Express & Star

Runners warm up ahead of Spitfire 10k

It is not your average gym class.

Published
Runners in the Spitfire 10k have a warm-up session at RAF Cosford Museum

These runners had a unique venue to take part in exercises ahead of a recent run.

They're all competitors from the recent Spitfire 10k, which saw runners race around the RAF Cosford Museum.

And ahead of the run, they were invited to take part in a special warm-up among some of the aircraft on display at the museum.

The session was led by Sergeant Ian Davies, from the school of personal training at the neighbouring RAF base.

Sgt Davies has been working at RAF Cosford for the past three years and was asked by the run organisers to lead some stretching exercises ahead of the run.

Runners in the Spitfire 10k have a warm-up session at RAF Cosford Museum

He said a few years ago he became qualified in men's yoga, called "broga" and has been using the exercises with the trainees he instructs on the base to help build their flexibility along with their regular fitness training.

He runs about two classes a week for about 50 people for both men and women.

He said: "The run started at about 10am and I set up a session where people could just come along and grab a mat.

"I was conscious that people may have been driving for a long time to take part so they might be quite stiff before starting the race.

"We had about 25 or 30 people take part.

"One of the museum's photographers were there and I thought they were quite striking.

"It was a fantastic location.

"Usually we do sessions in the gym, sometimes outside."