The Health and Fitness Goals the Sport, Exercise and Health Team Are Setting For 2025

Posted on by Megan Leeson

As we enter a new year, many of us will be thinking of some New Year goals to set ourselves. Instead of framing these goals as strict resolutions, why not think of them as intentions? Making this small shift enables room for a more flexible approach to our goals, focusing on progress, flexibility and self-compassion 💪. Our Development Officer, Molly Poulter William, asked the Sport, Exercise and Health team what their intentions are for 2025 in this week’s blog post.

Love them or hate them, New Year Resolutions are a hot topic in January. Social media ‘For You’ pages across the globe are full of ‘New Year, New Me’ messages, Pinterest-worthy vision boards, goal-setting journal prompts and pseudo-scientific motivational quotes. And here we are, adding another New Year blog into the mix…

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A Runner’s Guide to Tackling the Cold Weather

Posted on by Megan Leeson

As we head deeper into winter and the temperature drops, many runners face a pivotal decision: retreat to the treadmill or embrace the brisk outdoors. In this week’s blog post, our Marketing and Communications Officer Sophie, discusses how to motivate yourself to get running outdoors and make the most of the cold weather!

The cold can seriously impact willpower when it comes to tackling that long weekend run. This weekend I was reticent to go out in the cold, but I’m glad I did. I am a bit of a fair-weather runner, myself. If it rains, it takes a lot of internal battling to get my feet out of the front door. I imagine snow would take even more of a talking up! It seems like everyone gets into a frenzy when snow descends upon England, we are not equipped to deal with it. However, I did see some dedicated runners plugging away at their miles yesterday. Good for them! (more…)

How Tennis Can Increase Life Expectancy More Than Any Other Sport

Posted on by Megan Leeson

Ever wondered which sport can help you live the longest? In this week’s blog, our Director of Tennis Andy Trott, discusses the numerous benefits that playing tennis has on your health and wellbeing, as well as record-breaking numbers for our University Tennis department!

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) recently published its Global Tennis Report which, amongst other things, identified that there are now over 100 million people playing tennis around the world. This is the first time the sport has ever reached over 100 million people in one year. The report also highlighted where the greatest growth in the sport is coming from based (per capita) and it’s good news for British Tennis! The report confirmed that 13.4% of the population play tennis, a greater percentage of the population than of any in the world.

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University of Bristol Ladies Hockey Club Charity Day at Coombe Dingle

Posted on by Megan Leeson

This week’s blog post is written by the University of Bristol Ladies Hockey Club, as they hosted a charity day on 13 November. From taking over the @bristolunisport Instagram stories for the day, to bringing their hockey kit in a microwave, read what else they got up during the day!

The 13 November saw University of Bristol Ladies Hockey Club (UBLHC) takeover of Coombe Dingle, with four teams playing BUCS matches against opposition from Bath, Cardiff and Hartpury. But the fun didn’t stop there. We hosted a charity day alongside our matches, raising money for two Bristol-based charities that we have worked closely with before: Bristol Hygiene Bank and The Bridge, which offers support to individuals after experiencing sexual assault.

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Rise and Shine or Unwind? Exploring the Benefits of Morning and Evening Workouts

Posted on by Megan Leeson

Earlier this term, we opened our first new gym in over 20 years! Located in Hiatt Baker, the largest hall of residence at the University, students living in this accommodation can now keep active more conveniently. However; whether you live near a gym or not, exercising in all forms in the morning and evening has many benefits! In this week’s blog, our Facilities and Operations Manager, Gordon Aitken, discusses these physical, mental and emotional benefits.

Incorporating sport and physical activity into your daily routine, particularly at the start and end of the day, can offer numerous physical, mental, and emotional benefits. Whether you’re a morning exerciser, an evening athlete, or both, there are distinct advantages to scheduling workouts during these key times of day. This is the beauty of the new gym that has opened this term at Hiatt Baker, enabling busy students to best incorporate being active into their lives.

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5 Ways Walking Benefits Your Mental Health

Posted on by Megan Leeson

Bristol Moves+ is an app designed to support University of Bristol students and staff who may have lower activity levels to achieve more daily movement, for the benefit of their mental and physical health.

In this article we will focus on how activity (particularly walking) benefits our mental health, as well as our physical health.

Physical activity can seem harder to achieve as the days get shorter and the dark draws in. But understanding how it can benefit you – alongside finding a way to build it into your routine – can be a really effective way of sticking to it and enhancing your mental wellbeing.

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How the Strength and Conditioning Team are Supporting Youth Programmes

Posted on by Megan Leeson

After a busy summer getting our performance sports clubs prepared for the upcoming BUCS season, our Head of Strength and Conditioning Coach Calum Conway discusses how the University’s Strength and Conditioning team are also supporting our youth programmes.

Pre-season S&C at the OWL gym at Coombe Dingle

Pre-season was an incredible opportunity to welcome our performance sports back to Coombe Dingle Sports Complex and provide four weeks of preparation ahead of the 2024/24 BUCS season. However, the Strength and Conditioning (S&C) department were also hard at work preparing a number of other clubs this summer, making use of the facilities and expertise on campus.

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How to Return to Sport and Competition After a Long Break

Posted on by Megan Leeson

Whether you’re new to a sport or want to get back into moving more, our Business Development Officer Vicky Dickson shares her story and top tips on how to return to sport and competition after a long break.

I am an endurance athlete, an adventurer and someone who likes to test my personal limits. I have taken on a 24-hour event, completed 75 miles (120.7km) in June, and am aiming for a 100-mile event next year. Two years ago I left the sport and activity that I had built up over the years, mentally broken. (more…)

The Trio Cycling the Length of Norway in Memory of Their Friend

Posted on by Megan Leeson

Ed Watson, fourth year Medicine student and outgoing (2023/24) Club Captain for Men’s Hockey shares his story on how he, along with his brother James Watson and his friend Tommy Davies, are remembering their friend who sadly passed away in December 2022. The trio are cycling 3100km to raise money for The Tom Love Trust; a charity set up in their friend’s name.

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The Power of Sport Volunteering in Communities

Posted on by Megan Leeson

This week’s blog is from our Development Officer in Sport Inclusion, Joe Leaver, who visited Ghana in 2016 to support a local football club. Hear about Joe’s experience of sports volunteering and the power of sport in communities! 

Back in 2016, I decided to use my football coaching and playing experience to support a football club just outside of Accra, Ghana. I had long been interested in football development and knew that there were many talented footballers in Africa for whom opportunities to develop themselves in the sport barely exist. I wanted to volunteer and offer my services in a way that would help. (more…)