Tonight is a big night! We kick off Season 25 of Beat the Couch this evening and it’s making me feel a little teary I confess. What began as a one-off experiment in 2013, snowballed into a twice-yearly fixture on Bermuda’s fitness calendar and we couldn’t be more proud of how it’s evolved. Beat the Couch is a beginner’s running programme that gets participants off the couch and 5k fit in 10 weeks, but it’s also so much more.

One of my favourite testimonials from past participants goes “today I feel like a different person, I have achieved something I never thought I would and I have a new outlook on what I can achieve if I have the support and determination”.

And that’s the crux of it right there. Success with one goal, often leads to success in another.

When we began Beat the Couch and started to help people get fit, we had no idea the impact it would have on self-esteem as a whole.

That, coupled with some kind of magical chemistry that has built incredible camaraderie between participants, is my favourite thing about this programme!

Although wait, there is one thing more. Beat the Couch attracts a really wide age-range, with our youngest runner being 12 and our eldest being 72.

Of these however, we do have a lot of parents with young children.

We have a ton of training options and the flexibility makes it an ideal fit for those unpredictable schedules and clashing priorities.

On race day, it is pure magic to watch kids faces as their parents come over the line. Regardless of where their parent comes in the race, they are always so proud (and always try to steal their medal.)

And it seems to trigger a little fire under the feet of the kids … when they their parents running, they want to run too.

Which leads me to this … if you run, they will follow. It’s never too early (or too late) to role-model fitness for your children.

So, Season 25 starts off with Intro Night tonight! Training itself only begins next week, so if you you’re tempted to join us (and we would love you to) then check out all the information online at waterfrontwellness.bm.

We have a payment plan for anyone who needs it, as well as special rates for those who would like to form teams (we have a Corporate Cup and a Friends and Family Cup.)

If that’s not quite enough to convince you, here are some of my favourite benefits of running! (So come on, sign up now!)

Drink in your Bermuda

Sometimes we’re too busy to notice the small stuff. The lizard on the wall, the sun on the water, the cool old ladies on the porch.

Running gives you time to drink it all in. The random, the beautiful, the completely hidden away.

Time to think, or not think. Running gives you time and space to think. Sometimes no music is the best music.

I’d love to know how many inventions, start-ups or marketing campaigns were born on a run. But sometimes it’s therapeutic to plug in, drown out the world and go. Either way, running becomes your time.

When you see progress

Progress isn’t always measured by times and races. One weekend, halfway through my own 5k training, Belle took off across the grass towards a busy road.

I was by her side in the blink of an eye. I didn’t have to heave myself up. I wasn’t out of breath when I got there.

I was finally fit enough to keep up with my kids. It was something so simple but I was completely elated. Mission accomplished.

A biochemical boost

Running will improve your body tone and composition, but it will also improve the way your immune system functions, reducing the severity and duration of colds and flu.

Regular exercise is associated with better disease prevention and management outcomes as well as stimulating lymph flow and digestion.

My personal favourite for Bermuda is that, as exercise helps to manage weight and improve the efficacy of insulin, it’s a powerful tool against type 2 diabetes. What’s not to love?

You will never, ever regret it

No one comes in from a run saying they wish they hadn’t gone.

No matter how hard it was to leave the house, you always feel great when you’re done.

I still remember one of our clients saying to me, “This is the first time I have completed a fitness goal, ever!” That was just the beginning.

• The advice given in this article is not intended to replace medical advice, but to complement it. Always consult your GP if you have any health concerns. Catherine Burns BA Hons, Dip ION, BNTA is a fully qualified Nutritional Therapist trained by the Institute for Optimum Nutrition in Britain. Join Catherine on Facebook: www.facebook.com/nutrifitandnaturalnutritionbermuda or instagram @naturalbda.