DJ Louise McSharry: 'I spent a long time thinking about weight loss, but not anymore'

Broadcaster and author Louise McSharry is hoping to show that anybody can get into running when she takes part in a 10 kilometre race later this year.

The 2fm star has signed up to the Dublin Rock 'N' Roll race, which is set to take place in August, despite admitting to not having the best relationship with exercise.

"I'm not into running, currently. I had tried Couch to 5k a few times and I always found it too hard," she said.

"I suppose my level of fitness is below what the starting level of Couch to 5k is. That always put my off and I thought running is not for me.

"Now it's 10k, which is a bigger challenge, but I'm excited about it. I'm scared as well, but it's a good motivator."

The new mom, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in August 2014, said she is not interested in losing weight as part of her training and no longer frets about weight.

"I spent a long time thinking about weight loss. I don't think about it anymore. It's not important to me," she said.

"What's important to me is that I feel good in my body. It's important to me that I can do what I want to do in my life, so I certainly won't be weighing myself. That's not what it's about for me.

"I'm really keen to build a better relationship with exercise for myself. I really want to get to a point where I feel better about it. They only way I'm going to do that is by doing it. I'm quite optimistic."

Last year, a total of 13,000 people took part in the Rock and Roll races, with people from 53 countries participating, making it the biggest event since the race series arrived in Ireland four years ago.

Among those that took part was broadcaster Ray Foley, who took part in his first 10 kilometre race.

"It was great craic. The buzz was brilliant and the other runners were great. Healthy people from all over the world," he told Independent.ie.

The volunteers were great. They were shouting encouragement all the way along. It was a really nice experience, not the drudgery I thought it might be."

A concert in Phoenix Park headlined by The Strypes met runners once they passed the finish line. The headline performer for the 2017 race will be announced in the months leading up the the run.

For more information, visit the race website here.