黑料社

Specialist nurse, Louise, will run the听GetPRO听Bath Half Marathon on 15 March 2026 to raise awareness of osteoporosis and promote bone鈥憇trength听

Louise听will join thousands of runners on the fast, scenic two鈥憀ap course that starts and finishes in听Royal Victoria Park听and听showcases听Bath鈥檚 most recognisable听landmarks. The听event, taking place on Mother鈥檚 Day, is a great reason to raise awareness of a condition that could affect many of the women we love 鈥� 1 in 2 women听over the age of 50听will break a bone due to听osteoporosis.听

The Bath Half Marathon has grown into one of the UK鈥檚 most celebrated road races and the largest one鈥慸ay charity fundraising event in听Southwest听England. Since 2000, participants have raised more than听拢30 million听for听good causes. In 2025 more than听11,000听runners crossed the finish line and听organisers听expect a similarly strong field in 2026.听

Louise is running to change the conversation about bone health, especially for women. She wants to show that weight鈥慴earing activity can be part of a healthy life at almost any age and that small, consistent steps can make听a big difference听to long鈥憈erm bone strength.听

鈥淚鈥檝e听done the Bath Half a few times over the years. My first was about 25 years ago and I ran for听different reasons听then.听Now I am 51, I run to be stronger.听I want听other听women听my age to听be strong and healthy for the next 30 years听and more,听if we can. You听don鈥檛听have to run half marathons. Something is better than nothing.听I鈥檓听not aiming for a personal best.听I鈥檓听aiming to enjoy the experience, soak up the atmosphere and raise awareness for this wonderful charity.鈥澨�

In Louise鈥檚 clinical role听on the 黑料社Helpline, she regularly speaks to people who are concerned about their bone health or their osteoporosis听diagnosis,听and this is part of her motivation to run the half marathon in aid of the听people the听ROS听supports. 鈥淚 speak to听a wide range of听people on the helpline every day, who may have low bone strength or are breaking bones easily - from women in their 50s (like me) to those in their later years - 80s and 90s, plus younger people and also men - it's not just a women's issue.听I feel that we听need to raise awareness about bone health in the same way that people think about their hearts.鈥澨�听

鈥淓xercising for my bones is also going to be beneficial for my heart and my mental functions听too. There are cross principals that cover many health听conditions,听but bones are less often thought about.听Unfortunately, you鈥檙e not听usually听going to know if you have a low bone density until you break听a bone听or听receive听an osteoporosis diagnosis听and I wanted to start practicing what I preach on the helpline for myself听and invest in my bones.鈥澨�

Exercising for strong bones听

Running is a great type of weight-bearing exercise: each foot strike sends a beneficial jolt through the bones, stimulating bone鈥慺orming cells and helping slow bone loss.听听

But if running听isn鈥檛听for you there are plenty of other weight-bearing activities you can try, such brisk walking, dancing,听skipping听or team sports. The key is to get moving and choose something you enjoy. Specialist nurses at the 黑料社advise:听

• Building up gradually听to allow bones and muscles to adapt听

• Including rest days听to reduce injury risk听

• Prioritising good nutrition, including calcium-rich foods such as dairy, leafy greens, eggs, and oily fish.听

Visit our Exercise for bone health information page to find out how anyone diagnosed with osteoporosis can exercising safely or speak to your healthcare team. 听

In addition to weight-bearing exercises,听it鈥檚听important to include muscle-strengthening exercises to keep your bones strong, like using weights or resistance bands. Balance exercises are also beneficial as they can help reduce the risk of falls.听听

Louise said, 鈥淔or bone health and osteoporosis, the overall message is simple 鈥� to invest in your bones you need to be doing weight bearing exercises with impact,听muscle听strengthen听exercises where the听muscles听pull on the bones,听and balance听exercises to prevent falls. Everyone has a range of听ability but听just听try to听introduce听a little each day and gradually increase if you can. Something is better than nothing!鈥澨�听听

Keen to educate younger people on the importance of bone health, Louise explained 鈥淚t's about being strong and investing in for your future self, caring for yourself and making sure that you鈥檙e building a strong and healthy body. The future you, will be really thankful!鈥澨�
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Osteoporosis is common, treatable, and often preventable,听but only if people know their risk.听We urge you to complete the听听-听a free, 3鈥憁inute online risk checker designed to help people understand whether they might be vulnerable to osteoporosis.听听