as thousands of villages.

Using existing paths, ways, trails and roads, people can use Slow Ways routes to travel between neighbouring settlements, and combine them to create longer distance trips. It’s designed to make it easier for people to imagine, plan and go on walking journeys.

You can walk or run the routes during your GoodGym x Slow Ways session, but that's up to you.

How can GoodGym help?

You'll be walking and running the routes alongside other GoodGymers, taking note of any access issues, overgrown paths or parts of the route which have changed. You'll then review the route for others to enjoy.

There are 3 simple steps to reviewing a Slow Ways route:

1. You walk or run the route.

2. Take note of any issues on the route. These might be access issues or secluded areas others might wish to avoid at night.

3. Review the route on the Slow Ways website where you can also add photos to help future route users.

Why attend a GoodGym x Slow Ways session?

These are just some of the benefits of joining a session.

🚶 Join a session knowing that just a good walk or run is going to be helping the foundations of a national initiative aimed to help more people get outdoors. Your help with verifying routes will mean that other will feel more confident to join in.

👥 Take a friend with you for some time outdoors. Maybe even take someone who doesn't get out very often or who is tempted to join GoodGym but not sure.

🌳 Slow Ways helps the environment by providing up to date information that enables more of us to use pathways rather than motorways.

🐝 Some sessions will include things such as wildlife surveys too. Or why not join in one yourself and share it with your GoodGym area to get involved.

🧠 More time walking outdoors is better for mental health. So boost your wellbeing by comitting to joining each of the weekends for some well-needed you time.

How can I sign up?

Simply sign up as normal. Full instructions will be available when you sign up to a GoodGym x Slow Ways session via the GoodGym sessions page.

More info on how we are getting involved can be found here

Find your GoodGym X Slow Ways session here or ask your Area Activator about a setting up a session near you.