A 38-year-old father of two from Chesterfield has spoken about how running has ‘changed his life’ – and now plans to take on the 2019 Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon.

Ryan Wood, from Netherthorpe, has undergone a ‘complete lifestyle change’ after taking up running just 12 months ago. Last year, Ryan completed the 2018 Peak FM Five Mile Run – one of the Chesterfield Half’s core events – and is now training for the full 13.1-mile Redbrik Half.

Having recently completed the event’s full distance in training, Ryan hopes to tackle the challenging route in less than two hours on 20 October.

“I’ve seen a massive improvement across the board since taking up running,” said Ryan.

“Not only have I lost two stone in weight, but I’ve also undergone a complete lifestyle change. I sit down a lot of the time for work – either driving or in the office – so it was essential that I got up and out more and did something to get active.

“I’m up and wide awake earlier and after going for a morning run. I feel completely switched on, so it’s benefitted me mentally in terms of my productivity and how I feel, as well as physically. Running has had such a positive effect on me – I wouldn’t be where I am now without it.”

The 38-year-old, who lives with his partner and two children, had not run properly before training for the Peak FM Five Mile Run in 2018, when he hit the streets and started on what would be an impressive journey.

And, since starting training for last year’s Peak FM Five Mile Run, Ryan has completed 35 Parkruns in the year since – shaving five minutes off his personal best.

“I didn’t know how I’d feel running in crowds and having people cheering you through the streets,” said Ryan.

“But you can just feed off the energy in the crowd – it was fantastic last year and I can’t wait to experience it again.”

Meanwhile David Beckford, managing director at Pronto Paints, has praised Ryan’s efforts.

The company has returned to sponsor the Redbrik Half Marathon’s Wellbeing Challenge in 2019 following a successful inaugural year which saw 15 businesses enter in teams across all the Half Marathon’s events – the full 13.1-mile Redbrik Half, the Peak FM Five Mile Run and the 1km Blachford Fun Run, which takes part in Queen’s Park during the main event.

David said: “We’re very proud of what Ryan’s achieved since he took up running, it’s amazing to see how far he’s come in such a short space of time.”

“At Pronto Paints, we’re all about workplace health and wellbeing – hence our excitement at partnering with the Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon to really push the event’s Wellbeing Challenge.”

“Exercise and physical activity should be a huge part of our daily lives, and at Pronto we’re aiming to engineer exercise back into the workplace.”

“The Half Marathon carries a hugely significant message – running and exercise can be for everyone, no matter what your level of fitness. We hope Ryan’s story can inspire others looking to (literally!) follow in his footsteps.”

The 2019 Pronto Paints Wellbeing Challenge incorporates the Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon and Peak FM Five Mile Run, together with the Blachford Fun Run, and will take place on 20 October 2019, with a start time of 9:30am.

To enter the 2019 Pronto Paints Wellbeing Challenge, email info@redbrikchesterfieldhalf.com to declare a group entry. Each group which declares its entry into the Wellbeing Challenge will receive a 10% discount code into the event.

For full details or to enter, click here.

Photo caption: Pronto Paints’ Ryan Wood.

The Chatsworth Arts Festival returns for its fifth edition this September with talks, performance, music and film from an eclectic line-up of international artists, curators, collectors and writers working in design, music, theatre, sculpture, painting, dance, textiles, ceramics, books and gardens.

Running from 20-22 September, headline acts for this year’s festival include musician, writer and poet Jarvis Cocker, a figurehead for Britpop as frontman of Pulp and a revered cultural figure; one of the UK’s leading contemporary artists Mark Wallinger who represented Britain at the Venice Biennale in 2001 and won the Turner Prize in 2007; gardener, cook and tv presenter Sarah Raven; plus Gucci ‘Artist in Residence’ Rachel Feinstein, whose stay at Chatsworth has inspired her recently unveiled, baroque-styled sculpture ‘Britannia’, found in the estate’s garden.

More than 25 artists will fill out the bill for the three-day festival which takes place across the famous house and garden at the Peak District home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, who are passionate supporters of the Arts. The full programme can be found here and this year’s key exhibition is ‘The Dog – A Celebration at Chatsworth’. Artist Ben Long will be giving a talk in the shadow of his 8-metre high Dog Scaffolding Sculpture, which overlooks the festival site.

Supported by Sotheby’s, Laurent-Perrier and Golden Bottle Trust, the festival is the only UK event of its kind, featuring public talks about art, workshops and performances, by artists, makers and designers. Previous festivals have hosted the likes of contemporary artist Grayson Perry CBE, visual artist Cornelia Parker OBE, fashion designer Erdem and garden designer Dan Pearson.

Taking place at locations across the house and garden, this year’s festival-goers will also be able to enjoy the remodelling of the 5-acre Rockery, the first part of the biggest transformation of Chatsworth’s world-famous 105-acre garden for 200 years. The garden project follows the completion in 2018 of the 10-year restoration of the house and its interiors.

Images courtesy of Chatsworth House Trust