Durham County Council, in partnership with County Durham Sport and Run England, is aiming to get families fit and active through Couch to 5K courses.
The latest of those starts at St Anne’s Centre in Wolsingham on Wednesday 24 August at 6.30pm.
Cllr Maria Plews, the council’s cabinet member for leisure, libraries and lifelong learning, said: “Currently there is no running club in the upper Dales, but as part of our wider efforts to get people exercising more we’re launching walking and jogging sessions, with the aim of developing stable, long term groups.
“Having already launched similar sessions in other parts of the county we already know how successful they can be in encouraging residents to both start and stay active.
“Jogging and running are two of the most effective exercises you can do and I hope this will appeal to people who are just starting out and provide an achievable target for them.”
The Couch to 5K program, which will be led by a fully qualified instructor, is aimed at people aged 16 or over.
A walking group has also been set up in the area, with the group setting out from the Durham Dales Centre in Stanhope every Wednesday at 12.45pm.
For more information on either session call 03000 266 555.