Next Months Race Planning and Discount Codes Jan 2016

Denbies 10 Last time was actually in October 2014 - so it will sort of look like this, but whiter and colder.

January - and end of week two of the new world order.

It's the end of the week, and being half way through January some of you will be starting to see pay day soon, clear out Christmas and start entering those races for the month ahead. Get on it !
It's got a bit colder and icier too, so I hope you're all being careful out there as well as putting the high viz tabards on at night.
Last night I saw one of the newer full reflective jackets out on the road - it was very very good, although the runner didn't have anything reflective on their legs, so it did look a bit like a beheaded torso flailing about in the hedgerow, which wasn't at all unnerving as I drove past. They were not there this morning, so I can only assume they were not in the dark hedgerow for too long.

I also hope you are all managing to stick to your diets and new routines, I've made it off the couch into the prone position on the sofa a few times, and will now attempt a few sit-ups and squats. I'm not promising anything much at the moment. I also managed 500m on the rowing machine but forgot to breath, so the recovery was shall we say - interesting ? Weight - still the same, but I feel so much better already.

Future Planning
The last blog post had all the half marathons for the next four months and I'd urge you to check that out if you are on a half marathon hunt  http://sussexsportphotography.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/2016-half-marathon-planning.html

2XU Surrey Half Marathon
Included in there was the 20% discount offer for the 2016 2XU Surrey Half Marathon - use the code - SSP20
Just go here to enter: bit.ly/Surrey-Half-Marathon-entry 
This offer code runs out at the end of the month, so ringfence your payday to enter it as soon as you can before the offer expires. The discount codes go in at the bottom of the entry page.

Please do use the code, because I'm sure if this test works out we will be able to get all sorts of discount codes for our loyal followers for other races - but y'know if it's not worth us getting them for you, we can just leave it ! (and this is the very best discount out there for this race - we work hard for you !!! so don't let us down)

It's the Brutal Men's and Women's only in a few weeks time

Next Events
Here's the list of up and coming events - as you can see I've tweaked my database output to give the website address so you can go straight there. Happy Days !!

This Sunday is the ever popular Denbies 10 - entries are available on the day - and it's going to be a beautifully dry (if chilly) day with great views up on the North Downs. As the name suggest - it goes out from Denbies, which is in Dorking - full info on the website.

Also - if you are going to go to Donnington for the National XC champs, please don't book a hotel up there on the friday night yet, mainly because there are not many hotels near there and I've not booked mine yet. Thank  you.

Date	Event name	Event type	Entry Website
Sun-17/01/2016	ETL Denbies10	10m	http://www.eventstolive.co.uk/events/information/denbies-10m
Sat-23/01/2016	Brutal Women Only	10k	http://brutalrun.co.uk/race/women-only/
Sun-24/01/2016	Brutal Men only	XC - challenge	http://brutalrun.co.uk/race/men-only-24-january-2016/
Sun-24/01/2016	Fred Hughes 10	10m	http://www.stalbansstriders.com/index.php/racing/fred-hughes-10
Sun-07/02/2016	Watford Half	half marathon	http://bit.ly/watford-half-entry
Sun-07/02/2016	ETL Bookham 10k	XC	http://www.eventstolive.co.uk/events/information/bookham-10k
Sat-13/02/2016	Brutal Bagshot	XC - challenge	http://www.brutalrun.co.uk/dates/bagshot/
Sun-14/02/2016	Worthing Half Marathon	half marathon	http://bit.ly/worthing-half-2016
Sun-21/02/2016	Hampton Court Half Marathon	half marathon	http://bit.ly/Hampton-Court-Half-Entry
Sat-27/02/2016	National XC Champs	XC	http://www.englishcrosscountry.co.uk/
Sun-28/02/2016	Run The Streets - Kingston	half marathon	http://bit.ly/Kingston-Half
Sat-05/03/2016	The Nuts Challenge	XC - challenge	http://www.thenutschallenge.co.uk/

Have a good weekend, I'll be watching the return to Ballet and cheer-leading lessons for my two small-uns and potentially working up a sweat in the quest for fitness too.
Might even do a parkrun, but it's getting a bit crowded these days with record turnouts, must be popular. I assume most of you know about these, but click on this link if you don't - you never know you might enjoy them !

Until next time,

KEEP WARM !

Anthony
p.s. will someone please answer my one question survey - it's been a week and I've had literally 3 responses - which is depressing - so lift me up and tick a box here:
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/MRJVYGT
Thank you !!

2016 Half Marathon Planning

If my social media timelines are anything to go by, everyone is now planning their half marathons for 2016. Which one is good ?, which ones are hilly ?, is it on my training plan for the marathon ?(whichever marathon that might be). All these are very important factors to take into account - along with - is anyone else doing it ?
For some it's which one for the year, for others, it's which one per month, and for us it's which ones can we make.

So here's our current list of half marathons in date order that you might want to consider, where if nothing else, you'll know that we will be there to see you achieve !

DISCOUNT - the 2XU Surrey Half - 13th March 2016
I will draw your special attention to this March the 13th and the special offer we have got for you from the 2XU Surrey Half Marathon of a 20% discount before the end of January.
Use the code SSP20 here: http://bit.ly/Surrey-Half-Marathon-entry 

It's a perfectly timed spring race - just after the cold spell of winter lifts at the start of march, on totally closed roads in the Surrey countryside, starting and finishing at the Woking Sports centre - ensuring that there are plenty of facilities on hand for every eventuality.
And so far - it's always been sunny....

February	Race Name	Race Website	Start Time	Notes
Sun-07/02/2016	Watford Half	http://bit.ly/watford-half-entry	10:30	In the countryside north of Watford, closed roads from Cissbury Park
Sun-14/02/2016	Worthing Half Marathon	http://bit.ly/worthing-half-2016	09:00	New Race for 2016 - Closed roads - pancake flat
Sun-21/02/2016	Hampton Court Half Marathon	http://bit.ly/Hampton-Court-Half-Entry	08:30	Very flat race along the river to Kingston and Back
Sun-28/02/2016	Run The Streets - Kingston Half	http://bit.ly/Kingston-Half	08:00	A New Race in Kingston
March				.
Sun-06/03/2016	Berkhamsted Half Marathon	http://bit.ly/Berkhampstead-Half	10:00	A lovely race around the Berkshire countryside
Sun-06/03/2016	Steyning Stinger	http://bit.ly/Stinger-2016	08:30 Marathon 9:00 Half Marathon	The toughest off road Half Marathon we know. Plus finishers breakfast and Free Race Photos
Sun-13/03/2016	The 2XU Surrey Half (Woking) Marathon	http://bit.ly/Surrey-Half-Marathon-entry	9:00	Use Discount code SSP20 before the end of January
Sun-13/03/2016	Colchester Half	http://bit.ly/Colchester-Half	09:00	Hilly Start through town and out to the countryside for a flat run home
Sun-20/03/2016	Brentwood Half	http://bit.ly/Brentwood-Half	10:00	Gentle undulations around Essex
Sun-20/03/2016	Fleet Half Marathon	http://bit.ly/Fleet-Half-Marathon	10:30	A popular race - always sold out early
Sun-20/03/2016	Hastings Half Marathon	http://bit.ly/Hastings-Half	10:30	Half the course up, and then half the course down for a finish on the seafront
April				.
Sun-03/04/2016	Paddock Wood	http://bit.ly/Paddock-Wood-Half	09:30	Flat as it comes around the Kent countryside
Sun-03/04/2016	Richmond 13.1 Half	http://bit.ly/Richmond-Half	8:30am	A beautiful days running along the river from Richmond
Sun-03/04/2016	Bournemouth Bay	http://bit.ly/BHF-Bournemouth-Bay-Run	10:00	Bournemouths perfect spring running festival
Sun-24/04/2016	Southampton Half Marathon	http://bit.ly/southampton-half	8.30am 10k 10am half marthon	Southamptons second year - a brilliant tour of the city
May				.
Sun-01/05/2016	Ranelagh Half	http://bit.ly/Ranelagh-Half	08:30	One of the top London Club half marathons
Sun-01/05/2016	3Forts Challenge	http://bit.ly/3-Forts-Challenge	10:00	A Marathon or Half around the south downs - harder than most
Sun-08/05/2016	Seaford Half	http://bit.ly/Seaford-Half	09:00	A great challenge over the South Downs and Seaford Head
Sun-22/05/2016	The Windsor Trail Half Marathon	http://bit.ly/Windsor-Trail-Half	08:30	A lovely river run around Windsor and Maidenhead

And if that list is not enough for you - remember to look after yourself, and get yourself patched up by our friends at Mitchell and Elle at Studio57 in Hove, where you can also do that preventative analysis of your running at their Stride UK facility - and work out why your knees keep niggling you... and then do something about it.

Personally, this spring for a change I'm doing the highly recommended "couch to carpet plan", which involves thinking about doing sit-ups as a core strength exercise instead of sitting on the couch. I also need to do some pre-conditioning of my calfs and achilles tendons - because they both go bang when I start training again. This mostly consists of me stopping on the stairs half way up to do calf raises, and then forgetting what I was going upstairs for.

All this will take months, so if you're a member of the SSP Strava group - that's why you've not seen me doing much. Feel free to join us here - there's a lot of you crashing about and getting fit which is very good to see https://www.strava.com/clubs/116842 and I hope to see you on there soon.
I see a few are doing an early morning 1mile run to get the body going - very well done to you on that too !

I hope you had a great weekend thinking about your race plans - I hope the above list helps you get you entered and we will see you there !

until next time
Anthony
p.s. did I mention the 20% off the 2XU Surrey Half Marathon ? SSP20