ORGANISED RUNS FOR COMMON RUNNERS ONLY
* Friday 15 Jan: Towpath 10k from Putney to Kew (£10)
* Friday 12 Feb: Richmond Park 10/12k (free to class attendees)
* Friday 19 March: Leith Hill 10k  (paid for)

MONTHLY CHALLENGE SERIES FOR ALL – JANUARY 2021

I would like to invite you to sign up for some monthly challenges. The first challenge is to complete 25k, 50k, 100k or 200k distance throughout January 2021.

You can choose to run, walk or cycle the distance over the month to claim a bespoke piece (see photo above) which you can add to your medal frame! Any discipline can be done and you can mix and match if you wish to achieve your goal.

In January, you will receive the medal frame alongside your January magnetic piece (post approval of your evidence) to get you on your way towards earning each monthly piece. By receiving the frame at the start, you can watch the frame build as you go! The January entry costs £21 and each month after is £8.50. For more information and to sign up please click here. 

On Friday 11 December 2020 we will aim to run our virtual 5k Santa Run as a group in Richmond Park and raise funds for Stem4. The run is suitable for all, is free to enter and can be completed anytime in December if you can’t make the 11 December.

To enter, please click here. You can enter as an individual and join the ‘Common Runners’ team if you decide to run with us. You can donate funds to me and I will send off to the charity.

As there are few races before Christmas, you may be interested in getting involved in one of our monthly social run challenges for all. If you can’t make the actual day of the challenge you can always do it another day but please let me know and a photo would be great!

* Friday 18 Sept @9-9.30am: your challenge is to run 3, 5 or 7 miles on Wimbledon Common
* Wednesday 14 Oct @9-9.30am: your challenge is to run 3, 5 or 7 miles in Richmond Park
* Wednesday 11 Nov @9-9.30am: Thames Towpath challenge (from Putney) – tbc

It would be great to see as many runners as possible taking part in at least one of these runs. Groups will be divided according to mileage and will comply with current restrictions of a maximum of 12 in a group.

New running courses: Monday 7 Sept – Thursday 19 Dec

IMPORTANT: IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RENEW/JOIN YOU NEED TO COMPLETE A HEALTH FORM TO COMPLY WITH THE NEW COVID-19 REGULATIONS.

The new term starts on Monday 7 September and finishes on Thursday 19 Dec. It’s a 14 week term excluding half term and costs £182 for day runners and £168 for evening runners as there is no social run on offer.

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

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

It is not too late to join the Great Run Solo virtual June challenge and raise funds for the NHS. There are weekly and monthly challenges to choose – to run 50k, 75k, 100k or 280k cumulative distance challenge across 28 days. For more info please click here.

Our brand new rainbow running buffs are now available to order. You can use them to cover your mouth and nose in busy places as well as a sweatband or a neck warmer. As well as being useful, the rainbow running buffs symbolise hope and support for the NHS.

A rainbow running buff costs £9 – if you would like to buy one please email info@commonrunners.co.uk

This week I started 5 small running classes on the Common and it was great to be back. It felt that some normality had finally returned – I have missed everyone! The classes went well, we managed to socially distance successfully and fun and laughter was had by all.

We have the following running groups for now with a maximum of 6 runners including me:

• Monday @8.30am (the old Monday class @9.30am)
• Tuesday @8.30am (the old Tuesday class @10.30am)
• Tuesday @7pm  (the old Tuesday class @7pm)
• Wednesday @9am (the old Tuesday class @9.30am)
• Friday @8.30am (the old Monday class @10.30am)

At the moment the 5 classes are fairly full but we do have 1 space available in the Friday class. In addition, ad hoc spaces do become available but usually at short notice. Once lockdown lifts further and more people can run together then I will expand the classes accordingly.

To keep us motivated in May, below are a number of challenges that you may want to get involved in:

* May 100k challenge – if you need motivation to exercise on your own then why not get involved in this challenge where you can earn a shiny new medal for the memory box and a portion of your entry fee goes to charity? The Virtual Runner UK’s May challenge looks great – you can run, walk, cycle (or mix & match) 100k distance throughout the month. If you are up for the challenge, please post or email a photo, kilometres covered and location on a weekly basis.

* Virtual 5k race – We are going for the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-World virtual 5K series on MONDAY 25 MAY, THE EUROPE 5K. The race is FREE and you get to link in with runners from around the world.

You run your own race, on a route of your own choosing adhering to social distancing and safety, measure your 5K run and submit your time on Eventrac between 5pm and midnight on Monday 25 May. You must pre-register for the race before 5pm on race day. Please let me know if you are joining this race.

 Enjoy and good luck!

If you have just started running whilst in lockdown you may want to consider the following tips to make your journey enjoyable –

* Start off slowly with your pace and distance, even if you think that you can do more. Make sure that you are comfortable walking briskly for at least 20 minutes before attempting to run. Then start running for 1 minute at a chatty pace, walking for 1 minute briskly over 20 minutes.

* Buy running shoes that support your feet to keep injuries at bay. Cross-trainers or tennis shoes do not have enough cushioning to handle the impact of running. Old running shoes will need replacing. It’s worth contacting a specialist running shop such as Sporting Feet as they will advise you. See their website for contact hours.

*Set a realistic goal to motivate you. At the moment, just getting out of the house for some fresh air may be enough motivation. But to continue running when lockdown has eased, a target might be to run for 30 minutes continuously, join your family at the local Park Run or your ‘runner’ friends for a social run.

* Make sure that you do some core exercises to support your running as a strong core will help you to run better and avoid injury. Bounce Gym – Wimbledon are running some great virtual classes for glutes & core.

* Try and wear a top and shorts/running tights in Dryfit or Coolmax fabric (no cotton) to keep you cool. It is worth investing in running socks to prevent blisters and a sports bra to avoid chaffing. Both items should fit snugly, be seamless and wick away sweat.

* Adhere to the government guidelines on exercise and social distancing.

And most importantly, enjoy your run! For running advice, challenges to take part in and bespoke virtual classes, please email Caroline at info@commonrunners.co.uk