Running

Kit and Tech Reviews Physical Activity Running

Treadmill or Dreadmill: The Technogym SkillMIll Review

I really want to participate in the Men’s 10K again this year, but more importantly, I want to run all of it. Crossing the finish line meant so much to me as you can see in the image below, but I also walked too much.

There was a time, not too long ago, when running 10km would not have phased me, but even though my knee is stronger and I am losing weight, there are still doubts that prevent me from hitting the road.

So, I have a confession to make.

I have been taking advantage of my Glasgow Club membership and I have been running on a ~~dreadmill~~ treadmill at Bellahouston Sports Centre. Not only is it less impact on my bad knee, but it helps me avoid the worst of the winter weather.

Oh, I so want to Return to OZ

I had thought of investing one for the house and I had looked at comparison sites but I would never be able to afford the treadmill that I really, really want.

The TechnoGym SkillMill

It is no ordinary treadmill and with an RRP of £9,000 I would not expect it to be. So what makes it so special?

The first thing that you notice is that it is not flat like most other treadmills. Instead, it curves. This seemingly encourages you to run on the balls of your feet and as a self confessed heel striker, this caught my attention. You also cannot but help notice that it is steam powered. No, not with some James Watt inspired contraption, but instead powered by your own steam. The faster and further up the curve you run, the faster the belt moves.

And you feel it. Running on the skillmill is not easy. My first attempt was less than graceful.

However, once I got used to it I began to feel more comfortable. My pace, gait and rhythm all felt much better and I quickly began to feel more comfortable running faster and slowing down, just by simply running faster and slowing down (it’s a kind of magic). It felt more gentle and more natural and I would like to read more about Technogym’s research into the benefits of the SkillMill on the joints and muscle contractions.

The SkillMill requires you to use your glutes and hamstrings more than a traditional treadmill as you drag the belt with your feet and in this it resembles running outside more. It also means that after only a few minutes, I was tiring and that a few days later my glutes were on fire. Not so much no pain, no gain but more that I was using muscles that had been ignored for far too long.

The SkillMill has become one of the highlights of my visits to Glasgow Club Bellahouston and I am looking forward to incorporating it the FT fitness class that seems to be booked solid every day, where it is used like a sledge to great effect, but it is not the only attraction.

The Bellahouston Fitness Suite has undergone a transformation that puts it on a par with many of the more expensive gyms in the city ( I have been a member of many). With a whole range of Technogym equipment, including the SkillRow, synchronised to a mywellness app on my phone, I can easily plan, follow and review my training while there are Kinesis stations that I am slowly starting to love.

With Swimathon in 14 weeks and the Bishopbriggs Sprint Triathlon in 15 weeks, I am going to be spending a lot of time in the Bellahouston swimming pool, on the SkillMill and in classes such as the legendary Monday night Circuit Class (where I am going tonight).

And with monthly membership only £34 per month with no joining fee in January and nothing to pay until February , now is the time to Join Glasgow Club

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January 22, 2018 2 comments

Journey Running

I’m Back with a Glasgow Men’s 10K Review

written by Stephen Morrison

In December 2015, I accepted the possibility that there would be no more running in my life.

I had walked away from my Great Run Blog and Great Run Local and I had lost my mojo for running. Injury, weight gain and depression conspired to make the possibility seem a certainty.

But then, late last year, I started to work on the Feet For Life campaign and I started to address some of the causes of my knee pain. I saw podiatrists and physiotherapists and started strength training.

I started to see hope.

We can rebuild him

In February of this year, the organisers of the Men’s 10K approached me to be their Vlogger (I said yes despite having a face for radio, an accent for print and a knee that was for anything but running). I had started my blogging back in 2012 with the Men’s 10K and it seemed quite fitting that I would reunite with them. I set myself a goal of making the Father’s Day Men’s 10K in Glasgow my return to running.

And today, I returned to the Men’s 10K and to running!!

See that? That’s my medal!

I ran (mostly) my longest distance in almost two years and in each of my pictures, you will see the joy emblazoned on my face . However, having been out for so long, I made some rookie mistakes that most likely impacted on my performance.

Although, does it look like I care too much?

The night before had ended so well. I went to sleep at a reasonable time (for me, at least) and I had resurrected my pre race ritual of laying out all my kit. All my NEW kit from Pearl Izumi.

I’ve got some new shoes on….eek

Yes, in an attempt to be a good Pearl Izumi Champion and because I genuinely love Pearl Izumi running shoes, I decided to break out a new pair, without breaking them in first.

I know. What was I thinking?

Even though Paolo Nutini swears by it, every runner knows that you do not wear new shoes or kit on race day and here I am with even my socks coming straight out of the packaging. Only my trusted Garmin has seen some prior action and it has become more accustomed to tracking cycling activities than running.

Come the morning of the Men’s 10K, I also decided (I have no idea why) to forego breakfast. Yes, I was going to run the Men’s 10K in a fasted state. I regularly cycle to work before eating but running 10K without any fuel probably ranks up there with the decision to allow Donald Trump access to Twitter. It was not going to end well.

It is not like I was doing it for the fat loss (is fasted state training for fat loss now considered as “Fake News”?). I was simply not thinking.

I also was not thinking about the logistics of getting to the start line of the Men’s 10K. As a southsider, I always liked the Bellahouston Park setting and the move across the river and the new route presented me with some difficulties.

With start and finish lines 10K apart (maybe about 6km as the crow flies or the cheat runs) my idea of cycling to the start was not well thought out. Although I like a warm down as much as the next person, I did not fancy trekking back to pick up my bike. And I certainly did not fancy paying £5.00 to take the Men’s 10K Shuttle Bus to pick it up.

Thankfully, my girlfriend has resurrected her own Sunday morning ritual of having to get up early to cart my ass off to whatever race I am doing. I knew that roads would be closed on the north of the river, so I suggested that she drop me off at Govan Underground Station where it was only one stop to Partick and then a 10 minute walk to the start line at the Transport Museum. Genius, I know.

However, I remembered that it was 9am and that for some reason Glasgow has a transport system in 2017 that does not start until 10am on a Sunday. Which also happened to be the start time of the Men’s 10K.

Plan C was to simply drop me off at the BBC where the Bell’s Bridge would transport me over the River Clyde with only a 15 minute walk to the start line. Plenty of time for a selfie in front of one of my favourite Glasgow backdrops.

I belong to Glasgow!

Men’s 10K Review

I arrived at the Transport Museum in plenty of time, but still somehow nearly managed to miss the cut off time for the bag drop. It could have been down to my dozen pre race visits to the loo that had also made a return to my life, but come 10am I was in my pen and as we were herded towards the start line of the Men’s 10K, my belly began to rumble. Whether this was hunger or nerves, I was not sure, but there was no turning back….mainly because there were 300 men still behind me and we are Glasgow Men’s 10Kers!! We don’t turn, but we do run.

And run we did. For 5K, at least. The route from the Transport Museum is not pretty and underfoot the terrain was not great. I overheard several runners complaining and I momentarily lost my footing. Thankfully, it only only elicited a few expletives and no cries of pain. Once past the deserted stretch of the SECC we ran along the Broomielaw and this was reminiscent of the Great Scottish Run which was my last running event back in October 2015. Back then, it signalled the final stretch to the Glasgow Green finish line while the Men’s 10K route planners had managed cunningly to extend this into a 6km stretch.

At this point, I was still running and still smiling.

I doff my hat to all the wonderful race marshals

The route then took us along Argyle Street and here it became simply quite surreal. It was possible that being near the end of runners we had missed the onlookers and the excitement had died by the time we had arrived, but there was simply no enthusiasm or support, although there was a drunk/drugged/demented guy shouting at our cycling police escorts and urging them to do wheelies.

Sadly, they never. Maybe I should ask Ali Clarkson to teach them some skillz?

Around us, shoppers shopped and there was no encouragement. Maybe they were all angry at us for closing their roads or for doing our bit to improve our health in a city where we are expected to die prematurely. Whatever the reason, the lack of engagement was disappointing.

Just as well then that we had the amazing Men’s 10K Race Crew and Pacers. Dotted along the route and at intersections, where we could cheat by cutting corners and even sections of the race or more importantly wander into oncoming traffic, they cheered us on and motivated us. Even being told by one race marshal at around the 1km point that we did not have far to go, raised a smile even if it did make me reconsider what I was doing.

At around 7km my legs began to feel heavier and my pace became slower ( I really should have eaten something). We had entered the Gorbals and it was deserted. The lack of support certainly affected me and I slowed right down to a walking pace. I noticed that I was not alone. Ahead of me and behind me, others slowed and we took it in turns to run ahead before walking and being overtaken by another member of our team as we made our way through Glasgow Green.

I say team, but at no point did any of us agree a strategy. We would utter words of encouragement as we overtook each others but little else. Every time that I saw one of them gain too much of a lead, I knew it was time to pick up my pace. I hope that my presence helped them as much as they helped me. I would love to hear from any of the guys that finished between 1hr 10 and 1hr 20. Were you aware of our wee group of runners/walkers and did you also use us to keep you going?

And keep going we did.

Soon it was the 9km mark and as we excited Glasgow Green and entered the Trongate and eventually the Merchant City, the crowds started to pick up. We were close to finishing and this meant only one thing.

We picked up the pace!

It was time to pretend that despite our times, we were Olympic standard runners. Every single one of us discovered a new reservoir of energy (no idea where mine came from. It certainly was not from my empty stomach). Our strides became longer and heads were were lifted higher. Our breathing settled and we knew that we had this.

The finishing line approached and I broke into a sprint. And as I crossed the finishing line, a huge smile broke across my face. It had been a long wait for this moment and the Men’s 10K was the perfect setting.

The joy of running again or the joy of knowing that I was soon going to eat?

I had done it! Once again, I was a runner.

My time was 1:17:39 . My slowest ever 10K and I didn’t care. The Men’s 10K is not about fast times (ok, maybe for a few it is); it is about having a good time. It is about men of all ages, abilities, shapes and sizes coming together to promote men’s health and to help improve our own well-being. All brimming with positive MENtality.

The Men’s 10K might be relatively small compared to the magnificent Great Women’s Run but it is an equally important event on the running calendar and while some of the changes made by the new organisers GSi to the Men’s 10K have attracted some criticism, they are to be praised for ensuring that this vital event continues and for delivering it in such a professional manner (I had my bag returned before I even reached the baggage collection point).

Even if the medal was a tad small (all the better to add to my bag as key ring, mind).

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I am back running and I will be back at the Men’s 10K in 2018. You may have possibly guessed by now that this is a big deal for me. Running was a huge part of my life and I have missed it. I will continue to cycle as it is still early days and I also now love cycling, but I will slowly begin to add running events to my diary.

Who knows, I might also need to head across to Edinburgh in November for the Edinburgh Men’s 10K

Will you join me?

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June 18, 2017 2 comments

Cycling Journey Running Swimming Triathlon

The Bishopbriggs Sprint Triathlon Review

written by Stephen Morrison

Just the other week, I made my triumphant return to running on the beautiful and extremely windy Reiss beach, close to John O’Groats. It wasn’t fast, but it was extremely pretty and more importantly, I felt no pain (for the first time in well over a year).

This Man Will Be An Ironman

It was on this same beach that I gained the confidence to complete the Copenhagen Marathon and with my weight starting to drop again (slowly) and my cycling becoming an everyday activity, my Ironman dreams should still be alive.

However, last week I was on BBC Radio Scotland (listen here until the end of May) talking about why I blog.

My goal has always been to inspire and encourage others and it might be time to accept that I may need longer to prepare for my Ironman than I anticipated. Especially as I hope to launch at least one new cycling inspired initiative to help encourage people to move more and because I am currently not finding the time to train sufficiently (note to self: sort this out!) while trying to accommodate all my roles, campaigning and responsibilities. At some point, I have to decide what is more important to me. Helping others or helping myself (I want to do both).

But back to the present and back to my Ironman training.

On Sunday, it received a welcome boost as I completed the Bishopbriggs Sprint Triathlon hosted by Glasgow Triathlon Club and located at The Leisuredrome.

Bishopbriggs Sprint Triathlon

For those who, like me, are triathlon newbies or wannabes, the Sprint Triathlon is made up of :

750 Metre Swim
20 Kilometre Cycle
5 Kilometre Run

Individually, I am competent at these distances in each discipline, so going into it I was hopeful that I would get through it unscathed even with my lack of real training (famous last words).

However, like most things preparation is key. Bishopbriggs is 8 miles from my home and on the morning of the event, the sun was out and I was feeling good (possibly too good).

I had considered cycling half way to a train station, but the timing was off and being my usual late self, I didn’t have any time to spare, so I just cycled on. [Lesson 1: investigate and plan on how to get to events with a bike]

All the way I was envisaging being late to registration; of encountering lengthy queues and of experiencing a confusing (to me at least) transition area (where you park and collect your bike).

The Bishopbriggs Sprint Triathlon

On arrival, however, all my fears evaporated. I was welcomed at reception and quickly issued with my timing band, race number and instructions (instructions that even I could almost follow). At the transition area, they must have sensed that I was a newbie and both marshals and another competitor came to my assistance. Neither cared that I was clueless nor wearing the normal triathlete uniform of a tri-suit. Instead, they only seemed to care about me being able to enjoy the race.

And that was to be the theme of the whole event.

We had a quick but instructional (and funny) briefing and then with my estimated swim time being slow and subsequently being in the first wave of triathletes, we were ushered to the pool (no outdoor swim in this event). Here, we were given more instructions. Everything had been thought of, and as I entered my lane, I could focus on one thing

Not killing myself in the pool.

The Swim

Swimming is my weakest discipline and with my Total Immersion swimming still not perfect, I resorted to the breast stroke, which is perfectly acceptable even if my form is far from perfect. I had estimated 30 mins for my swim and I decided on an almost effortless pace as I had no idea how I would cope later on.

At 28 laps, I was accosted with a swimming board. Ok, that isn’t quite right. I had much earlier lost track of my laps, but thankfully, our lane marshall had it in control and a gentle wee tap to the head was to remind/reassure me that I had only two laps left (a nice wee touch indeed).

As I reduced this to one lap and turned for my final 25 metres, I heard the voices. Not in my head, thankfully, but all around me. The awaiting swimmers, my friend Mark and all the marshals were willing me on. As I touched that final pool edge, there was a huge cheer and as I slid out of the pool like a walrus, I had a huge smile on my face.

It was then out to the transition area to collect my bike and in all honesty, I wasted so much time untying shoelaces, attaching race numbers and generally messing around that I lost several precious minutes. [Lesson 2: All of these could and should have been done in setup]

The Cycle

Finally out of the transition area, I set my sights on the 4 x 5km loops on a closed road. Closed to all but two refuse lorries that is, which had somehow managed to break through the blockade of marshals. As soon as you leave the vicinity of the Leisuredrome, you are faced with a monster of a climb. No warning and no warm up. I went through my gears and by the top, my lungs were busting. The rest of the way out was relatively flat, well signposted and with a nice surface, so I paced it well ( I took it easy). At the turning point, there were two friendly and helpful marshals warning us to slow down for the turnaround but also offering encouragement.

The way back was slightly tougher, but we did have THAT hill to go down and the wee kid (or big kid) in me loved the exhilaration of speeding down it, only to be instructed to slow down again as we approached another turning point.

And here , disaster struck. As I slowed down, I placed a foot on the ground and I felt the pain of cramps shoot their way through my left calf and right up into my hip. I pedalled out of the area and managed about 100 metres and had to stop.

I performed a few stretches and tried to get back on and the tightness returned. With it ‘only’ being a 20km cycle, I had no water [Lesson 3: Always bring water and even energy gels] and I could have kicked myself. If I could have moved my leg, that is. At this point, I thought that my race was over and part of me just wanted to curl up and hide. A member of the public then approached me to see if I was ok and suggested that I walk up the hill with my bike and that’s what I did.

As other riders passed me, most asked if I was ok and by the time I reached the top, the pain was easing off. So, I jumped back on and managed to complete the ride only a few minutes outside of my pre race estimate of one hour and that was with me pushing my bike up THAT hill. [Lesson 4: Do more hills. Whether it’s cycling or running, I need to do more hills]

The Run

Again the dismount and transition area was clearly marked and with only the race bib to change from back to front and a change of hat (it was extremely sunny) I was quickly out and onto the last leg.

Any excuse (it was very sunny) to wear my Pearl Izumi Champion cap

And this was quite apt as I was on my last legs. I couldn’t run and managed only short bursts of jogging interspersed with longer bouts of walking. [Lesson 5: Include more “Brick” training sessions where I go straight into a walk or run after a bike ride] The run route is along the canal and it at least offered a beautiful backdrop. It is shared with the public, so there were cyclists, runners and dog walkers, but at no point did this feel like an issue and at the turning point we were met by by another marshal, who was my friend Ray from my Great Run Local Glasgow days. I wasted a minute or so catching up and stealing his water (thanks Ray) but it was a minute worth wasting.With his encouragement and his water, I set off and managed a few bursts of running, but I was sore and tired and it was hot. If I have one complaint, it is that there should have been at least one water station, but I should possibly revert back to Lesson 3.

The route had us then run under a bridge and along the canal in the opposite direction before crossing another bridge (again manned by friendly marshals who even took Ray’s empty bottle from me) and entering the final mile on a more trail like surface. I walked/jogged most of it until I got to the final 500 metres. I picked up the pace (relatively speaking) and sprinted (again, relatively speaking) towards the inflatable finish line where I pumped my hands in the air, having completed my first “real” triathlon. I was given some water and encouraged to have a wee sit down. I didn’t have to be told twice.

I lay back in the grass, spread my arms and stared skywards.

I was a triathlete.

The Celebration

I was a slow, knackered and sore triathlete, but a triathlete nonetheless. I lay like this for a few minutes and then the urge to tell all and sundry about my exploits took over and I headed towards my bike, gear and mobile phone. I picked up some much needed refreshments in the Leisuredrome cafe and set about updating all my social media accounts with my accomplishment. As I spoke to my girlfriend on the phone, I felt tears welling up. I was both emotionally and physically drained, but I was also beaming with pride.

Two thumbs up for the brilliant Bishopbriggs Sprint Triathlon

Once rested, I gathered my bike and gear and collected my timing sheet from the manually operated system, bade farewell to my hosts and set off on my 8 mile cycle home (yes, I did sleep well last night).

The Verdict

The Bishopbriggs Triathlon was superbly organised by Glasgow Triathlon Club and it is a perfect introduction to Triathlons with both Junior and Novice events also available. With an indoor pool, closed roads and a beautiful run route it was both fun and safe. The marshals were all friendly and knowledgeable while the locals came out to cheer us on. It’s an annual event with 250 Sprint places up for grabs and they do sell out quickly. At £46 it isn’t cheap, but you can get a £5 discount if you are Triathlon Scotland member (I joined after signing up) and it compares favourably with the big name events who charge upwards from £70 for Sprint Triathlons. You also have access to showers, restrooms and cake!

With the cost of entry, the cost of bikes (all triathletes/cyclists adopt the N+1 formula to owning bikes, where the number of bikes you need is N, the number you have + 1) and the amount of kit needed, triathlons are for the serious athlete. I am partly assuming this as they seem to have no time for frivolities. For there was no goodie bag and not even a medal for finishing (although you do get a far more practical Glasgow Triathlon Club towel). Obviously finishing is reward enough.

As someone who collects running medals with the mentality of a magpie, this was disappointing, so I decided to digitally create my own for posterity.

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If a triathlon is something that you are considering, then I would have no hesitation in recommending the Bishopbriggs Sprint Triathlon. It’s friendly, fun and now unforgettable.

I certainly hope to return next year to beat my finishing time of 2 hours : 33 minutes : 27 seconds and hopefully improve upon my position of last place.

Yes, I was the last finisher and it hasn’t detracted from how I feel about the event or my performance. I had an amazing time and at no point did I feel that my shape or pace were being judged by anyone.

Thank you Glasgow Triathlon Club for a wonderful Bishopbriggs Sprint Triathlon

This week I am speaking at Elevate Arena about being fat and fit and this illustrates why being active is so important to me. Despite being obese, staying active allows me to enjoy (relatively speaking again) these events and it enables me to feel better about myself. I do want to lose more weight, but I will not let my excess pounds slow me down (too much) or stop me from challenging myself or enjoying life.

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May 8, 2017 2 comments

Physical Activity Running

End Great Run Herbalife Partnership

written by Stephen Morrison

I loved my time with Great Run.

I loved writing blogs for them. I loved launching Great Run Local in Scotland for them. I loved being part of the Great Run family. I especially loved their events and I will not lie..

I absolutely loved the VIP treatment I received at each event where I met my running heroes.

end great run herbalife

Even when I decided that I could no longer work with them, part of me still loved them.

However, on the 18th April 2017, my love affair with Great Run ended (hopefully, not for good).

This was the day that they announced Herbalife Nutrition as their new partner. For the uninitiated, Herbalife are a global nutrition company (salespeople in 94 countries) who sponsor and support some of the biggest names in sport (including Cristiano Ronaldo and inspirational triathlete Heather Jackson) ; they deliver free and often fun fitness classes via their community based Herbalife24 FitClubs and you’ll find many local personal trainers extolling the benefits of their products.

So why am I not loving this? Why am I so disgusted by Great Run’s decision to partner with them and why am I calling for them to end the Great Run and Herbalife partnership?

Well, for a start, Herbalife were recently fined $200,000,000 US for cheating almost 350,000 salespeople out of hundreds of millions of dollars with a high-pressure multi-level marketing scheme.

The chairwoman of a Federal Trade Commission inquiry stated that the only way to make money was for salespeople to buy its products in bulk, pressure new recruits into joining the company and then sell on those products to the new employees.

The vast majority of Herbalife salespeople make no money while the company made sales of $4,242,200,000 US in 2016.

We’ve all seen the Facebook posts from friends inviting us to share in their latest get rich, get ripped and get your life back scheme.

The truth is that very few get any of the above. The inconvenient truth alleged by the Federal Trade Commission is rather unsavoury:

The small number of distributors who actually made money made it not by selling products to people who wanted the company’s powders, pills, and potions, but rather by recruiting others to serve as distributors – and encouraging them to buy Herbalife products.

Then, we have the products themselves. Now, I am not a dietician or nutritionist but I know a few and I haven’t met one who has ever supported the effectiveness or efficacy of Herbalife products. That’s not to say that they are better or worse than any other supplement promising increased performance and recovery (yes, I am cynical of most of them).

If you look at the ingredient lists of any one of their products (not that you will find any on the actual Herbalife site!) you’ll find such appetising ingredients as soy lecithin, carrageenan, copper gluconate and fructooligosaccharides ( I picked on this because of its long name). There is nothing inherently wrong with any of these additives (despite some internet claims to the contrary) but they do belong to an ingredients list that goes on and on and on….

Herbalife are widely known for their highly processed meal replacement products and although shakes do make for a quick and often tasty snack, they are not ideal for establishing sustainable and healthy eating behaviours.

Great Run are currently promoting a wonderful #RealRunners campaign. Just a pity that with this partnership they are not promoting real food.

No doubt, Great Run will argue that it is a commercial decision that will help them develop new events, help many new runners enjoy great races and support those at the end of a race. They might even state that they are only providing samples of their “Hyrdate” product in finishing goodie (or not so goodie) bags.

However, if you look at the press release, you’ll see that Herbalife and Great Run plan to provide Great Run runners nutrition advice THROUGHOUT their training.

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Having been involved with Great Run, I can envisage this involving blogs and lots of social media posts linking to Herbalife products. They have legitimised Herbalife and it wasn’t long for the multi level marketers to start offering their services.

They use these prestigious partnerships to promote their products and they will not stop. They are already pitching powders and selling shakes. They are acting independently (well, they are independent distributors) and Herbalife should be giving them clear guidelines on how they use this partnership. Otherwise, we may discover more people being pressured into purchases.

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Great Run are to be praised for their efforts to encourage and inspire runners; they promote running as a sport for all and their events give plodders like me the opportunity to run alongside (or more like way behind) the elites of the sport. Great Run events are full of first timers and many of these will be exposed to Herbalife for the first time because of Great Run?

I genuinely think that they have made a huge mistake with this partnership and I am not alone.

Twitter has not been kind and the general feeling is that Great Run should end this partnership before it even starts (although I did hear that they were quick off the blocks with samples given out at the Great Edinburgh Run).

Emma, the phdrunner did not hide her disgust:

end great run herbalife

Zoe and Emma shared their lack of approval:

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While Bethan was troubled:

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Some even vowed not to register for any more Great Run events:

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While Helsieboo took a step further:

We could all vow to boycott Great Run events, and many have, but I prefer Helen’s’ approach. People and charities gain so much from participating in Great Run events and I do believe that it is better to use dialogue and reason.

So, let’s use social media to convince Great Run that this is an error. That no financial gain is worth alienating so many runners and tarnishing the Great Run brand and name. And what must Great Run’s other partners think about this partnership?

So, if Great Run working with Herbalife angers you as much as it does us, then please go to the Great Run Petition at Change.org, sign up and urge Great Run to reconsider this partnership.

UPDATE

Since writing this blog and Helen starting the petition and writing her own brilliant BLOG, we have received over 1,200 signatures on the petition (thank you Ben Coomber for the support).

Herbalife have contacted me to correct inaccuracies in my blog (I am still waiting to hear what they actually are, but I will change them if need be) while I have also had messages from Herbalife members telling me that stupid fatties were responsible for their own failings; that without reading my blog that I was ill-informed and had not done any research and that only fools lost money.

That seems a little unfair on Tracy who bravely admitted on Facebook that she was lured in by the extravagant claims

Since Sunday, I have been repeatedly told that rogue Herbalife distributors were a minority and that they unfairly blackened the Herbalife name. But, stories like this are not uncommon. How many of us know someone who has experienced similar and who like Tracy has been on the receiving end of 5am calls (I.E. harassment )?

Herbalife have admittedly made improvements to how they operate (following the FTC Inquiry, mind) and I am sure that they have removed many of the distributors who made life difficult (or even hell) for others, but the old behaviours still exist and Herbalife have much to do to convince the public that they are an ethical brand.

Great Run have also been disappointing in that they seem to be simply ignoring the dissent and hoping that it will go away.

That’s why I ask you to share our blogs and the petition. With each new addition we show Great Run that #RealRunners (if you run, you are a real runner) do not approve of this partnership. People are cancelling hotel reservations and withdrawing from events. It is not going away.

We are not going away.

Together we can make Great Run think again

#EndGreatRunHerbalife

April 22, 2017 6 comments

Health Mental Health Running

Beat Blue Monday and Run Free in Glasgow

written by Stephen Morrison

Monday was supposedly Blue Monday. The most depressing day of the year, based on this equation, devised in 2005:

It is a day when seemingly Christmas becomes a fleeting memory while the cost of Christmas is at the forefront of our minds and our New Year Resolutions to get fit start to fall by the wayside.

Forgetting, for a moment, that this nonsensical equation was devised on behalf of a holiday company flogging vacations in the sun and that people who suffer from depression might not appreciate the idea that depression is simply brought on by an empty wallet and fading Christmas cheer, let’s consider how we can get back on track with our fitness goals without it costing the earth….or anything, for that matter.

This is my third Get Fit For Free In Glasgow post and with me looking forward to making my long awaited (by me, at least) return to running on Wednesday with Run 4 It Giffnock, I thought I would focus on the free running….no, not Assassin’s Creed inspired parkour, but free of charge running available in Glasgow.

Running (and physical activity in general) is a great way to get fit and to make new friends and it can also help beat the blues, Monday or otherwise. It has helped me when I have been feeling low with low self-esteem, low energy and lack of confidence. Running with an organised group offers support, safety and a degree of accountability. In Glasgow, these groups vary in size, but they all love running and they all embrace new members.

Read on for my top free running groups in Glasgow

Run Free

Glasgow is blessed with an abundance of parks (Dear Green Place and all that) and in many of them, you will find a Saturday morning parkrun, which is the national and free timed 5K running organisation. While I will not go through them all, I do have to mention the wonderful event at Tollcross, where you’ll find a challenging course, great folk and even better cakes. Full details of parkrun events in Glasgow can be found HERE

However, there is also an abundance of other free running groups in the city that are suitable for beginners and seasoned runners, and there are several which I have found (or heard from reputable sources) to be especially supportive, fun and inclusive.

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First up is my old favourite Great Run Local which runs a friendly and free 2k and 5K along the banks of the Clyde at the Broomielaw at the Squiggly Bridge (not the the Squinty Bridge) every Wednesday at 6.30pm. Great Run Local is a family affair as accompanied children can also take part. Times are measured using a free wrist tracker and if there was an award for the friendliest group of volunteers, then Great Run Local Glasgow would be sure to be amongst the finalists.

Then we have the running group that has risen from the ashes of the defunct Glasgow Running Network and which covers most of the north of the city, with weekly runs in Scotstoun, Maryhill, Garrowhill, Tollcross and the Gorbals. It is, of course, the aptly named Glasgow Phoenix Runners. Although, by all accounts, it is a very friendly group with varying abilities, it is requested that you are able to run a minimum distance.

Not one for new runners then, but they ARE definitely the intended audience at the Sweatshop Running Club Couch to 5K group in Anniesland. Not only is this free, but SRC also reward participation and with regular running events and promotions indoor, it is a great place for those out west to learn to run every Monday and Wednesday night.

For those in the southside, we have the aforementioned Run 4 It Giffnock. Here, you can participate in a lung busting interval sessions on a Monday after work that will improve your fitness and help you increase your speed, while there is now a very amiable and social (so social, there is often smoothies at Wholefoods afterwards) 5K run on a Wednesday night. Again, there is a mixed pace and all are welcome.

Run 4 It (also based in Bothwell St) and Sweatshop are both running retailers and in addition to delivering sessions, they also provide information evenings and gait analysis which you’ll know, if you’ve been following my Feet For Life posts, can be very useful in helping you pick a shoe that makes running hopefully more comfortable and less injury laden.

While we are mentioning retailers, we cannot forget the mighty Nike+ Run Club on Buchanan Street where you can enjoy a variety of running options from beginners to interval based sessions on Thursday nights. Nike regularly put on special events, like the wonderful Subway Run which much to my dismay didn’t involve a 5K run followed by 6 inch at Subway but instead a 10 mile run around all of Glasgow’s underground stations. Which, to be fair, remains as one of my running highlights.

Check out those smiles!

Still in the city and along Sauchiehall Street we have a running group that will put a smile on your face every Monday at lunch. Just remember to brush your teeth as it is with the Glasgow Dental Hospital & School Runners. It is a work based Jogscotland group, but is is open to anyone and might just be something to get your teeth into (sorry for the really bad pun).

There are Jogscotland running groups across Glasgow (and indeed, Scotland) and while not all of them are free, they are all led by qualified Jogscotland Jog Leaders and they are all very friendly and supportive. Check on JogScotland for a group near you.

And finally, we have a group that is smaller than most of the others, but which has a huge heart and which offers some fantastic longer Sunday Social runs (usually with food) for those training for marathons and a much shorter Tuesday night run in the city, again, often accompanied with food (and the occasional beer). The Red Bridge Runners meet every Tuesday at 6.30pm at you guessed it, the Red Bridge, otherwise known as the South Portland Street Suspension Bridge

Run Not So Free

While it isn’t exactly free, I do also have to give a special mention to the Glasgow Frontrunners where you’ll find a training session for everyone….and I mean everyone. Glasgow Frontrunners is the most inclusive and one of the largest running groups in the city and it has a range of running sessions from Couch to 5K to marathon training on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at Glasgow Caledonian University. Sessions cost either £1 per visit or from as little as £18 for the year.

Whatever group you choose, you’ll undoubtedly find a friendly, fun and supportive group of runners who will not care about how far or fast you can run, but instead will only be happy that you want to run with them.

Forget Blue Monday and instead, Run Free and Run Happy

January 16, 2017 1 comment

Guest Blogs Running

Top 10 Running Books for Inspiration, Knowledge and Enjoyment

written by Stephen Morrison

It’s time to accept that I will not be running for some time. My knee isn’t yet ready or willing to pound the streets and instead I will spend some pounds reading about the sport I love and miss so much while I sit on the injury bench (or injury spin bike, in my case).

There are so many wonderful books about running available, so I asked my friend and running expert Colin Thomas for his recommendations and we have picked our Top 10 Running Books. How many have you read and which of these books will you add to your collection?

My top 10 running books for inspiration, knowledge and enjoyment.

Born to Run, Christopher McDougall. When I first read this book it was a real eye opener to what the human body is really capable of. The majority of the book is set in Mexico’s Copper Canyons, the true story of Caballo Blanco and the Taramuhara Indians running barefoot for 50 to 100 miles, sometimes for the pure pleasure of it is remarkable. This book kicked off the barefoot running craze which swept through the western world a few years ago and it’s easy to see why. The stories of strength, courage and commitment to running proving once again that we humans truly are Born to Run.

Running with the Kenyans, Adharanand Finn. A captivating true account of the Finn family leaving the comfort of their family home and setting up a new life in the magical little town of Iten, Kenya. Many of the world’s top distance runners come from Iten so much so that it is now known as “The Home of Champions.” This book follows the story of the author’s quest to find out the secrets of the fastest people on earth and if living and training amongst them would revolutionise his own running performance.

14 minutes, Alberto Salazaar. Most people will know Alberto as being the legendary distance runner most famous for his marathon performance known as “The Duel in the Sun” or possibly as the head coach of The Oregon Project. He famously coached Mo Farah and Galen Rupp to Olympic medal success in 2012 and 2016. But did you know that he had a tough up bringing as a boy in Cuba before his family fled to the US? Or more importantly, did you know that he essentially died when his heart stopped beating for 14 minutes while out on the training field? This is an insightful account of how life may give you more than one chance and if it does, be sure to take it with both hands!

Run, Swim, Throw, Cheat, Chris Cooper. Athletics in recent years has been dogged by allegations of cheating and drug abuse. When we see great world beating performances these days is it right to be skeptical or should we just accept what we see as being a clean athlete putting in hours of hard work and dedication? This book gives an understandable account of the science behind drugs in sport. If you have been interested in the Armstrong lies or you are suspicious about some athletes performances then you will love this book. Is the possibility of drug free sport realistic? What next with scientists now gene doping? It’s a scary thought but in reality we have got a very long way to go.

Pre, The Story of America’s Greatest Running Legend, Steve Prefontaine, Tom Jordan. So you have probably seen or heard the famous quote To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift. Well Steve Prefontine certainly gave his best. Pre was a hard running front runner who was almost unbeatable in distances over a mile for 5 years. At the tender age of just 24 he tragically lost his life in an accident and his legacy lives on.

Some people create with words or with music or with a brush or paints. I like to make something beautiful when I run”.

Running Beyond Limits, Dr Andrew Murray. If somebody told you that they were going to run from the North of Scotland to the Sahara desert in Morocco you would think they should be sanctioned! Well that’s what Dr Andrew Murray did for charity (run I mean, not get sanctioned!) and I’m guessing, he might even have enjoyed it. Being a GP, Sports Medicine Doctor, international ultra runner and winner of many endurance races, you would have to assume that Andrew is not insane himself, but at the very least, extremely determined, hugely motivated and largely inspirational (he is Stephen’s hero). This book is an almost diary like account of that journey. In his role as a Physical Activity Champion for the Scottish government, he actively encourages a healthy lifestyle including exercise and hopefully this book can inspire others to get off the couch and find out if their own bodies can start Running Beyond Limits.

Lore of Running, Tim Noakes MD. Sometimes known as the runners bible, Lore of Running is over 700 pages of scientific research, graphs and stats with a plethora of information from Acute Muscle tears to Zinc deficiency with the everything else in between. Perhaps not a captivating story like some of the other books on this list but if there’s something that you want to find out about running, this book is a pretty good place to start.

The Ghost Runner, Bill Jones. This is the true story of John Tarrant, the man they couldn’t stop. He was banned from competitive running for life after accepting a £17 expenses payment as a teenage boxer. However this wasn’t going to stop John. Gatecrashing races, he would turn up on the start line wearing a disguise, throw it off when the gun went and started his run with everybody else. Before long he was a record breaker and one of the greatest long distance runners the world has ever seen.

Feet in the Clouds: A Tale for Fell-Running and Obsession, Richard Askwith. (Stephen’s pick). With road running off limits for a while, this amazing book will have you pinning for the forests and fells of the Lake District. I for one was entranced by the wonderful tales and descriptions of stunning but often brutally demanding races. I dare you to read this book and not consider jumping on the first train or bus to the Lake District.

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running , Haruki Murakami. (Stephen’s pick again). I was given this book as a gift and instantly fell in love with the prose and the passion of Murakami’s writing. In a Top 10 Running Books list full of amazing talent, Murakami is a plodder but exceptionally disciplined and his advice can be applied to life as much as running:

pain is inevitable, suffering is not”.

If you are looking for a bit of running inspiration to kick start your 2017 training plan, be sure to pick up one of these Top 10 Running Books. If bought through one of the links, Stephen earns commission for his Cancer Research Ironman Challenge, so stock up for Christmas and help raise valuable funds.

And, if suitably inspired, why not join Colin and his mixed ability group for a couple of weeks running in Kenya. Either will be sure to get the juices flowing! You can find out more about this arranged, group trip to Kenya at http://www.performancerunningspecialist.net/kenya-training-holiday.html

You can also read all more about Colin’s services at www.performancerunningspecialist.com

November 13, 2016 0 comment

Feet For Life Health Running

Feet for Life – Bow down to the Podiatrist

written by Stephen Morrison

I had seen a physiotherapist and an osteopath; I had consulted my personal trainers (yep, I have two) and I had even spoken to fellow runners, but after 10 months and endless numbers of leg raises and squats and even some sessions with the Core Momentum Trainer (that deserves a post of its own) and a stint in barefoot shoes I was still no closer to putting on a pair of running shoes in earnest.

So, when the College of Podiatry suggested that I should see a podiatrist, my only thought was that it might make for another nice Feet For Life post.

I would never have guessed that six days later, I would be out running 5km.

I was referred to Podiatrist Mandy Abbott (now forever known as Magic Mandy) at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and right up until I entered the clinic, I wasn’t completely sure what help a podiatrist would be, although she certainly helped me with my obligatory selfie!

Feet for after Life

Sure, I do possess typical runner’s feet and I could benefit with having some hard skin removed, but just how would a podiatrist help me to run again or even walk without pain again?

Well, I soon learned that in addition to being a lecturer at Glasgow Caledonian University, Mandy Abbott also specialises in biomechanics and she offered to review my gait and examine my feet, ankles and knees.

This wasn’t like the standard treadmill gait analysis found in your average running shop. Mandy checked my range of motion in my ankles before asking me to walk up and down the clinic. After what felt like about 300 laps, she told me to stop.

She had seen enough.

I had excess hard skin along the outsides of my feet and especially in the heel. The latter wasn’t a surprise, as I know that I am a heavy heel striker (when my foot lands, it lands heel first), but the explanation for the outer foot was more of a shock.

During my walk up and down the clinic I displayed signs that I have Genu Varum or bow legs as they are more commonly known. I walk on the outside of my feet (supination) and my my lower legs are inverted. This is yet another sign/symptom of osteoarthritis and I am close to finally accepting that I cannot continue living in denial. At some point my knees will require further investigation.

However, at the very least , I now have a more than viable explanation for my knee pain. Something that I have been searching for. With this knowledge, I can move on.

So what does it all mean and why is it causing pain?

medialknee

Whenever I walk or run it is most likely that my tibia and femur are making contact which is increasing my knee degeneration and causing the associated pain. I am also possibly stretching the lateral ligaments and this might explain my reluctance to attempt any movements that involve bending or twisting my knee.

Training sessions with Scott Devenney (using the HUB and the CMT) prove that I can perform lunges and that I can apply load to me knee. I will continue to train and I will keep strengthening my body and lowering my body fat. This will all help me move better and without unplaced fear. I will not lunge into anything too quickly, but I will lunge.

As as well as an explanation for my mobility issues, Mandy also recommended and provided me with an orthosis for my shoes. It has a lateral wedge that will enable me to walk with less pronation with the force of each landing being absorbed more centrally thus increasing knee joint stability. It will also help with my knee alignment and increase the space between my tibia and femur which should help ease my symptoms and reduce the pain.

The thin edge of the wedge

This a temporary orthosis that Mandy fabricated in a matter of minutes and should it continue to work, I will look into getting a more long term orthosis produced. I don’t particularly want to wear an orthosis for the rest of my life, but it is much more preferable than walking in pain and not being able to run again

Mandy provided me with something else too. Hope. Hope that I will run again and hope that my dream of being an Ironman isn’t over before it even starts.

Even after only a week of wearing the orthosis and making a conscious effort to walk that little bit more straight, the frequency and the intensity of the pain has decreased. It hasn’t gone completely, but it is no longer ever present and I don’t feel that it is restricting me as much as it has in the past.

I ran!!!!!

So much so, that when my girlfriend Teresa suggested that we go for a short run this week I agreed. Without hesitation. It wasn’t fast but it was pain free and even after 5km I felt that I could have kept going. However, taking small steps has always been my approach and 5km was far enough for my first run.

I’ll rest my knee and I will look forward to my Cancer Research Tough 10 event on November 6th for which I am an Ambassador. It will be my first (and possibly only) event of this year and although I will not be fast I will run and after 10 months out, I hope you all appreciate just how much this means to me. I’ve lost and given up a few things in the past year and I had begun to believe that I would never run again.

I will run!!!

It’s too soon to say that I’m back and I doubt that I’ll ever again fully consider myself as a runner, but I can and I will run. And I will be an Ironman.

And if that wasn’t good enough, Mandy provided me with an excuse to buy new running shoes. With my supination and bow legs, my current shoes are undoubtedly worn away on the outer edges and it is in my best interests to replace them (I’ll ignore the fact that I do already own several as yet unworn pairs). My first pair arrive on Wednesday.

When I partnered with the College of Podiatry to promote the Feet for Life campaign I never envisioned that it would be a podiatrist that would hold the key to my knee pain and to me running again. I simply wanted to show that our feet deserve more attention and more care. Now, I also want to show that Podiatry is about much more than treating athlete’s foot or removing corns…..although that will probably be the content of the next Feet for Life blog.

October 23, 2016 4 comments

Guest Blogs Running

How to Breathe When Running – Steven Bonthrone

written by Stephen Morrison

At the end of this month I will be attending an “It’s All About the Breath” seminar with my Triathlon “coach” Mark Russell. Breathing is something that I take for granted (don’t we all?), but deep down (in my lungs perhaps) I know that I can do it better.

So when running coach and Faster Master Trainer, Steve Bonthrone suggested a post on How to Breathe When Running, I didn’t waste a breath and immediately said yes.

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Steve Bonthrone is a Personal Trainer and Running Coach in Perth, Scotland. Steve first got into fitness in the late 90’s after a back problem prompted him to get fit and he did this by training for and running the London Marathon. Completing the marathon changed his life and inspired him to quit his job as a pizza chef and trained to become a Personal Trainer so that he could inspire others to go after their dreams just as he had done. He still runs marathons to this day and also coaches runners in his 0-5k and Run Faster groups. His motto is “Anything is possible if you can dream it, believe in it and willing to work hard to achieve it”.

A question that is often asked is “how should I breathe when I run?” Sounds crazy eh? In and out has been the tried and tested method used by humans for centuries so if it isn’t broken then why fix it? Joking aside, breathing is a big issue for many people when trying to run so if you’re reading this and find breathing difficult when you run, keep reading and I’ll hopefully help you solve the problem.

How do you breathe when you are running?

If breathing is an issue for you when you run then there’s a very good chance that you’re running too fast or to put it another way, the intensity is likely to be too high for you. If you’re trying to breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth when you run and the intensity of your run is high then breathing that way is going to be a bit of a challenge that will likely result in you having to stop. This can be very demotivating, especially if you’ve been inspired to run by watching friends run or hear of how others are buzzing after a run yet you feel like you’re struggling and a natural reaction could be to quit as running doesn’t seem to be for you.

What if there was a better way to do it? What if there was an easy way for you to be able to run and begin to love it just as you’ve seen lots of others do it?

There is…..slow down! You may be thinking that you run slow enough as it is and if you were to run any slower, you’d almost be walking. If that’s what it takes then that’s ok but I want you to know that you won’t always be there and you’ll progress much quicker.

I should say at this point that the majority of the population make the same mistake when they start running so you’re not alone. There are many reasons for this. First, much of what we read in articles and from other runners is about pace and distance but seldom about how the pace should feel. Secondly, most of us are used to going to fitness classes that are high intensity so the natural reaction when trying running as a form of exercise can be to replicate that intensity we’re used to however, that doesn’t always work very well.

It’s natural to think that when we go running that we should go from A to B in the quickest time but what if that strategy is actually holding us back rather than taking us forwards? Like many other things, when starting out, we should be looking to master the basics before trying to do what everyone else seems to be doing.

What should you be doing then?

Let’s be selfish here and let’s focus on you and how your pace feels when you run. The first step would be to feel comfortable when you run and your breathing should be relaxed enough to be able to hold down a conversation or if you’re running alone, be able to sing a line of a song between breaths. It’s up to you if you want to sing that line out loud or just in your head! The aim should be to build the distance and be able to run a distance always feeling you can keep on going. The feeling of being able to keep going at any time will also give you a lot more confidence in your run where maybe there was a feeling of a struggle before.

It’s important to remember that slowing down doesn’t mean that you are taking a backwards step. If anything, you are taking a sideways step in order to take a greater leap forwards. Slowing down a little bit means that the demands on your lungs won’t be as high and you’ll be able to run for longer before you feel tired. Would it help to know that Triathletes Alastair and Jonny Brownlee spend about 90% of their training at conversation pace? Even if said conversation would put many of us to sleep:

“We keep our motivation up by chatting all the time,” says Alistair. “Even when we’re running or cycling. We talk about football, ideas, what’s going on in the world. I’m very conservative, really. I believe in lower taxes and fewer rules. Sometimes we talk about that.”

What to do now?

On your next run, try paying more attention to feeling comfortable when you run, feel like it’s easy, that you can run for an indefinite period and see how that feels for you. It might take a bit of patience to get used to it and if you do it consistently, you will progress quickly and it won’t be long before you’re running further at a quicker pace than what you were doing previously where you felt it hard work.

Happy Running and Run Happy!

October 21, 2016 0 comment

Running

Tough 10, TrailFest & Rainbow Laces Competition

written by Stephen Morrison

Autumn is creeping upon us and it is one of the best times of year to pack in the pavements and to take your running off road. Trail running is becoming more and more popular with more and more events being launched to meet the demand and to showcase the wonderful spirit of the trail running community.

It is getting darker and colder, so I have decided to offer a free Trail Running themed competition for you all to enter and hopefully brighten up your day.

Maybe it was my trailblazing Shite Runners blog or my efforts in the Hoka Highland Fling Relay, but I am delighted to announce that I have been selected to be an Ambassador for one such event.

That event is Tough 10 and it is the latest charity run from Cancer Research and also the event that I hope to mark my return to running in.

It will have been 10 months without running and I cannot think of a more apt race to make my return in. It has been a Tough 10 months.

Tough 10 is a series of, you guessed it, 10 challenging but fun 10K races across the UK which range from simply Tough for our southern softies in Essex (sorry to my Essex family, I couldn’t resist) to the Toughest in Edinburgh (where I will of course be running). Every event is located in an iconic region of the country and they are designed to appeal to the rough runner is all of us

The Tough Ten events are, you guessed it, tough.

Competition Prize 1

The Tough 10 events have no obstacles, other then the terrain and your mental and physical strength, the odd chance of mud and some of the most stunning running routes that you are likely to encounter this autumn. The Tough 10 series kicks off this weekend in the Peak District before heading off London’s Epping Forest on the 23rd October and ending the 10 race series in the sumptuous surround of Margam Country Park in South Wales.

Only one event has sold out (well done Essex) and you can find and register for your closest Tough 10 event here. Why not recruit a team of Tough runners and make this challenge your introduction to trail running. At only £20.00 per entry it is also great value.

To celebrate my impending return to running, I am offering even greater value. For the cost of a comment, three of you have the opportunity to win entries to a Tough 10 event near you (or far from you, if you fancy exploring)

Competition Prize 2

And that’s not all!

On October 15th, Glasgow sees the return of the terrific TrailFest Trail Running Festival. Trail running legends and the trail running community come together to celebrate all that is great about running in the great outdoors.

Glasgow welcomes back the Trail Fest

Speakers such us as Debbie and Marco Consani (the JOINT creators of Marcothon-before I start another debate) are joined by the almost human James Stewart, who ran an incredible 160 miles in 24 hours, and many other inspiring runners, including my fellow Tough Ten Ambassador Lucja Leonard. You can listen to their tales or hit the trails with special events and coaching sessions.

Tickets for this all day event cost £45, but one person can win a free entry, while two more can win one of the special and limited edition #RunDirty Buffs (as modelled by the one and only Ryan Scott).

RunDirty but run warm with the Glasgow TrailFest Buff

Competition Prize 3

If the Tough Ten and Glasgow Trail Fest prizes are not enough, then allow me to put a little colour into your life. The colours of the rainbow, to be precise.

Sept 19-25 sees the launch of Stonewall Scotland’s Rainbow Laces campaign. A week when we can all show that running and sport are for everyone. Unfortunately, homophobia, biphobia and transphobia still rear their ugly heads in sports as well as in society and it is great to see running groups like the Glasgow Frontrunners and events such as the Jedburgh Three Peaks Ultramarathon offering inviting and friendly running environments for all.

Rainbow Laces. Sport for All

And as part of Rainbow Laces you can buy, you guessed it again, rainbow coloured laces to show your support. These can be bought here for the small sum of £2.99 but one lucky winner will win two pairs.

And be sure to snap a picture of you and your laces and post them on social media with #RainbowLaces

To win all of these fantastic prizes, Just enter below and follow the instructions Every entry will be entered into a draw to win one of these fantastic prizes. Due to the dates of all of the events and the campaigns, you will have up until Friday 7th October to enter. This will allow you to enter almost all but one of the Tough Ten events.

To enter this fantastic free giveaway, just follow the instructions in this Rafflecopter

There are three ways to enter

Tweet the campaign and then enter your tweet url in the box before confirming you have tweeted in the bottom right hand “I Twitted” box
Follow myself (@howmanymiles_ ) and CRUK on twitter and enter your twitter handle (i’ll follow back) and hit the “I follow”button.
Post the answer below and again hit that button on the bottom right of rafflecopter

All will earn you entries and the tweet can be done daily. It IS a bit complicated, but it makes selecting winners fairer and easier if I get lots and lots of entries. Plus it hopefully generates lots and lots of tweets about the Tough 10 events and #RainbowLaces.

Good luck with the competition and don’t forget to get out on those trails. A whole new world awaits and it beats pounding the streets.

September 20, 2016 11 comments

Cycling Free Events Running Try-Athlete Yoga

Get Fit For Free in Glasgow (and Balloch).

written by Stephen Morrison

Get your diaries out and put big circles around Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th September.

For on these days, there is an abundance of FREE activities on for you to try, in and around Glasgow.

Whether you want to go for a walk with the family or a cycle with the family, there is something for you. If you want to hone up on your running skills or even test your fitness, there’s a way to get fit for free, this weekend.

There is an activity for you and activities for all.

Saturday 3rd’s Free Activities

Walk About

From September 3rd -11th, the Ramblers are organising 100’s of free walks across the UK as part of their Walk About festival.

20 of these walks will be in Balloch Park, this Saturday. There will also be games for the young and old and there will be talks from experienced Park Rangers and partners Cotswolds. There’s even free refreshments later in the evening being served to those with tired legs.

Walking was the activity that started my huge weight loss and it is an activity that almost anyone can undertake. With short 15 minute walks to all day hill treks, there is a walk for almost every ability at Walk About at Balloch Park.

British Military Fitness

If your idea of fun is getting down and dirty, then this Saturday, British Military Fitness might be the workout for you. As the UK’s biggest and best loved (their words) provider of outdoor bootcamps, you are rest assured to get no rest.

But fear not, British Millitary Fitness is actually another activity that is suitable for most and with free events on this Saturday at Kelvingrove Park for Westenders and at Rouken Glen Park for Southsiders, you might want to sign up as new recruit and take this opportunity to get fit for free.

Touch Rugby with the Centurions Touch Rugby Club

As a try-athlete, Rugby is one sport that I’ve yet to have a punt at. It’s not that my face is my fortune, but that me knees are already in bits without having some 16 stone bearded bear maul me in a ruck. So, why haven’t I though about getting in touch (that’s enough puns, I think) with the guys and gals at Centurion Touch Rugby Club?

Touch Rugby is an increasingly growing sport that is fun, fast and non-contact. It is a great way to get fit and again, is open to all abilities and all sexes. This and every Saturday, you can head down to Victoria Park for a free introduction and training session.

Sunday 4th’s Free Activities

Tour of Britain and Sky Ride

Th big events, for cyclist at least, this weekend are the Tour of Britain and Sky Ride Glasgow. The Tour of Britain is an opportunity to watch some of the finest riders in the world embark on this iconic race across Britain and it is also an opportunity to travel in their footsteps (or should that be in wheel circumferences?). Once the the elite cyclists have departed, the route is opened up to the general public and everyone has the chance to cycle the traffic free 5KM route around the city centre. It is ideal for families and also novice cyclists.

Go Sky Ride around Glasgow in a traffic free 5K

And fear not if it has been a while since you last peddled and you are worried that your bike is not roadworthy. Every registered participant gets a free bike check from Halfords and a free Sky Ride Bib. A lack a bike shouldn’t be a deterrent either as you can hire, using the code 721972, a free bike from Nextbike (see, everything is free in this blog) for one hour. This should be plenty of time to take part in the fun.

Lululemon Athletica, S D Movement and Barbells, Beards and Barbers

Unfortunately, I will not be running in this year’s Great Scottish Run due to my stubborn pride and my weak hide. My hip and my knee are on the mend, but neither a 10K or half marathon road race will do either of them any good.

However, I can still train and I can look for ways to help me return to running and make me a more efficient runner. If you’ve read my Chi Running blog, you’ll appreciate that I am open to new ideas and that I am a huge fan of Lululemon Athletica. Not only for their uber expensive but oh so wonderful shorts and t-shirts, but for their innovative and community driven approach to helping their customers improve all aspects of their fitness. Every weekend, you can find free yoga and cardio classes and they regularly put on special one off sessions.

This Sunday, they are spoiling you for choice. The splendid Stella Bertram and trainer Paul are delivering a Barbells, Beards and Barbers session at Mohair in the Trongate. Beards are optional but you will learn just how useful and effective a barbell workout can be. Again, all abilities are welcome but spaces are limited. Sign up HERE

I am really interested in this one (especially as I also need a haircut and beard trim) , but unfortunately (or fortunately) I will be participating in Lululemon’s main event (sorry Stella and Paul).

Run Glasgow Run with SD Movement.

This is the first of four weekly pre-Great Scottish Run Events at Lululemon. Each week, one of Glasgow’s premier trainers will take you through a free (there’s that word again) but invaluable training session that will help you run faster, longer and with less injuries.

I hear they have a money back guarantee

Week 1 is with Scott Devenney of SD Movement and even if he wasn’t a personal friend (my disclaimer), I would have no hesitation in recommending this session. Scott’s services are highly sought after and he includes mountain ultra marathon runners and er me as clients. He might not get you up a mountain, but he will get you up and over the Kingston Bridge at around mile 2 of the Great Scottish Run, using an array of tools and techniques that make him one of Glasgow’s best movement coaches. You’ll have fun and get fit for free.

(As an aside, Lululemon are also having a wee party this weekend, where you can see the latest range of clothing. Hopefully this means a sale soon)

So whatever your plans are this weekend, why not spend an hour or two trying out a free activity? It might be the first step to a healthier and happier you.

August 30, 2016 0 comment