Grant Rees, founder of non-profit Fans to 5K on how rugby and football fans can get fit and earn points for their beloved clubs, creating a healthy rivalry in more ways than one.
Watch the full chat with Grant Rees below:
Can’t do it for yourself but could you do it for your team?
On average people in the UK don’t move enough. We all know the stats aren’t good. Motivation can be a big part of the problem. But would scoring points for Gloucester Rugby, Cheltenham Town or whichever team you love – help spark you into putting on your running shoes?
That’s the idea behind Fansto5k – your miles covered, in training and park runs are converted into points in the app and contribute to your club’s standing in the league table.
Grant Rees, an endurance coach and personal trainer, came up with the idea. And he believes harnessing the power of team tribalism is already getting sedentary people moving.
“Being a passionate sports fan and understanding what fans will do to follow their club, I wanted to link the two together,” Rees told Sport and Life.
“Probably the biggest accolade is to represent your club and give every fan that access and to do so through movement.”
Mary the Weston fan ditches the car and clocks up the miles
Rees is a big sports fan – Bristol Rovers, Bristol Bears and Gloucestershire County Cricket Club – and while he’s always been a keen exerciser he’s found that the team element has sparked a lot of people into action.
“Instead of telling people to move more were asking people to represent their club.
“In the table we had last time Bristol Rovers won it. Weston-super-Mare came second. The joint top scorer in the last delivery was Mary, a Weston fan.
“Mary used to drive up and get her bread and milk in the morning. When this started she would walk her mile, get her bread and milk and do a four-mile detour. Each day she’d do five miles for Weston.
“Weston was aware of this and they actually awarded her a trophy.”
Gloucester Rugby onboard as clubs see the benefit of connection
Gloucester Rugby has recently come onboard with Fans to 5K and Rees says there’s value in it for the clubs too – as they get to connect with their supporters on another level and reach people who can’t attend games.
“Only one team gets bragging rights, but everyone wins. Clubs are more connected with their fan base. Fans are moving more and more engaged and communities are uplifted because of it.”
The new season of Fans To 5K is upon us
The next instalment of Fans to 5K was due to launch Monday June 8th – giving Gloucester fans the chance to triumph over other sports clubs by racking up their miles to propel The Cherry and Whites up the table.
“In our next upcoming event we’ve got 11 clubs that are all fighting in one table.
“This is designed to be wholesome for everyone. Everyone can access this no matter what sport you follow. Come along, join in, your mile matters, your movement matters.”
There is no level of required fitness to get going – walkers are welcome. Although Rees says people can’t help but get fit during the 10-week chunk. The app breaks down how to approach training too for newbies.
“We’re essentially set up to help someone get 5K active. Whether that be walk, jog or run. The aim is that after our 10 weeks we’ll do a park run and everyone can go on their park run in their club colours.
Gloucester fans if you want to get fit and represent The Cherry and Whites doing it, you’ll find the app HERE.
