With National Fitness Day less than 24 hours away, event organiser ukactive has released a raft of new data highlighting how Brits are leading increasingly active lifestyles.

More than 2,000 health clubs across the country are laying on a total of 10,000 classes for “the most active day of the year” tomorrow (9 September) and the latest figures spotlight the growing momentum of the physical activity sector.

More than half (51 per cent) of British adults say that they now think being physically active is more important for a healthy lifestyle than they thought it was just a year ago, according to a new ComRes poll. Britons are also more than three times as likely to report that exercising every day has a bigger impact on their health than a good night’s sleep.

Previous ukactive research has emphasised the scale of inactivity among Britons, with 29 per cent of the UK population classed as physically inactive – a higher proportion than most other EU countries, and even the USA.

However, the 2015 State of the UK Fitness Industry (SOFI) Report showed that gym memberships are on the rise and new data compiled by tracking firm Gymetrix, with additional statistics from equipment supplier Precor, has underlined the extent of the UK’s activity feats.

According to the findings, the 11,171,062 hours spent in the gym using treadmills, stationary bikes and resistance training last year meant Brits:

Ran the equivalent of 794,133 London Marathons on treadmills

Crossed the English Channel 158,692 times on rowing machinesCycled around the Earth’s circumference 743 times on bike machines

In addition, data from parkrun found that its average 45,000 weekly participants clocked up more than one million hours of running time last year.

“National Fitness Day is a chance for everyone, no matter how fit they are, to try something new and get the activity bug,” said Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, chair of ukactive.

“Being physically active is a great way to have fun, make friends and feel good about yourself. It doesn’t matter where you are today with your activity habits. This is about saying to everyone: just do more.”