Staff Writer, Fitness
Julie Penfold
(she/her)Julie Penfold is a Staff Writer for Fitness and Wellbeing at Saga Exceptional. She’s been a specialist health and wellbeing journalist for more than 15 years and has been a finalist in three prestigious health and medical journalism awards during that time.
She has written for a wide variety of health, medical, wellbeing and fitness magazines and websites. These have included Running, TechRadar, Outdoor Fitness, Be Healthy, Top Sante, Doctors.net.uk, Primary Health Care, Community Practitioner, CareKnowledge and The Guardian’s Social Care network.
Away from work, Julie is a huge Sunderland fan, loves watching football, athletics and swimming (live whenever possible!) and is a long-term vegetarian. She also loves to run, swim and practise yoga.
Previously, she loved to race too but since 2018, this has been firmly put on the backburner due to her having back-to-back sports injuries, both of which required subsequent surgery. Julie was gearing up to a return to racing after five years, but a further injury has hampered her imminent plans. Instead, recovering well is top of her list at the moment.
Articles by Julie Penfold
7 ways to prevent running injuries – including how many rest days to take
Learn how to avoid niggles from becoming running injuries with advice from leading fitness experts.
How this Chelsea Flower Show garden helps people with rare dementias
“Memory loss has completely changed our lives – but not our love for each other”
Loneliness ‘as bad for your health as smoking’ – here’s how to spot the signs
Learn how to spot the signs of loneliness and take action to help yourself and others
‘Swimming as medicine’: why more doctors should prescribe it
Why your GP might recommend going for a swim.
12 reasons why swimming is good for you
Swimming is a full body exercise that can benefit you in numerous ways. We set out the key health benefits.