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| Off they go - the start of the Mundays 5k in Bushy Park |
I hope your week is going well so far, and apologies for the lateness of this weeks blog - I hope you had a good run out at the weekend, sorry we didn't come out to see you though. A rare weekend off (which seemed reasonable after having had no race Sundays off since Christmas and having forgotten a bit what the kids look like), so I thought I'd wait until Wednesday evenings race and get that all posted together.
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| Nailing it at the finish |
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| What are you actually trying to do ? |
Here at SSP, we decided to set the main goal (no matter what it was we did to earn a living) that the end result should be that "It makes people happy". This came from a variety of observations, readings and experiences where generally successful companies and their products or services all had one thing in common - they made people happy (or at least drugged them or gave them the impression it did - ref cigarettes, alcohol and mobile phones - three generically quite successful products).
We eventually decided to try to make people happy through the medium of race and event photography (and all the elements that go with that business), which might seem like a bit of a stretch I admit, but we can give it a go can't we ?! If the blog subscriptions (how did that get over 28,0000?) and results from our ongoing and current survey (here https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/C735VX7 ) are anything to go by, then it is that you like looking at the photos and reading the silly captions and it does make you happier. If it didn't you would unsubscribe ! The interesting thing is if it makes you happier, we are motivated to do more of it. It's a simple feedback loop.
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| Make people Happy ! |
Firstly - here's last weeks galleries - we didn't cover anything last weekend - the changing position of the May bank holiday each year can cause organisers to avoid the last weekend in May to keep things consistent year on year.
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| Look how good you were last week ! Go and remind yourself. |
| Date | Recent race | Direct Gallery Link |
| 15/05/2016 | Oxford 10k | http://bit.ly/Oxford-Town-and-Gown-10k-Gallery-2016 |
| 15/05/2016 | Bognor 10k | http://bit.ly/Bognor-10k-Gallery-2016 |
| 15/05/2016 | Kelly's Cycle Challenge | http://bit.ly/Kellys-Cycle-Challenge-Gallery-2016 |
| 15/05/2016 | Godalming Run | http://bit.ly/Godalming-Run-Gallery-2016 |
Everyone likes a discount - Get your entries in before they close or fill up - otherwise you'll kick yourself later.
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| The view from the top of the Hurt out to Dunsfold park |
Discount corner - some of these events are almost upon us so get in before they close
And here's the list of next events that we are going to cover over the coming weekends:
Upcoming events:
| Date | Race | Event link | Special SSP Discount code |
| SATURDAY 6th June | The Hurt (5k, 10k, 20k) Last call for discounted entries - over 200 clicks through from here and only 3 uses of the discount code !!! what is that all about ? Over 400 signed up so far, the limit is at 500 - don't miss out ! | http://bit.ly/the-hurt-entry | SSP10 |
| SUNDAY 26-Jun-16 | Harry Hawkes 10 | http://bit.ly/HarryHawkes | SSP10HH |
| SUNDAY 25-Sep-16 | The Winchester Half Marathon | http://bit.ly/Winchester-Half | SSP10 |
| SUNDAY 25-Sep-16 | Royal Borough of Kingston Half Marathon | http://bit.ly/kingstonhalfmarathon | SSP10RBK |
And here's the list of next events that we are going to cover over the coming weekends:
Upcoming events:
| Wed-25/05/2016 | Mundays 5k Free Downloads | |
| Sun-29/05/2016 | REP Arundel Tri Free Downloads | http://www.rawenergypursuits.co.uk/events/arundel-triathlon |
| Sat-04/06/2016 | The Hurt | http://bit.ly/the-hurt-entry |
| Sun-05/06/2016 | Dorking 10 | http://dmvac.org.uk/dorking-10/ |
| Sun-12/06/2016 | Mid Sussex Tri Free Downloads | http://www.midsussextriclub.com/the-mid-sussex-triathlon.aspx |
| Sun-12/06/2016 | ETL Polesden Lacey | http://www.eventstolive.co.uk/events/information/polsden-lacey-10k |
| Sat-18/06/2016 | REP Arun Swim Free Downloads | http://www.rawenergypursuits.co.uk/events/river-arun-ironman-swim/ |
| Sat-18/06/2016 | Brutal Frith Hill | http://brutalrun.co.uk/race/frith-hill/ |
| Sun-19/06/2016 | Shrewsbury Half Marathon Free Downloads | http://www.ukrunchat.co.uk/nuffield-health-shrewsbury-half-marathon/ |
| Sun-19/06/2016 | Hampshire Hoppit | http://hampshiretrailmarathon.co.uk/ |
| Sat-25/06/2016 | Leeds Castle Sprint Tri | http://www.leeds-castle.com/What%92s+On/Leeds+Castle+Triathlon+2014 |
| Sun-26/06/2016 | Leeds Castle Standard Tri | http://www.leeds-castle.com/What%92s+On/Leeds+Castle+Triathlon+2014 |
| Sun-26/06/2016 | REP Arundel Castle Triathlon Free Downloads | http://www.rawenergypursuits.co.uk/events/olympic-distance-river-swim-triathlon-sunday-20th-july-2014/ |
| Sun-26/06/2016 | Harry Hawkes 10 | http://www.harryhawkes10.com/ |
| Sun-26/06/2016 | Capital to Coast | www.capitaltocoast.org.uk |
| Sun-03/07/2016 | PP Spire Bushy Run | http://www.purplepatchrunning.com/index.php/the-spire-bushey |
| Sun-03/07/2016 | Chichester Tri | http://www.chichester.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=8220 |
| Sun-03/07/2016 | Bewl 15 | http://www.bewl15.co.uk/the_race.php |
| Sun-10/07/2016 | Wycombe 10K & Half Marathon | http://www.handycrossrunners.co.uk/ |
| Sun-10/07/2016 | Kelly's Summer Cycle - Free Downloads and Pic2Go | https://charity.kellystorage.co.uk/Events/2016/Summer-Cycle |
| Sun-10/07/2016 | ETL Badger Half | http://www.eventstolive.co.uk/events/information/surrey-badger-half |
| Wed-13/07/2016 | RPAC Summer 10k | http://www.rpac.org.uk/index.php?p=summer10k |
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| Happy Runners running !! |
So, did you have a look at your last race photos ? how much happier are you feeling - Did it make you feel a bit better about everything generally ? You can have a look at any of your 2015 race photos on our archive gallery here too http://bit.ly/SSP-2015-Gallery-Archive
Here's the theory - http://bit.ly/4happinessrituals - basically the mere act of thinking of things that you are grateful for (i.e. things like your fitness, running, your health, having taken part in events, having time to do what you wanted to do) and recalling them (i.e. looking at your photos), and even the act of trying to think of these things - will make you Happier.
and the other little daily happiness habits does Shawn recommend? you already do these !!
- List the things you’re grateful for (i.e. remind yourself you can go for a run/have been for a run)
- Meditate (think about nothing much else when you run)
- Exercise (go for a run)
- Spread a bit of Happiness (take other people for a run? tell them how well their running is going ! tell them how you admire their training plan and are copying it)
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| Are you feeling Happier yet ? |
Also according to this study - http://bit.ly/be-more-successful the key to success is to be happy. Being Happy will bring success, but the opposite (i.e. believing that success will make you happy) is not true - so don't follow that road. Aim to be Happy - do not aim to be successful.
Have a read of the article, watch the video, all good stuff !
There's also some key thoughts on being Happy from the Dalai Lama here http://bit.ly/DL-compassion - which he summarised recently as - be happy and appreciate with what you have already and don't lust after what you want but don't have. (it's back to being grateful!) (and it all gets a bit Nannie McPhee to be honest)
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| Don't lust after what you don't have, appreciate what you have already. Apparently this includes bikes - clearly the Dalai Lama clearly isn't a cyclist. |
What can detract from all this Happiness ? - the FOMO ! or the Fear of Missing out, or also known as The Fear of Regret, or what Facebook runs on. Never fear - you will never miss out - we have a list of events you can compete at (or if injured - volunteer at), which you can ignore if you want to, and then - there's no fear. See, we try to help...
And any thoughts on Happiness would be incomplete without mentioning this article by Harvard University http://bit.ly/Havard-study-Happiness which basically says its about relationships, love, friendship and challenges.
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| Revisiting Memories of achievements will make you happier. This guys going to get a whole heap of dopamine when he sees this again ! Remembering with photos - all the more effective. |
So, if you're still asking, "how does race photography make me happier ?" - have a think they will bring back memories of achievements - and things you are grateful for. Even just the act of searching for your race photos after a race - makes you happy. You will see other peoples race photos and tell them how good they look or how much effort they are putting in (spread a bit of happiness), and you can share it with other people online to quell that fear that you didn't miss out.
Finally - There's also an app called TimeHop which automatically helps you to browse your old photos and achievements - and from that you will feel gratitude and a sense of achievement.
I've seen people use Timehop to post their photos to facebook - there's some information on that here http://bit.ly/advice-on-timehop - but be warned their first sentence sums it up - sometimes things are better off forgotten...
My only request for Timehop would be for it to be running about a month early - or an 11 month gap - that would give you enough time to remind your friends and get entered into a new race soon !
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| This time one year ago - The Lido at Arundel - very early in the morning ! |
So it's an early morning on Sunday for the Raw Energy Pursuits Arundel Triathlon, so see you there, but until next time
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| Remember - running makes you happy |
Make sure you remember to look at your photos, relive the memory, feel happy about it, and then send a gallery link to a friend with their photos and a little positive comment, and spread a bit of happiness too !
Have a great Bank Holiday if you're not working, or indeed if you are working !
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| Steve is Happy, and get your entry in for his race - the Mid Sussex Tri - next weekend |
Anthony
