Hi Everyone,
As we head into a new season, it’s the perfect time to pause and reflect on everything we’ve been up to as a club — and there’s been a lot! From festive fundraising and milestone celebrations to welcoming new members, planning exciting events, and gearing up for a very special anniversary year, SE has been as active and supportive as ever. Here’s a roundup of the month, along with what’s coming up next.
What have we been up to?
Despite the icy and snowy start to the year, it didn’t stop us getting out and about!
🎉 You’re Invited – Our Club Turns 30! 🎉
Join us as we celebrate our 30th Birthday Party on Friday 12th June at the beautiful Aston Wood Golf Club.
The evening promises to be a fantastic celebration. The ticket price includes a delicious hot fork buffet — and for those who joined us at our Christmas party, you’ll know just how excellent the food is! 🍽️
We’re also delighted to share that Sally Ellis, former Olympic Runner and founder of SE Fitness, will be joining us on the night — especially lovely for our long-term members. Please help spread the word, as we’d absolutely love to see members past and present join us!
We’ll also have a DJ to dance the night away, making it a perfect opportunity to celebrate with friends old and new. Partners are very welcome to join the fun too (unfortunately no under 18s please).
Aston Wood Golf Club received excellent feedback from our Christmas event, and we’ll also have access to the large outdoor patio, so hopefully we can make the most of the summer sunshine ☀️.
It’s set to be a great night — we’d love you to be part of this special milestone!
Please make payment to the usual SE Account, putting your name as the reference.
🎶🥂✨
Limited Edition SE Merchandise
To mark our 30th anniversary, all SE merchandise will feature a special limited-edition “30” logo, available this year only. Items can be ordered online via the Sportology website, or you can pop into the Sportology store in Boldmere to see the range in person
Santa Run & Fundraising Success
We’re delighted to share that the grand total raised from our December Santa Run was a whopping £5,569.40! 🎅🎄 This is a huge increase on last year’s total of £2,760, and every penny will go back into supporting two local charities that help people across Sutton.
In addition, £53 was raised from our Christmas charity run/walk. We’ll be holding a member vote to decide which charities we support next — if you have any suggestions for which charity that you would like us to support this year please drop me message and we will offer it out for member vote.
10-Year Member Celebrations
At the Christmas party we presented certificates and badges to our 10-year members. Unfortunately, a few members couldn’t make it on the night — congratulations to Beth, Denise and Amrutha, who have since received theirs at their Friday morning run. 👏
If you believe you’re due a 10-year badge and haven’t yet received it, please let me know.
Welcome to Our C25 Cohort
We were thrilled to welcome our new C25 cohort — slightly later than planned due to the snow during the first week of January. Despite the delayed start, they are doing really well and are on track to be ready for their first 5K event in March. 💪
Spring Events & Long Runs
Spring is a busy time for events, and to support those taking part, we’ll be offering long runs throughout March. Distances will range from 6 miles to 11 miles, perfect for anyone looking to build confidence and mileage.
Don’t forget to send your celebratory photos to our WhatsApp groups so we can give you a shout out!
Run for Home – Sunday 7th June
Back by popular demand, Run for Home is one of our most unique and exciting events—and it’s open to both runners and walkers!
It’s part adventure, part navigation challenge, and 100% fun. If you’re looking to test your sense of direction, enjoy the outdoors, and bond with teammates, this is for you!
What’s the challenge?
You’ll be dropped off at a secret location somewhere in the local area, and your mission is simple: make your way back to Blackroot Bistro in Sutton Park—without using any electronic navigation aids.
Choose your distance:
- 6 miles (walkers welcome!)
- 10 miles (for a bigger challenge)
️ How it works:
- On arrivalat Blackroot Bistro, you’ll hand in all devices (phones, smartwatches, GPS) to be sealed in a tamper-evident bag. You’ll keep the bag with you, but if it’s opened, a 60-minute time penalty is added!
- Blindfolds on!You’ll be bussed to a random drop-off point.
- The challenge begins:You and your team will use landmarks, instinct, and teamwork to find your way back—no shortcuts, no maps, just your feet and your wits!
Team Info:
- Minimum 2, maximum 6 people per team
- You must stay together the whole time
- Suitable for all abilities—it’s not about speed, it’s about the journey!
What do you get?
- A brilliant day outwith friends and fellow SE Fitness adventurers
- A well-earned medalat the finish line
- Bragging rights for navigating Sutton Park the old-school way!
- Food and drink available at Blackroot Bistro afterwards
Event Details:
- Date: Sunday 7th June
- Start/Finish: Blackroot Bistro, Sutton Park
- Time: Check-in from 9:00 AM / Coaches begin departing at 10:00 AM
- Cost: £29 per person
- This is one of our most fun and memorable events—whether you’ve done it before or are brand new, we promise you’ll come away with stories to tell!
️ Places are limited – book now to avoid disappointment!
️ Book here – spaces limited! Run for Home Sunday 7th June at Blackroot Bistro event tickets from TicketSource
As always, thank you to every single one of you for being part of SE — whether you’re running, walking, volunteering, fundraising, or cheering from the sidelines. It’s the people that make this club what it is, and 30 years on, that sense of community is stronger than ever. 💙
We hope to see you at one (or many!) of the upcoming events, and as ever, if you have any questions, ideas, or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Here’s to a brilliant spring and an unforgettable anniversary year!
Jo & The SE Team