Latest news

Wonderful news!  These lovely folks responded to my plea for new leaders and will be joining our team at SE Fitness.  Please don’t think this doesn’t mean we need more – we always do.  Jenny has left a big hole to fill in the walking groups so any walkers who would not mind helping out either occasionally or regularly please get in touch!

In the meantime we’re delighted to welcome:

Mike Shelton who has offered to help out when he can.  Many of you will know Mike who is an amazing endurance runner and also a qualified UK Athletics Coach and will be a real asset to our faster runners.

Secondly Sally Simpson who has gone from strength to strength as a runner and says she would like to give a bit back.  Lovely to have you on the team Sally.

Finally, Helena Payne (left of photo on our way up Snowdon).  Helena is another runner who found some amazing form during lockdown.  I’m delighted to report she’s hoping to help lead Run plus on Friday mornings with Neil (when she can).

A very warm welcome to our new Leaders.  Please help them out, it’s surprisingly daunting putting on that leader vest for the first few times!

Thank you! xxx

Horrible conditions for Jenny’s last session leading the walking group this morning so I can only hope the flowers, fizz and all round good wishes helped make up for it.  That perhaps and the thought she won’t have to come out on such a horrible day again!

Jenny has been leading groups for SE Fitness for over 20 years.  She lead various running groups for Sally and focused on the walking groups in more recent years.  Jenny has been an amazing advocate for ‘her walkers’ supporting them in getting the most from their exercise, enjoy the outdoors and make good friends too.

Jenny will be missed but we wish her all the very best with her ‘retirement’ which I am sure will remain as active and adventurous as ever!

Thank you for all your help Jenny and best wishes for the future.

I’m really sorry to announce that walk leader Jenny Hill is hanging up her leader gilet and retiring from SE Fitness.  This Saturday 8^th may will be her last leading session.

Jenny has been a leader with SE Fitness for many years and in that time she has helped so many people get more active, enjoy the outdoors and make good friends.  She will be missed by all of us at SE Fitness but especially her walking groups.

I’m sure you’ll join with me in wishing Jenny all the very best for the future.

One of the unforeseen side effects of prolonged lockdowns is that it’s left SE Fitness with a shortage of leaders (not a massive crisis in the scheme of things but one that will get worse as folks try to get away this summer).   Leaders tend to be recruited from within the groups so no groups = no new recruits!  This combined with other factors like injury, change of life and lack of creche has left us short.

Could you help out?  If you’re willing to help, be that on a weekly basis or maybe just occasionally to cover emergencies or holidays then the best thing to do is have a chat to your leader or give me a call Helyn on 07788 628755. We won’t try to pressure you but we will provide extra information and you might find the prospect is not as daunting as you fear.

Leaders get several benefits, including hi viz leader tops, but the main one is that being the leader helps keep you to your regular routine.  Leaders don’t get to bail out for wind, rain or snow and most of us see that as a good thing!  Also leaders find that supporting others gives their own session a different dimension which can be very motivating.  Please think about helping if you can.

Occasionally, we have been unable to find leaders and I am really sorry for this.  Where this happens I hope you will use the contacts in the Bubbles to make your own arrangements and still get out to enjoy your exercise and fresh air.  There is absolutely no need to pay when this situation arises!  I just hope you will be able to stick to your routine and get a good walk or run.  Hopefully, as the groups remain open we will be able to recruit and train more Leaders to fill the gaps.  Thank you for bearing with us during this process.

Your last day for SE Fitness to pop into Sutton Runner and claim your 20% off!

So if you’ve had a big sort out in lockdown and thrown out all your old sports gear today’s the day to get down there and replenish!

Don’t forget it’s 20% off at Sutton Runner this week for all SE Fitness runners and walkers.

That’s just two days left to claim money off any item in store (except items already reduced).

We had another nasty accident yesterday, this one resulting in a visit to A and E.  I wondered whether it’s because we’ve fallen out of the habit of running and walking in groups?  I’ve asked leaders to make safety announcements for the next few sessions during warm up so if you could please listen that would be helpful.

Make room – Social distancing requires us to keep apart but it is always good practice to ensure you can see far enough ahead to scan for hazards and plan your route.  Always look where you are going.

Concentrate – It’s lovely to see our friends again and perhaps folks we have not seen in a while but please remember safety first over chat.  We don’t run in silence but please keep the chat light so you can remain ‘in the moment’ and keep a focus on how you feel / where you are going / possible hazards ahead.

Phone / ICE / Meds – We’ve all been thinking so much about COVID so worth remembering if you have certain meds, inhaler perhaps or epi pen, then you should carry those with you along with your In Case of Emergency details.

Please take care SE Fitness xxx

Enjoyed a couple of lovely walks with SE Fitness walkers this week and fabulous to hear about the events they’re planning.  It’s not just the runners!

On 15 May Halina is doing the MoonWalk (postponed from last year).  She’s planning to walk from home to Lichfield and back again plus a few extra miles to make the full marathon.  MoonWalk raises money for Breast Cancer so if you’d like to support Halina’s challenge and donate here’s her link: https://walkthewalk.enthuse.com/pf/halina-barnes.

Then on 24th July Walk Leader Paula has entered a team the ‘SE Legends’ in the Hike for Homeless with St Basils.  You can register to enter here:  https://stbasils.org.uk/events/hikeforhomeless/ and I must say it looks good fun, not least because it starts and finishes at the pub – The Queen’s Head in Meriden!  Choice of distance roughly 6 miles, half marathon or full marathon and, to add a little bit of extra excitement, the course is not waymarked so you have to map read and find your own way.  I think this could be a great summer day out for a group of friends, strolling around the Warwickshire country side, enjoying some fun in the pub and all in the name of a worthwhile cause too!

So great to have events to look forward to again.  Please let me know what you’re planning so I can share with the group.

Good Luck everyone and enjoy!

I hate to say this but another accident to report, this time Leader Jon High.

Accident was caused on wooden bridge just under Thomas the Tank railway bridge.  Jon stepped onto a plank which was loose and sprang up and hit him and knocked him over.

I have reported the incident to the park rangers who have promised to go and look at the walkway as soon as possible.

Meantime when using any of the wooden bridges in the park it’s really worth being extra careful.  I recommend single file and keep to the middle.  This applies to the little bridges as well which are in a pretty sorry state at the moment.

Jon is battered and bruised but hopefully nothing that won’t heal in a few days.  The shock may take longer.  Get well soon Jon xx

Stay safe SE Fitness!

From tomorrow Monday 26th April until Saturday 1 May SE Fitness runners and walkers can claim 20% off at Sutton Runner.

The perfect chance to update the ‘lockdown’ wardrobe ready for Spring / Summer and those events that we hope will start to reappear on our calendars!

20% off all full price items.