NEW: 1-2-1 RUNNING ANALYSIS SESSIONS

Whether you’re a beginner or more seasoned runner, our NEW head-to-toe running technique analysis sessions will make a big difference to the way you feel and perform when running.

During December & January 2022 I’m offering 10% off the normal cost of our running analysis sessions (normal price: £60 per session). Xmas vouchers can be purchased for this service.

During the session, I’ll review/photo your posture, arms, foot strike, hips, arms and cadence and make key recommendations, all summarised in a personalised document. Thereafter, you may want to purchase additional sessions that will focus on how to implement those key recommendations and will involve some homework! Changing or adapting your running technique does take time but you should see improvements over a 5-6 week period.

During lockdown and thereafter I carried out over 10 head-to-toe assessments for runners who were constantly injured when they increased their mileage and/or they wanted to run faster. Knowing how you run and how to implement key recommendations can make all the difference.

FYI: I’m an England Athletics Running Coach as well as a Technique Running Coach so you’re in safe hands!

Sign up for our Richmond Park charity run 

For the second year running we are running 3/5/7miles in Richmond Park on Friday 10 December @9.30am and raising funds for Stem4, a great local charity that supports positive mental health in teenagers. EVERYONE IS INVITED TO TAKE PART, EVEN BEGINNERS!

For now, please let me know if you would like to take part and your preferred distance. More information will follow about how to raise money/contribute. 

Book our Xmas scavenger hunt run & drinks

Our annual Christmas scavenger hunt run and drinks is back and takes place on Thursday 2 December, 7pm onwards – everyone is invited! 

You can join us for the run and/or drinks but ideally I would love you to come to both! The run starts and finishes at The Wimbledon Club on Church Road where there is plenty of parking. You will be divided into teams of varying speeds/abilities, given a list of places/items to find and photograph with all team members before heading back to The Wimbledon Club by 8pm.

The bar area in The Wimbledon Club is fairly spacious and doesn’t tend to get too crowded which is a bonus. I’ve reserved an area and Prosecco, soft drinks and canapes will be pre-ordered so that everything is ready for us after the run. The run is FREE but there’s a CHARGE for the refreshments: £30 – this gives you two glasses of Prosecco, sparkling water and a selection of canapes OR £25 – this gives you two soft drinks and a selection of canapes (pleas specify your soft drink).

Our usual Tuesday evening class that week will be replaced with the Christmas scavenger hunt run. If you have any questions please let me know. I do hope that you can make it!

If you are staying local over the October half term, how about going on an scavenger hunt run (or walk) around Wimbledon Common/Village with family and friends? The hunt is all about Wells, ponds, memorials and camps! You can download a copy here.

Start and finish the scavenger hunt run/walk outside the Windmill Cafe on the Common and see how many places of interest you can find in one hour. If you do the hunt with family members, you can split into teams and have a reward for the winning team who has photo proofs of their finds. Enjoy!

Over the past week it’s been tricky for some navigating the puddles and mud while running on the Common.  So I asked Sporting Feet for their recommendations and they confirmed that the Brooks Cascadia and Asics Sonoma continue to be the most popular shoes. At the moment some of these shoes are discounted so it might be worth looking now!

As a reminder, a trail running shoe is an off road shoe with better grip and waterproofing. The most waterproof of all have a Gore-tex upper but they aren’t water-resistant. Sporting Feet have a good range of trail shoes in store, from Asics, Brooks, Adidas and Salomon. As mentioned, their two best selling trail shoes are the Brooks Cascadia 16 and the Asics Sonoma 6 GTX (or previous models) and these are ideal for winter running on local terrain like the Common.

The Brooks Cascadia is non Gore-tex (as some runners prefer a shoe that lets water out as some water is going to get in anyway) and is a really comfortable, well cushioned ‘road to trail’ shoe. It has great grip and can be worn in tough trail conditions but it is also a good ‘hybrid’ shoe that can be worn for some road running too – an ideal winter shoe.

The Asics Sonoma 6 GTX is an affordable, pretty lightweight Gore-tex shoe so it is more waterproof. Again, it’s tread is not so aggressive and makes a really good winter, hybrid shoe.

if you need advice on the best trail shoes to go for including sizing as some trail shoes come up small, please call Sporting Feet on 020 8780 0558. Please remember your 10% discount by using the code ‘CR10’. 

On Friday 5 November we are going on a 10k run through the Royal Parks in London. This run will be slightly different from our previous Royal Parks run in 2017!

The run will start at Kensington Palace and finish at the Embankment with tea/cake at a cafe overlooking the Thames. We’ll head to the Diana Memorial Playground, run along the Serpentine, into Hyde Park, pass Marble Arch, into Green Park and St James Park before running along the towpath/roads to the Embankment. As always, there will be plenty of stops along the way.

The cost of the run is £10 and there’s a maximum of 12 places. Please let me know if you’re interested in joining us.

To maintain your fitness over the summer, ideally you need to continue running and/or take part in some activity such as walking, swimming, cycling. Below are a few ways to keep you motivated:

* join our MIXED ABILITY, PAY-AS-YOU-GO classes (£12) on Tuesday evenings at 7pm throughout August: 10/8, 17/8, 24/8, 31/8. I will send a reminder email the day before each class – just let me know if you are coming then. Payment can be made to the usual account or in cash on the night.

* have a 1-2-1 or shared slot with a friend – please just email me for availability

* join our online Strength & Conditioning classes on Thursday mornings at 8.30am in August – on the 19/8 and 26/8. Classes are £10 and payment can be made to the usual account.

* sign up for the PARKRUN, a free 5k run every Saturday at 9am on Wimbledon Common

* discover new routes in Wimbledon and beyond and share with everyone!

New running courses: Monday 6 September – Friday 17 December 2021

The new term starts on Monday 6 September and finishes on Friday 17 December. It’s a 14 week term excluding half term and costs £182 (daytime & evening class only) OR £196 (including a weekly social run).

Here’s a reminder of the classes on offer:
* Monday @9.30am (improvers 3)
* Monday @10.30am (beginners)
* Tuesday @8.30am (improvers 1)
* Tuesday @7pm (improvers mixed ability)
* Thursday @10.30am (improvers 2)
* Fridays @9.30am (mixed ability social run)

If you would like to renew/join, please complete a health form. You can pay by Bacs to the usual account – please reference your name. For more information please email info@commonrunners.co.uk

* Towpath 10k run: On Friday 17 September @9.30/10am, starting at Putney Bridge and finishing in Vauxhall where we will head for coffee and cakes. £10 for the run. Please register your interest.

*London trail run: On Friday 8 October @10am. More information to follow

* London 10k run: In November (tbc).

* Xmas scavenger hunt run: On Thursday 2 December @7pm