Runshine on Leith - Kin Return to Running Programme

Join RUNshine on Leith - click read more for all the details:

Kin Collective's return to running programme is a six week course taking place in Leith Links with some studio sessions at our Family Wellbeing Hub on Wednesday evenings from 18.00 -19.00 starting on 03/09/25 to 08/10/25. Led by Postnatal Fitness specialist Elspeth and supported by Women's Health Physio Becca and Postnatal Fitness specialist Alyssa - an experienced and compassionate team to guide your return to running safely after having a baby.

This course is for you if:

This course is for you if you love running, you’ve recently had a baby (more than three months ago), and you want to return to running as safely as possible. If you’ve run in the past, whether it’s been in gym circuits or races, you know how good it can feel for both your body and mind. But after having a baby, most of us don’t know what our bodies can cope with or how to tell whether running is doing us more harm than good. If you want to return to running as safely as you can, taking care of your body, this course is for you.

What’s the problem?

Physical activity is great for mental health as well as physical health. Running can often be a convenient fitness activity for mums. But it also brings risks of pelvic organ prolapse and musculoskeletal injury. These risks are increased in the postnatal period.

It can take up to two years for the postnatal body to fully heal. But everyone heals differently, and it doesn’t mean that we should all sit still for two years! So how can we know what’s right for us? High impact exercise like running increases your chances of pelvic floor problems

What’s our solution?

Using the latest guidance from physiotherapists and running specialists, we have developed a course of graduated return to running. This is a five week return to running course, helping you to connect to your postnatal body safely to help you stay injury-free.

What should you expect?

We will not promise that you’ll achieve a certain pace or a distance, but we promise to help you feel ‘held’ as you return to running. You’ll learn what you should pay attention to as you return to running.

If your baby is more than three months old, and you’ve been cleared for exercise by your healthcare professional, you can start by completing our pre-screening questionnaire. If Becca's analysis is that you’re ready to start the course, we will meet for an hour a week for six weeks.

These sessions will include running, strength circuits, mobility and pelvic floor work. The first two sessions will have expert input from Becca.

You’ll be given a course log where you will record your activity and progress. This will include your at-home programme to follow with two other runs per week, as well as strength, mobility and pelvic floor training. There will also be mindful self-compassion element. You will also be expected to prioritise your rest, recovery and nutrition.

What are our credentials?

Elspeth: I was a runner for 20 years, including in the years around the births of my children. I ran my first marathon before my daughter went to school and went on to run another 13 of them, including a qualifying time for the London Marathon. I coached school runners for 4 years and have been a jogScotland jog leader. I coach pregnant and postnatal women in my classes Pregnancy Power-UP and Mighty Mums.

Becca: Becca began working as a physiotherapist in 2009 and has worked in both NHS and private practice as a specialist in Women's Health Physiotherapy. Becca is experienced in providing women's wellbeing check ups for mother, she is also a pre and postnatal pilates teacher and with a strong focus on women's health and wellbeing, Becca is currently completing a PhD focussed on the Menopause.

Alyssa: After the birth of her daughter, and with a particular interest in the connection between physical and mental health, Alyssa has trained as a pre and postnatal fitness coach, with a passion for helping others to build strength, fitness and improve wellbeing. Alyssa completed the Edinburgh Marathon Festival's 10km event this year and joins the programme to support your running journey.

Kin Collective: We are a social enterprise supporting parental wellbeing in pregnancy and postpartum at our Family Wellbeing Hub in Leith. We provide drop in perinatal peer support to parents and you will find a friendly welcoming place, somewhere to meet other new parents and a range of classes, courses and workshops all specialising in parenthood at our Hub.

What to wear and bring with you?

A well fitting bra is essential.

Trainers/running shoes are also essential. Please do not assume that the shoes you ran in before you had a baby are still suitable. You are encouraged to visit a running shoe specialist and have your feet and gait checked to make sure that your shoes are fit for purpose.

An app or smart watch to time your running intervals will be required. For instance GymBoss is a free phone app.

Pay It Forward and Funded Tickets

We are able to offer funded places for all of our Kin Collective courses. We also have a low cost pay it forward ticket option of £60.00 to help keep this course running. If you would like to attend but are unable to make a donation please select the free ticket option. If this ticket option becomes sold out and you are keen to join please contact us at info@kinollective.org with subject Runshine on Leith and we can help to book you in, or if the course is fully booked add you to a waiting list for a future course.

Please also email us if there are any barriers to you attending this course (including kit or equipment) that we can try to help with or anything that would make it more accessible to you.

We offer Pay It Forward tickets which help us to provide and continue our services through donations. If you are able to support our work by making a pay it forward donation please select this ticket type.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a running group for postpartum mums and parents only and not suitable to attend with your baby and/or older children.