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BECOME THE
RUNNER YOU
WANT TO BE!
Shotz
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COMPETITION WINNERS FROM JANUARY 2010

Puma Ventis Running Shoes -
Mel Lamour
Salomon Turbo X Places - Emma Mason & Joanna Halicka
Reebok Fitness Equipment - Catherine Miller from Southampton
Champneys Running Camp - Tomasz Blumowski
British Leisure Show Family Tickets - Robert Mole from Stourbridge, Nick Wigstone from Walderslade, Elaine Dean from Swindon, Sarah Hatfull from Maidstone, James Mead from Gravesend, Amy Day from Southampton, Emma Harrison from Windsor Meadows, Caroline Mason from Shoreham, Gurmit Sahota from Ilford, Helen Glanville from Crawley…and 40 more!


You have more opportunities to won Good Stuff on our Competitions page!
Duncan Bannatyne
RECORD BREAKING SUPPORT FOR
MARATHON RUNNERS


Olympic Athlete, Sally Gunnell OBE has leant her support to the Air Ambulance and urging runners to support them in the first ever Brighton Marathon next year.

Places for the event in April next year have already gone but the Kent , Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance still have some charity places available.

Former Olympic athlete, Sally Gunnell OBE (
www.sallygunnell.com) said ‘The Air Ambulance does a fantastic job and is a cause close to my heart. As an athlete I think it is great that they are involved with the first ever Brighton Marathon, and I hope that runners will support them and raise funds for this vital service’.

The route for the inaugural event on Sunday April 18th, takes runners through the historic city of Brighton and along the scenic coast roads. It has been described as generally fast and reasonably flat.

The Kent , Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance have 25 guaranteed places for each county, including East and West Sussex and are offering them to runners in exchange for raising vital funds for the life-saving Helicopter Emergency Medical Service.

Director of Communications for the Air Ambulance, Jill Playle said ‘It is great to be a part of this inaugural event. I’m sure that there will be many runners who would also like to take part but have been disappointed not to be able to get a place. We still have some places and in addition runners will be able to raise valuable funds to keep the helicopters flying and help us save lives.’

To obtain your place visit
www.kentsurreysussexairambulance.co.uk or ring the charity’s headquarters on 01622 833833
Get fit for 2010 and join Duncan Bannatyne running Shelter’s Vertical Rush - London’s Original Tower Run

Duncan Bannatyne, the entrepreneur and star of hit TV show Dragon’s Den, is calling on Londoners to get fit for the New Year and join him in conquering Vertical Rush, the original and biggest tower running event in the UK.

Vertical Rush is a uniquely demanding event that challenges participants to race up the 42 floors of Tower 42, the tallest building in the city of London, to raise money for housing charity Shelter.

Vertical Rush returns for its second year on 25th February 2010 and Bannatyne wants Londoners to shape up for the new year by training for the adrenaline pumping challenge. Duncan will be tackling the 920 stairs for the second successive year, and is hoping he can get close to, or even better, the average race time from last year of 8 minutes 4 seconds.

Duncan comments, “I think Shelter’s cause is incredibly important, finding a safe and secure home for everyone, and I hope this year I will help them smash their fundraising target of £250,000. Vertical Rush is a challenging event, but the sense of satisfaction when you get to the top is unbeatable. If I can do it, anyone can!”

Matt Roberts, one of the world’s most recognised personal trainers, has also pledged his support to Vertical Rush. Matt is offering great prizes for those competing in the event, with the fastest 30+ year old, 40+ and 50+ winning three training sessions with a personal trainer at City club gym. He has also provided some training tips which are available on Shelter’s website – www.shelter.org.uk/verticalrush.
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Put your best foot forward when it comes to getting fit -
Foot care tips from The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists


New Year is fast approaching and most of us will make a resolution to get back into shape by doing some exercise. But before you dig out those festering trainers from the bottom of the wardrobe, The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists highlights the importance of wearing the right sports shoe and of taking care of your feet as part of your fitness plan, warning that you could risk doing more harm than good if you don’t.

Lorraine Jones, podiatrist from The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, said: “Exercise is essential for good health, but sport can put a lot of pressure on your knees, hips, back and neck, so getting the right shoe for the right sport can help minimise injury and keep you comfortably on track to reach your set goal.

When we run, our body weight is multiplied three times or more, with your feet and lower limbs bearing the brunt of this stress each and every time they hit the ground. An average sized-man can process approximately 112 tons of weight through each limb for every mile run. Sports lovers and those getting fit for New Year need to give their footwear and the health of their feet the same consideration as any other part of their body when preparing for the off.”

So whether walking, dancing or pounding the pavements is the choice of exercise for 2010, The Society of Chiropodist and Podiatrists offers the following advice to help keep feet fighting fit.
* Follow the 1cm rule - when shopping for the perfect sports shoes ensure you can wiggle your toes a little – leave 1cm of room from the top of your longest toe at the end of your shoe. Try on both shoes and walk around the shop to make sure they don’t pinch or rub.
* Warm up and stretch - before starting any form of exercise, stretch and warm up your entire body and then stretch and warm down at the end of every session...
* Always wear socks to reduce the risk of fungal infection and blisters. The best running socks are ones that are made from synthetic materials which are designed to wick sweat away from the skin, (such as CoolMaxÒ) as they don’t absorb moisture like 100% cotton socks, and keep the feet drier.
* Choose the correct shoes for the sport. If running is the choice for 2010, buy a running shoe which has adequate cushioning in the midsole and a flared heel for stability. However, if it’s a racquet sport such as squash or tennis, buy shoes designed for racquet sports that give better stability when moving and stopping suddenly around the court -a running shoe wouldn’t be suitable due to lack of lateral support.
* How to avoid blisters - Blisters are painful, fluid filled lesions caused by friction from ill-fitting shoes, excessive moisture, or wrinkled socks against the skin. To prevent them, keep your feet dry, always wear socks as a cushion between your feet and your shoes and always wear properly fitting shoes. If a blister does occur, never pop it.
* Seek expert advice if necessary – if you have ongoing foot pain that doesn’t go away, get it checked out.

Tips for buying the right trainers from The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists -
* Buy shoes designed for the activity you want to do. Running shoes are very flexible, allowing the foot to bend and flex through each step, they have increased shock absorption for when the heel strikes the ground and are designed for forward motion. Sports such as tennis, basketball and aerobics involve sideways stepping, and require shoes that provide greater sideways support.
* A common mistake is to buy trainers that are too small. Shoe manufacturers produce trainers designed for people with low arches and high arches. It’s vital that sales staff recognise this and provide the right shoe for the type of foot. Buy trainers from a specialist sports shoe shop where the staff are trained in fitting.
* The most important thing is that your sports shoes are appropriate for your body and your workout. Choose a reputable manufacturer, not a high street shop with own brand trainers.
* If you’re training every day, ideally have two pairs of trainers and alternate them to allow them to dry out over 24 hours.
* For more information on choosing a sports shoe, or to find your local registered podiatrist, visit The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrist’s website www.feetforlife.org.

For further information and advice and where to find your nearest HPC Registered podiatrist, visit
www.feetforlife.org
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Sally Gunnell OBE
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