Henry’s Gym, based in East London, encourages members to make good (0) USE of their energy by combining street-running exercise with helping others. What the gym 1 is work with charities and local community groups to assign runners to elderly people and encourage them to drop in for a chat while they are out on their run. 2 came up with the idea must have realized that visits like this would make 3 the difference to some old people’s lives. Having a break in the running can work well from a training 4 of view too. Runners can do a speed run to the house, rest there, have a chat, then do a more gentle, warm-down jog on the way back.
So far, the initiative has been a great success 5 the fact that elderly people living on their own are usually reluctant to let strangers into their homes. 6 a safety measure, every runner, 7 exception, has to have a criminal record check.
The idea has taken off locally, but 8 it will catch on nationally or even further afield is yet to be seen.