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AMAZING!  SE Fitness we have filled three sheets for our 12 hour virtual relays!  Just the last slot left on Team Bracebridge and Mike Shelton kindly offered to run if we had a gap.

Thank you so much to everyone for taking part.

Thanks to everyone who has already made a donation to St Basils, our charity for 2020.  Their role is to respond to and prevent youth homelessness in the West Midlands.  I fear their services will be in great demand in coming months and so you’re really helping by donating even a few pounds.  If you’d like to donate something you can pop a donation into the regular SE Fitness account (reference Relays) or you can donate direct here:  https://stbasils.org.uk/.

I’m looking forward to seeing your virtual ‘handing over the baton’ photos – the sillier the better!

Remember at 7pm when Team McConnell and Team Symes finish it’s time for the virtual SE Fitness Midsummer Social.  Raise a glass to your SE Fitness buddies, cheers everyone!

In line with our policy of gradually getting groups back up and running we’ve added a couple more sessions to the schedule for next week.

Our WhatsApp system to ensure we don’t exceed 5 participants per leader is working quite well.  Leaders basically setup a group ‘bubble’.  A few more than 5 participants can join the group so don’t feel because you’re in the WhatsApp group you have to go every week.  On the contrary if you can’t go then it gives someone else the chance.

Here’s how the sessions stack up next week, if you can’t see one for you then please get in touch and we will try and solve that next!

• Leader Helen has now joined Hazel, John and Graham on Mondays at 18:30 this means we can offer a full range of Run plus plus Run Fit 2 (11 minutes per mile).  If you want to join this group message Hazel on:  07720 405010.
• Leader Tammy is now offering a 12 minute mile group (5K plus) on Wednesday mornings 09:30 message her on:  07900 996600 if you want to get in that bubble.
• On Wednesday Becky is offering a C25K group at 16:30 message her on 07528 844525 to join in.  (Please note this group has been going as 1-2-1 so they are not at the very start of C25K)
• On Wednesday evening at 18:15 Kerry has joined forces with Angela for the 12 minute mile (5K plus) group so they now have spaces for more.  Message me if you want adding:  07788 628755.
• Run plus on Wednesday 18:30 with Beth and John and Run Plus on Friday 08:30 with Helyn, Peter and Neil both have spaces to fill.  Message me on 07788 628755 or Neil 07792 075289.  Please don’t be put off thinking ‘you’re not fast enough for Run plus’!  I’m perfectly happy to keep pace with the tail runner!

It’s felt great this week getting out in the park in (small) groups again.  If you can’t make one of our new sessions let me know what you want added next week and we’ll do our best.

A while back I mentioned that John and I had entered as a team to complete the Pilgrimage to Santiago Compestela virtually during lockdown on behalf of St Basils.  That inspired a couple of other SE Fitness teams to join in too.  The Monday Walking Wonders with Deb, Jane, Joy, Paula and Kate and the Apothecaries Anonymous with Nigel and Halina.  We’ve all completed the challenge now but Jane Rogers (pictured) took the challenge one step further!

Not one step in fact but One Million Steps!  Jane carried on, walking a total of One Million Steps and raising £300 towards St Basils.  Fantastic achievement Jane!  What a positive way to spend lockdown, we salute you.  xxx

Surprised and delighted to report that I’ve had to start a third team for our ‘Virtual Relay’ Challenge on Saturday – Team Bracebridge so there’s still slots if you want to join in.

It’s really nothing very complicated you just go out on Saturday for a walk or run.  Solo is fine or go with friends or your kids.  When you’ve finished take a photo of you handing over your Baton to the next team – the sillier the better!  It’s a virtual handover you don’t have to meet them or anything.  Send me the photo to share.

Tell me your mileage as we are going to add up the total.  We’re also trying to raise some money for St Basils the youth homeless charity so please make a contribution if you can.

Team McConnell is running the final leg as are Team Symes so when we finish at 7pm it’s time for all of us to raise a glass to the SE Fitness Midsummer Social!  Get together on Zoom with your SE buddies. maybe arrange a safe social distance BBQ or just take a selfie of you with your summer tipple!  Cheers everyone!

We’re doing well for our 12 hour virtual relay! We’ve already got one full team sheet for Saturday and halfway to filling another 12 hours so if you can do a ‘leg’ or persuade a friend to join you and do a ‘leg’ together that would be FABULOUS!

It’s not very complicated – just go out for one hour on Saturday walk or run then send me a photo of you ‘virtually’ handing over the baton to the next team.  (I don’t think it matters if you don’t go exactly on your time slot you can just pretend you did)!

Tell me your total mileage and let’s see how far we can go.  We’re also trying to raise a few quid for charity St Basils so please donate £5 for taking part if you can.

Team McConnell and Team Symes are the anchor legs on each team and when we finish it’s time for the big midsummer SE Fitness social!  Raise a glass to the summer party, whether on your own or maybe in a safe BBQ with friends or family, or maybe a Zoom party with your SE mates.  Send me your photos for the party collage!

Here’s how the team sheets stack up so far:

Come and join our virtual relay next Saturday 20th June.  This is some midsummer fun to take the place of our usual summer party and relay events.  How far can we go SE Fitness?!

The relay will last 12 hours from 7am to 7pm and will be in one hour time slots.  This is NOT about how fast you can go but about HOW FAR WE CAN GO AS A TEAM.  Please share and encourage everyone to join in: runners, walkers, friends and family members.  Who knows we may even get two teams competing?!

You can do your time slot on your own or with others (according to latest guidelines).  If you’re part of a team then ALL your mileage counts towards the total.

When the last runner or walker finishes the relay at 7pm it will be time for our midsummer social!  Raise a glass to our team effort and send me a photo.  Let’s put together a fabulous SE Fitness party photo collage so that we feel together in spirit!

If you’d like to take part we’re requesting £5 donation towards St Basils – our charity for 2020.  If you’ve left your SE Standing Order running I’ll make your donation for you but please prompt me.

The Rules

• Each participant or team of participants runs/walks for 1 hour (you can even opt to do more than one time slot)
• 1st runners/walkers start at 7am last runners/walkers set off at 6pm
• Only running or walking counts – no bikes!
• You can run or walk anywhere the route is entirely up to you.
• Text me if you want to take part on 07788 628755 and let me know what time you prefer.  If that’s taken I’ll allocate you the nearest slot.
• After completing your ‘hour’ you must take a photo of your virtual baton handover (see our cucumber example above).  The more imaginative the better!  Baton should be carried with you on your time slot.
• Message me with your photo and total mileage and I’ll add to the total mileage covered and money raised!
• Social distancing rules to be followed.
• At 7pm raise a toast to your SE Fitness Relay buddies and enjoy your midsummer evening!

Here’s the limited rota for next week as we start to reopen SE Fitness Groups.  Remember if you want to join a group you need to direct message the Leader so that we don’t go over the maximum of 5 per Leader.  Leaders will setup a WhatsApp group.  It doesn’t mean you have to go every week but if you can’t make it let the Leader know so that someone else can.

Lot’s more groups on the rota from 4th July, this is just the start of the return (hopefully)!

• If you want to join C25K on Mondays 18:00 message me 07788 628755
• If you want Run Plus on Mondays 18:30 message Hazel 07720 405010
• If you want Buggy Walk with me Tuesdays 08:00 – 07788 628755
• If you want to join either John in Run plus or Angela for 12 min miles on Wednesday evening – 07341 016220
• Speedwork is already full!
• Walk plus Thursday at 09:00 message Becky 07528 844525
• Run Plus on Fridays at 08:30 with me, Peter or Neil then 07792 075289

Please note the new guidance before deciding to join a group.  Sorry if the group you want is not on the list yet!  We want to build up the numbers steadily and safely.

Meanwhile several Leaders are still happy to offer 1-2-1 sessions or 1-2-2 so please message me if you want to arrange that.

We’ve done solo, fancy dress and 1-2-1’s so now, finally, it’s time to start getting the gang back together, albeit in a limited and socially distanced capacity!

In line with Government guidelines up to 6 people from different households can meet up so we can start SE Fitness groups again as long as limited to maximum of 5 participants per leader.

Our plan is to open up some groups next week with a wider timetable from 4th July which should also coincide with Wyndley reopening.

In order to keep the risk to a minimum we will be operating slightly differently for a while and have drawn up some new guidelines to help keep everyone safe.

The key points are:

• Individuals should keep informed on the latest Government guidance and should assess their own risk and the risk to their household before deciding to join us.
• Everyone has a responsibility to themselves and to the safety of everyone else and should not attend if experiencing any symptoms or feeling unwell in any way.
• Participants should follow good hygiene practice by washing their hands before and after the session.
• We all need to observe the social distancing guidelines.
• It is generally considered much safer to remain outdoors so we will not be opening up SE Fitness HQ.  Please come ready to go!  We won’t be taking cash payments or looking after any belongings.  You will need to carry your own car keys with you.  Please note toilet facilities are not available in HQ or in the main Wyndley building for the time being.

Legally, each leader can only take out a maximum of 5.  In order to ensure we don’t break the threshold please text your Leader before attending the session to confirm availability.  Please don’t just turn up to sessions because we can’t take more than 5 and we don’t want you to have a wasted journey.  If the session is full this week you’ll be first on the list for next week.

To read the new guidelines in full you can find them on the website:  https://www.sefitness.com/policies/

Just finalising the mini-timetable for next week and will publish in the next day or two.  Further groups to be added from 4th July.

We’ve missed walking with you, running with you and talking to you.  Hopefully there’s light at the end of the tunnel and we’re on our way back SE Fitness!

Headed to the Peak District yesterday and, despite the blustery conditions, the Skylarks were in full song-flight.  They flap away like crazy, especially in a stiff wind like yesterday, and rise almost vertically into the sky where they hover, singing for several minutes before parachuting down.   The song has a high-pitched, exuberant tone often associated with joy and much written about in poetry.

Try this one for a description by Marcus Lane:

“A pin point

Of liquid silver sound

Trickles from

Open sky”

Skylarks are found all year round in the UK but I don’t really associate them with Sutton Park.  They prefer open countryside like lowland farmland, I’ve heard them on our bike rides around Shenstone, and upland moorland.  Unfortunately a severe drop in numbers sees them on the UK conservation Red list.

Primarily I associate them with sunny days, a seaside stroll and a picnic on the headland.  I miss the sea!  Perhaps the sound of the Skylark can transport you.

https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/skylark/

Perfect Peonies!

Peonies are perfect plants for the summer border. The glamorous, blousy flowers complement many of the traditional English garden early summer blooms such as Roses, Geranium and Clematis.

There are three main species of Peony: Herbaceous, Tree and Intersectional (a hybrid of the first two but treated as herbaceous). The most popular is the herbaceous Peony lactiflora – remember last week’s Latin lesson? Lactiflora means milky flower – go figure!

The three rules of growing herbaceous peonies:

1. Do not plant too deeply! This is the number one reason Peonies don’t flower and also behind the myth that you shouldn’t move them. The tuberous roots must not be planted more than about 2.5cm below the surface. If they are planted any deeper they may give wonderful foliage but they simply will not flower. If you have a Peony in the garden and it isn’t flowering*, wait until the autumn and then, taking care not to damage the buds on the roots, lift your peony and re-plant it at the right depth. *Peonies can take a few years to get going; it’s best to buy an established plant unless you’re prepared to wait for tuber plants to mature.
2. Plant your Peony in a sunny position. Although many varieties will tolerate some shade, if your Peony is in heavy shade it will be reluctant to flower well.
3. Peonies like fertile, free-draining soil, they are happy in chalky or clay soils as long as they don’t sit in water in winter.

Peonies are rarely troubled by pests and are hardy plants requiring no winter protection – they actually enjoy the drop in temperature in winter, signalling a dormant period where they store their energy in their roots where the buds are already forming, ready for spring. They do need plenty of water in the spring when forming flower buds (this same rule applies to Azaleas, Rhododendrons and Camellias, water in summer when they are forming their buds)

Feed once in spring with a general purpose fertiliser.

Happy gardening!