\u2018I do it to get through it and say I can do it,’ she said of her approach to running the Great North Run, which she’s done numerous times over the years. ‘I can\u2019t nag the kids about doing stuff if I don\u2019t do it myself. So well-being-wise, I always have something to train for.’<\/p>\n
Running is just one part of Skelton’s fitness routine, but she’s not a keen gym-goer. For her, the key is enjoyment \u2013 and while the gym might be a source of joy for some people, Skelton says she finds her joy in other places.<\/p>\n
‘I\u2019ve always said I exercise to keep my head peachy, rather than my bum peachy,’ she explained. ‘I do it for me \u2013 you\u2019ve got to enjoy it. I can\u2019t just go to the gym for going to the gym\u2019s sake \u2013 I sort of wander around and chat to people, and I\u2019m like “I don\u2019t really know why I\u2019m here”. I\u2019m the kind of person that needs to have something to train for.’<\/p>\n
Here’s a closer look at the routine Skelton uses to stay fit at 43, and why it’s such a well-rounded approach.
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Helen\u2019s current fitness routine Running<\/p>\n
As you might expect from someone who has been training for a half marathon, Helen has been running a fair bit recently, doing about three running sessions a week. <\/p>\n
\u2018This time of year is good for running,\u2019 she told PA. \u2018So I go out early, before the kids are awake, or they\u2019ll be on their bikes.\u2019<\/p>\n
As well as being something she enjoys, Helen’s running habit is also fantastic for longevity.<\/p>\n
One study<\/a> involving more than 4,000 participants found that adults who jogged or ran at least 75 minutes per week had, on average, a biological age<\/a> 12 years younger than those who didn\u2019t do any jogging or running.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Professor Dan Augustine, a consultant cardiologist and medical director of Sports Cardiology UK<\/a>, previously told Women\u2019s Health that \u2018Studies have shown that if you compare runners with non-runners, those who run as little as seven minutes a day have lower risk of death from cardiac causes.\u2019 <\/p>\n Helen also shared with the Press Association that her fitness routine currently includes hiking, swimming and golf. <\/p>\n Hiking <\/p>\n Hiking has grown in popularity in recent years, with a growing body of evidence highlighting its benefits. <\/p>\n In a review<\/a> of existing research published earlier this year, researchers noted that \u2018outdoor hiking activities have widespread and profound effects on enhancing individual physical and mental health\u2019. <\/p>\n Swimming <\/p>\n Similarly, many studies have highlighted the physical and mental health benefits of swimming, which is an effective low-impact workout. <\/p>\n \u2018It is a true full-body exercise, involving the upper body, trunk, hips and legs simultaneously,\u2019 personal trainer Georgia Garlick previously told WH, also noting that it \u2018forces rhythmic, controlled breathing, which has clear benefits for cardiorespiratory efficiency and CO\u2082 tolerance.\u2019<\/p>\n Golf <\/p>\n As for Helen\u2019s other favourite way to exercise, one landmark study<\/a> comparing golfers with non-golfers found an apparent 40% lower mortality rate in golfers \u2013 which authors noted was equivalent to a five-year increase in life expectancy. <\/p>\n So, what\u2019s next for Helen after her GNR triumph?<\/p>\n \u2018My friends always laugh because they\u2019re like \u201cYou just decide to do something about 11 weeks before\u201d. People train a whole year for something, and I\u2019m like \u201cYeah, but I\u2019d get bored\u201d. So when I\u2019ve done the Great North Run in September, I\u2019ll think \u201cOK, what should I do next?\u201d And then I\u2019ll train for something else. But I\u2019m a big believer in doing stuff you enjoy.\u2019<\/p>\n Amen to that \u2013 almost every expert we speak to here at WH says the same thing: enjoyment will be the thing that keeps you coming back. <\/p>\n One of our most frequently asked questions here at Women\u2019s Health? How to build muscle and burn fat at the same time. So, we asked superstar trainer Oyinda Okunowo<\/a> exactly how to do it. In this 4-week plan \u2013 created exclusively for Women\u2019s Health COLLECTIVE members \u2013 you\u2019ll get the workouts and nutrition guidance needed to help you on your way to better body composition. Tap the link below to unlock 14 days of free access to Oyinda’s plan and start training today.<\/p>\n
![\"oyinda](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789575494_97_cca1331b-db01-49e2-b8d6-e4e85657b4ba.jpg\" "\\"oyinda")
![\"Headshot](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789575495_763_fa516e85-7a01-4f77-ab15-ee65499e8023_1741102454.file.png\" "\\"Headshot")
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