Hello everyone,
Autumn is here, and we have plenty to share—from a friendly route back into running and discounts on winter kit to important safety reminders and festive dates for your diary!
Haven’t run for a while?
If you’ve had a break from running and feel nervous about coming back, our current Couch to 5K course is now in week 5. Come along and join the group to ease yourself back into running with support from our leaders and a friendly bunch of people.
You don’t need to get fit before returning—let us help you build your confidence again. Drop me a message if you’re unsure which session would suit you.
Discounts on winter kit
Mountain Warehouse
SE members receive 20% off, on top of sale prices too—ideal if you need new walking gear for winter. Check your WhatsApp group for the discount code.
Saucony—Designer Outlet, Cannock
Saucony currently has 30% off the whole store until close of trade on Sunday 11 October. This includes all footwear and apparel, with the discount applied on top of outlet and sale prices.
The Endorphin range has recently had further price reductions, so there are some great bargains:
| Shoe | RRP | Sale price | ||
| Endorphin Elite 2 | £300 | £95.90 | ||
| Endorphin Pro 4 | £230 | £86.10 | ||
| Endorphin Speed 5 | £180 | £69.30 | ||
| Endorphin Azura | £140 | £68.60 | ||
From next week, the run club Tuesday offer returns. On Tuesday 13, 20 and 27 October, check the WhatsApp groups for an extra 10% off the whole store, including sale prices.
Staying safe this autumn
As we move from summer into autumn and conditions underfoot change, we’ve had a couple of falls. Please take a few minutes to read our
Guide to Walking and Running Safely.
For evening sessions, please wear something hi-vis or reflective, or wear a body torch, so you can be seen.
A few reminders for everyone:
- Leave a safe gap between you and the person in front so you can see the ground ahead.
- Look ahead and stay alert to uneven paving, kerbs, wet leaves, roots and other trip hazards.
- Take extra care in the park, particularly on muddy paths and wet leaves, which can be slippery or hide roots and uneven ground. Shorten your stride and slow down where needed.
- Slow down when conditions require it, and call out hazards to those behind you.
- Stay on the pavement where possible and watch for vehicles reversing or entering and leaving driveways and side roads.
- Regroup with your leader before crossing roads, using pedestrian crossings wherever possible.
- Give other pavement users room, follow your leader’s instructions and make sure nobody is left behind.
We want everyone to enjoy their session and get home safely.
Christmas party—payment due Friday 16 October
Join us for a festive evening at Aston Wood Golf Club on Thursday 3 December, 7pm–midnight.
Tickets are £39.50 per person, including a two-course meal. We have exclusive use of the venue and a DJ to keep the dance floor busy!
Main course choices
- Supreme of chicken wrapped in Parma ham, served with a white wine velouté.
- Sea bass served with a prawn and lemon butter sauce.
- Roast field mushroom stuffed with spinach, red onion jam, a basil crust and red pepper sauce—vegetarian.
Dessert choices—all vegetarian
- Vanilla cheesecake with berry compote and vanilla mascarpone.
- Warm chocolate brownie with ice cream.
- Traditional apple pie with custard.
I need to make payment to the venue by Friday 16 October, so please pay £39.50 into the usual SE account by then if you’re coming. I will contact people closer to the time to check meal requirements.
Wyndley parking reminder
The new parking arrangements at Wyndley are working well. You can enter your car registration into one of the tablets before or after your run or walk, provided you do so within four hours of arriving.
To qualify for SE free parking, you must be an active SE Fitness member and have either an SE keyring or an SE T-shirt.
If you are no longer a member, please return your keyring to a leader. Your car registration will also be removed from the membership parking list.
If you have missed membership payments for two months, your car registration will be removed from the parking list.
Please remember to register your car on every visit!
Let’s Lift the Curfew—Monday 26 October
Our regular Monday evening sessions on 26 October will be supporting and highlighting the Let’s Lift the Curfew campaign, raising awareness of women’s safety when being active outdoors after dark.
- 6pm for walkers
- 6.30pm for runners
Please wear lights if you have them; I’ll also be buying glow sticks for us to wear.
Let’s Lift the Curfew is a UK-wide movement from Sport England’s This Girl Can, highlighting the safety concerns that prevent women from being active outdoors after dark. It calls for safer, more inclusive spaces so women can enjoy walking, running and other outdoor activity during the darker months.
Our event is a chance to show our support together and help keep that conversation going.
Find out more about Let’s Lift the Curfew.
WhatsApp group tidy-up
Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be tidying our WhatsApp groups again to keep them for club members.
If you haven’t been along for a while, you may receive a message asking whether you’d like to remain in the groups or be removed.
You can also leave a group yourself: tap the group name at the top of the chat, scroll down and select Exit group.
If you’re planning to return, please let me know—it would be lovely to see you again!
Don’t forget our Santa Run!
Our Santa Run is on Sunday 6 December at 10am, starting at Town Gate, Sutton Park.
Join us for a festive 5K run, jog or walk, supporting Acacia Family Support and Our Place Support. All ages and abilities are welcome, so bring family and friends and dress in your best Christmas outfits! There will be prizes for the best-dressed individual and family.
Book your Santa Run place on TicketSource.
More festive get-togethers
Look out for mini Christmas socials throughout December, including breakfasts and pub meet-ups. Details will be shared in the WhatsApp groups nearer the time.
Jo & The SE Fitness team
