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FISH out of water CHIPS are a big part of Claudio Zecchino’s life. The 38-year-old Glaswegian owns a busy fish and chip shop in the east end of Scotland’s biggest city, but more recently he has added another kind of chip to his life – the ones you strap around your ankle to time your progress in athletics events. After being bitten by the running bug about 18 months ago, Zecchino has become the latest success story for the innovative jogscotland scheme. Despite spending every day producing fast food in a city that is widely regarded as the unhealthiest in Europe, he has become a jogscotland group leader and during that time lost three stone in weight. “I started when I saw a jogscotland poster in my own shop,” he explains. “So I thought I’d give it a try.” The jogscotland programme was established in 2002 by Scottish Athletics and has grown to include more than 300 groups with 1200 trained jog leaders such as Zecchino. Its goal is to increase the number of people who walk, jog or run. Backed by the Scottish Executive, Sport Scotland and NHS Scotland, it also hopes to improve the health of the Scottish nation generally. Zecchino had tried to run previously, but until he discovered jogscotland he found the process of putting one foot in front of the other boring. “I’d tried to run but couldn’t stick to it,” he says. “It was tedious. But running in a jogscotland group was different – it felt comfortable and the focus was on conversing and enjoying yourself as you pass the time of day.” Since starting to run, Zecchino has improved to tackle 10km events. This September he is planning to run a half-marathon. Next year he feels he might be ready to graduate to the marathon. “Without a doubt,” he says. But as long as he’s enjoying himself he is in no rush. “It’s given me a new lease of life,” he says. “Not only do I feel physically a lot fitter and healthier, but it’s made me mentally sharper too.” He continued: “Don’t get me wrong – I still enjoy a sausage supper, but by exercising more I can eat these things with out piling the weight on.
I run two or three times a week and play
five-a-side football.” But in a good way – and of course there are worse things that can take over your life than running. “It has changed my whole outlook,” he explains. “I am conscious of my eating habits now and looking to aspire to run quicker times.” More than his own performances, though, he adds: “My running is no longer about my own times and fitness, I love getting someone in for the first time and supporting them down the journey I took. I think me owning the chippy helps – it helps people see running as something that is achievable and doesn’t depend on a diet of lettuce and water. Some of my best joggers have also been my best customers, the key is not to try and change too much at once, and to do events like the challenge runs to keep it exciting.” There have been talks to copy the jogscotland initiative in other parts of the United Kingdom and not surprisingly Zecchino agrees. “It’s a great scheme and the groups are very structured. It’s changed my life,” he says. ► FOR more information see www.jogscotland.org.uk
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