Category Archives: News & Blog

Virtual S&C classes

VIRTUAL S&C CLASSES + SOCIAL FOR COMMON RUNNERS 

Our VIRTUAL S&C CLASSES, delivered by Bounce Gym, are exclusively for Common Runners. The classes take place on Thursdays, 8.30-9.15am and include a virtual chat and coffee after each class. If you are missing any of your Common Runners friends, this might be the perfect opportunity to catch up.

About the classes
Sarah from Bounce Gym has been delivering our S&C classes for over a year and they are excellent. Although we’re not in the Bounce Gym using their equipment, she continues to put us through our paces using our own body weight and household items. The classes focus on upper and lower body exercises and Sarah explains each exercise and offers feedback on technique through the video facility on Zoom. We can all see each other and offer encouragement and motivation! This classes are suitable for all levels.

The cost

A block of 4 classes which are exclusive to Common Runners costs £40 and includes the social after each class plus access to the whole of Bounce Gym’s online timetable for the duration of the classes. As mentioned previously, Bounce Gym are offering 6-7 on-line classes a day including HIIT, circuits, yoga, pilates, boxing, athletic development and glutes & core. For a full timetable please click here.

Booking a block of 4 classes

If you would like to book a block of 4 classes please let me know. Once payment is made you will receive a member ID number plus a Zoom password which can be used to access the 4 classes. To access Bounce Gym’s online timetable you will be given a separate member ID number and password.

Accessing the classes

All you have to do is:
* Download the Zoom app onto your phone, computer or tablet
* Sign up to your free account
* 5 minutes before the Friday class, log into your account with your member ID number plus Zoom password and you will be linked up to Sarah and others and ready to go!

If you have any questions about the classes please let me know.

Keeping fit and healthy during lockdown

KEEPING FIT AND HEALTHY DURING LOCKDOWN

Keeping fit and healthy during this crisis is important but it’s often difficult knowing how best to achieve this. Every day we are bombarded with ideas and suggestions. It’s best to try a few different types of exercise and at different times of the day to see what works for you.

Since Common Runners stopped running in March, I’ve been trying a few different ways to keep fit. Below is a round-up of my week that may give you some ideas to keep fit and healthy. Please remember to adapt the sessions to your fitness level and always warm up and stretch after exercise.

MONDAY 30 MARCH: Out early for a one-hour ‘HIIT and run’ workout to improve fitness and speed. I combined a run with short sprints (30sec sprint/30 sec recovery x10) and a mini HIIT circuit (jumping squats, jumping jacks, jumping lunges, high knees for 20 secs/20 sec recovery x2).

TUESDAY 31 MARCH: Out early for a one-hour cycle ride which included some hills (Coombe Lane, Copse Hill, Burghley Road) for a good workout.

WEDNESDAY 1 APRIL: 30 minute run into the Village, around by Wimbledon Tennis, into Southfields before heading home for a 20 minute home work-out from the Running Channel which was excellent and worth subscribing to.

THURSDAY 2 APRIL: Another one-hour cycle ride early in the morning which was refreshing and certainly set me up for the day. This time I headed for Wimbledon Common, through Putney Heath, into Roehampton before heading home.

FRIDAY 3 APRIL: A longer, easy paced 7 mile run this morning where I just thought about nothing in particular but just let my mind wonder. There are definitely some positives to running alone, see Southern Running.

SATURDAY 4 APRIL: Tried Bounce Gym’s virtual HIIT class this morning which was challenging but great. This is the first virtual class that I have tried and I will definitely be coming back for more.

Wishing everyone continued health and happiness over the coming weeks.

Running suspended: virtual services offered

Due to the coronavirus, we have stopped all running classes and social runs for now.

On Sunday (9/5/20), the lockdown is lifting slowing and you can now exercise as much as you want to on a daily basis and with up to ONE PERSON from outside your household so long as you maintain social distancing.

Obviously, our group classes will not be operational yet but there is an opportunity to offer one-to-one outdoor run training now. More information will follow.

In the meantime, Common Runners will continue to offer a number of FREE and PAID FOR virtual services until group classes can be resumed. Here’s a reminder of what’s on offer:

1. VIRTUAL SOCIAL – every Tuesday at 8pm (ID & passwords remain the same)

2. COMMON RUNNERS’ FACEBOOK PAGE – with updates & comments

3. A WEEKLY RUNNING SESSION – that includes fitness challenges/exercises plus a warm up & stretching delivered every Monday AM. This has proved popular with many runners as it gives a focus for the week.

4. A WEEKLY UPDATE – that includes monthly challenges, running news, virtual races etc delivered every Friday AM. Again, this has proved popular as it gives you ideas on what to aim for over the month.

5. ONLINE COACHING –  if you are struggling with motivation during this time, then I can create a bespoke programme for you and keep you on track with weekly and monthly check-ins.

6. S&C VIRTUAL CLASSES – every Thursday at 8.30am. These classes, delivered by Bounce Gym, are for Common Runners only and are excellent.

VIRTUAL SERVICE COSTS:

* The virtual social and Facebook page are FREE to all Common Runners
* For £15 per month you can access a weekly running session and Friday update
* Online coaching costs £40 per month to include an initial 1-2-1 consultation, monthly training plan, weekly check-ins, regular progress checks and motivation and monthly 1-2-1 review
* S&C virtual classes cost £40 for a block of 4 classes PLUS access to Bounce Gym classes (6-7 per day)

Wishing you continued health and happiness.

Caroline x

Reduced classes

This week has certainly been unprecedented and running has been light relief. Although running/outdoor exercise is still considered safe and encouraged, it is important that we keep a safe distance from one another to avoid transmission. As the children are now off school for an indefinite period, I envisage a drop in numbers to the classes. So unless we are told to lock down completely, I plan to run the following classes next week (week beginning 23/3/20):

Mon @ 9.30 for improvers
Tues @ 9.30 for beginners/beginners+
Tues @7pm for improvers

Obviously if anyone feels unwell nearer the time of the class then please do not come and similarly if you prefer to run on your own for now then that is absolutely fine.

Social run challenge: 6/5/20

On Wednesday 6 May 2020 from 9am onwards we are having a social run challenge in Richmond Park. Runners can choose to run 3 miles, 5 miles or just over 7 miles (one lap of Richmond Park). All Common Runners are encouraged to attend and those who don’t currently run with us are very welcome to join – the cost is £8. To register your interest please email: info@commonrunners.co.uk

Trail run in Dorking

On Wednesday 26 February 2020, 12 Common Runners went on a fantastic 10k trail run, starting and finishing at Denbies Wine Estate. Rachel, a qualified wilderness coach and Salomon Ambassador, took us  through vineyards, woods, Ranmore Common, farmland with views to die for!

Here’s a link to the photos taken by Rachel –     https://boards.wetransfer.com/board/srwguo14vd0vojejl20200226141337/latest?token=d53e20b9-8a5d-48ee-a325-6aaeb036ad34

And here’s a reminder of where we run curtesy of Katia –      https://www.relive.cc/view/vRO7dPr5jK6

Social run challenge 22/1/20

On Wednesday 22 January 2020 from 9am onwards we are having a social run challenge in Richmond Park. Runners can choose to run 3 miles, 5 miles or just over 7 miles (one lap of Richmond Park). All Common Runners are encouraged to attend and those who don’t currently run with us are very welcome to join – the cost is £8. To register your interest please email: info@commonrunners.co.uk

Celebrating international women’s day 2020

To celebrate international women’s day on Wednesday 11 March, we will doing our usual weekly 5k social run on Wimbledon Common followed by a breathing and nutrition workshop at the London Scottish Golf Club (next door to the Windmill Cafe). The cost, to include coffee/tea/biscuits, is likely to be £15.

If you would like to join our social run and workshops on Wednesday 11 March please email info@commonrunners.co.uk. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come basis.

 

New running courses 2020

New beginner and improver running courses start on Monday 6 January until Thursday 2 April 2020 (excluding half term).

Beginner course is on: Mondays 10.30-11.30am

Improver courses are on: Mondays 9.30-10.30am, Tuesdays 9.30-10.30am & 7-8pm, Thursdays 10.30-11.30am

Social runs are every Wednesday at 9.30am

If you are interested in a particular day/time, please email info@commonrunners.co.uk. We do hope that you will join us soon!