Run 4 Wales is delighted to announce an innovative partnership with Healthspan, the UK’s leading direct vitamin and supplement supplier, to improve the health and wellbeing of people across Wales.

The wellbeing experts have joined forces with the team behind Wales’ largest mass-participation running and cycling events to promote healthier lifestyles in every corner of the country.

The partnership will give Healthspan engagement with over 60,000 fitness enthusiasts who will take part in Run 4 Wales’ growing portfolio of events this year. This includes the ever popular Cardiff University/Cardiff Half Marathon, the UK’s newest full marathon, the ABP Newport Wales Marathon and VELOTHON Wales, the country’s largest closed road cycling sportive.

As part of the new association, Welsh Olympic silver medallist and former relay world champion Iwan Thomas will front an exciting new wellbeing initiative, The Healthspan 10, giving new runners a head-start across three popular 10K races.

The Healthspan 10 initiative has been launched to emphasise the principles of staying active, eating well and being positive to those who want to achieve a greater sense of overall wellbeing.

Three groups of 10 social media recruits will become Team Healthspan at the Brecon Carreg Cardiff Bay Run, ABP Newport Wales 10K and Brecon Carreg Barry Island 10K. They will be helped every step of the way by a range of Healthspan products and content as well as the expertise of Welsh running royalty Iwan Thomas, who will join the team on the start line at August’s Brecon Carreg Barry Island 10K.

Iwan Thomas said: “I cannot wait to get down to work with my team of Healthspan 10 runners. Healthspan’s range of vitamins and supplements combined with Run 4 Wales’ trio of flat, fast and friendly 10K events will have these new runners feeling the benefits of their new healthier lifestyles in no time at all.

“I’m passionate about helping people on their path to a better future, and what better place to get started than at some of South Wales’ most iconic locations. No one said it was going to be easy, but Healthspan’s tailor-made products and some training know-how will introduce the Healthspan 10 to a brighter future.”

Speaking about the new partnership, double Olympic Marathon Runner and Run 4 Wales Race Director Steve Brace said: “Every year thousands of individuals use training for a Run 4 Wales event as way of improving their health and wellbeing, a fact that we are immensely proud of.

“The new relationship with Healthspan is so exciting because of the shared value of a healthier and happier nation. In particular, the Healthspan 10 initiative provides a platform for engagement with those that are new to the fitness world and need that extra bit of encouragement and support.”

“We look forward to spreading Healthspan’s mantra of attaining wellbeing through a healthy and active lifestyle at our growing portfolio of mass-participation events.”

Healthspan CEO Tim Pethick added: “This partnership with Run 4 Wales is one of our most exciting yet. We passionately believe that in conjunction with a healthy diet and positive outlook, everybody should stay active to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Running is one of the purest forms of exercise and accessible to almost everybody so we are delighted to support Run 4 Wales in the pursuit to get more people on their feet.

Any exercise naturally increases the nutritional demands and physical stress on our body. Through this partnership and the Healthspan 10 initiative, we will provide the support and nutrition to keep Wales in the best of health.”

Recruitment of the 10 Healthspan runners for each of the 3 Run 4 Wales 10k events will begin tomorrow (20th March). To find out more, or to enter the competition to be part of the Healthspan 10 Initiative at the Brecon Carreg Cardiff Bay Run, visit http://www.cardiffbayrun.co.uk/healthspan-10/