A WEST FIFE running group that promotes physical and mental health for all ages and abilities are going for gold in a national awards ceremony.

Ready, Steady, Go Pitreavie (RSGP), part of Pitreavie Amateur Athletics Club, have their sights set on sharing a podium with Olympic gold-medallist Dame Kelly Holmes after being nominated for a prize by scottishathletics.

The sport's governing body will host their annual awards ceremony on Saturday and the group, established by Nicola Moriarty and Anita Dow in June 2016, are one of three that have been shortlisted for the jogscotland Jog Group of the Year accolade.

Nicola opted initially to join Pitreavie AAC Endurance (PAACE) but struggled to overcome her own perception that she wasn't a 'real runner'.

After reading a jogscotland article, she decided to start a group that could feed into the main running group, while offering support and boosting confidence to anyone looking to get involved, and it has gone from strength to strength.

Held in a fun, informal and encouraging environment, sessions are tailored to ensure everyone trains together regardless of experience or ability, while new members of the group can take part in a 10-week 'Couch to 5K' programme, which culminates in a graduation ceremony at a local parkrun event.

Many joggers from the group have progressed from complete beginners to competitive runners, representing the club across a range of distances and disciplines, including at the recent East District Cross-Country Championships, in which PAACE had four women's teams, with half of the runners coming from the jog group.

In addition, Nicola, who is one of two qualified coaches alongside Andrew Aird that run sessions alongside a team of volunteer jog leaders, hosts a Friday fitness club at the Pitreavie clubhouse.

Nicola said: "There are over 400 jog groups in Scotland so to be one of three recognised this year is a tremendous honour for everyone involved in our club.

"There is some amazing work being done by jog groups in Fife and we regularly get together and invite each other to our events. Between us, we're committed to helping Fife get fit, one jogger at a time.

"We will have jog leaders, coaches and Couch to 5K graduates at the awards ceremony, and we will all have a great night, whatever the outcome. We might even try to recruit Dame Kelly to join us for a Sunday session!"

The awards, which will be hosted by Dame Kelly Holmes, takes place at Glasgow's Hilton Hotel. For more information about Ready, Steady, Go Pitreavie, contact rsgpaac@gmail.com.