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Monday 27 November 2017

How to complete 50th Park Run by Catriona Sanderson

Catriona Sanderson remembers that she already loved running when she was studying at school. It was in 2010 when she started running like a routine and seven years later she has celebrated another milestone in her running life. The last 11th of November she completed her 50th Park Run (39 of 50 runs at Reigate Priory). Catriona, one of the more active member of Simply Sports Running Club, tells that she enjoyed a lot that day running over muddy puddles along with her school friend Mary Northway, who reached 50th Parkrun that same day as well. Here is her experience and her running recommendations like take part in Park Run and our lovely running club. Thank you for sharing your experience and now counting down for your 100th Park Run!
Mary and Catriona after their 50th Park Run.

"It was great to do my 50th Parkrun at Reigate sharing it with my school friend Mary also doing her 50th run (she took up park running after returning from living in  Africa a couple of years ago). We both grew up in Margate. I did my first parkrun on 31 August 2013 in Margate, before Reigate had started its own Parkrun. It’s a great run along the clifftops with beautiful views out to sea. I did a few runs down there especially when my father was still alive. The route passes the beaches I went to as a child and looking inland I can see our old family home.

I gradually started to do more runs in Reigate which is much closer to where I live now in Redhill. I have done a few other tourist runs and a memorable one was in Kingston when we moored up our little cabin cruiser on the Thames for the night, I got up in the morning clambered up the bank to the start of the run along the tow path.

I had to take a break from park running for about a year when I got plantar fasciitis. Simply Sports running club helped to keep me going with some gentle runs on Thursday as well as some other exercise and Pilates. Thankfully my foot recovered and I can run a lot more regularly again now. I love being able to run on Thursdays with Simply Sports and then on Saturdays at parkrun. It’s a great way to start the weekend. Sometimes it’s just about getting it done, sometimes it’s aiming for a PB and lately it was wanting to get that first milestone 50 T-shirt!

When I run the course in Reigate I count down the number of “hill climbs” on the second lap – it’s just my way of dong the course, I am sure everyone has little ways to keep going – it’s a really friendly run and I recommend both parkrun and Simply sports running club whether you are new to running or want to make some new friends as you run!"
(by Catriona Sanderson)


Training of Simply Sports Club, directed by Steve, at Priory Park.


Catriona's Running Profile 


Name and surname: Catriona Sanderson

Age: 52

Occupation: Clerk to School Governors.

How often do you run?   Twice a week, sometimes three if I am training for a specific event.

Why do you love running? It's so flexible and quick. I can just open the front door and go. It's great to appreciate the countryside around where I live.

When did you start?  Started in January 2010 - training for a Try-a-Tri at East Grinstead - previously at school I loved 100m sprint and 80m hurdles!

On Road or Off Road: A mixture of both.

Short or Long Distances? 5-10K runs

Park Run or races? Both, I like to do Park Run regularly as well as Simply Sports and when I can will do 10k races - mainly local.

Your running kit essential: Running leggings with a zipped back pocket to keep my keys and parkrun barcode and my Garmin to see how far I have gone. I never run with music.

Your favourite running brand: Ronhill.

Your best and worst running memories: Best moment was doing the Intersport Run Reigate Half marathon in 2014. I loved every minute of it. Worst moment: plantar fasciitis.

How do you motivate to run? Keeping fit as I get older, A chance to think and pray and clear my head and meeting up with friends at club runs and events.


Thursday 16 November 2017

The sound is in your mind, not in your ears

The first question arises when you listen music through an AfterShokz headphones is how can I feel the sound if my ear canal is free? The first sensation is weird, but when you understand this reinvented listening experience and you get use to it, you will love this gadget for ever.

We have selected a few key simple facts to help you to know better the system used by AfterShokz:

1. How they work: Bone conduction technology produces sound via mini vibrations that travel through your cheekbones to your inner ears, bypassing your eardrums completely. 



2. Curiosities: Bone conduction technology has been around for many years as a tool to help those with hearing loss. Even Beethoven, who was hearing impaired, used bone conduction to listen to music by biting down on his composer’s wand that was touching the piano.

3. Industry: Hearing aid(s) users, Military communication, Sports headphones and Scuba diving are the 4 major industries have benefited from bone conduction technology.

4. Safety Open ear design: AfterShokz transmits audio via a pair of transducers that rest on your cheekbones, leaving your ears uncovered and canals unblocked. As a result, you can listen the ambient noise normally, without the traditional limitations (A 2012 study documented a three-fold increase in the number of accidents involving pedestrians wearing headphones, and nearly 70% of those accidents resulted in death).


5. Reviews: 
    
Everyday Hearing: “Overall, these wireless bone conduction headphones are a great solution for those wanting to enjoy audio without cutting yourself off from everything around you”. 


The Verge: “For people who have a good reason to keep their ears open while listening to music I can recommend the Aftershokz, which were comfortable, had solid battery life, useable controls and are a regular top pick among specialist sites”. 

Trusted Reviews: “If safety, rather than sound quality, is your primary concern then you’ll find plenty to like about the Aftershokz Trekz Titanium”.

Forbes: "These are the headphones I would want to use for outdoor activity. They’re lightweight, provide decent sound with wireless freedom, and let me hear background noise --like traffic. 


If you would like to try out an AfterShokz, feel free to visit us at Reigate, Oxted, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells stores. Besides, we will be offering 20% off on Sportz Titanium & Trekz Titanium AfterShokz headphones on #BlackFriday. Simply use the promo code 'SSBlackFriday' in store the 24th of November and get the discount! 


Tuesday 7 November 2017

David Earl: "I wanted Tennis to be affordable, with high quality and get all ages playing"

David Earl, Head Coach at Redhill Lawn Tennis Club and Simply Sports collaborator, has been awarded the prestigious Coach of the Year Award by Reigate & Banstead District Sports Council. The organization concluded that David has been "a highly active member of the local community, inspiring many people across all age groups to start or return to tennis".

He started his coaching career at Sanderstead in Surrey before taking on abroad "to learn more about the different styles of coaching". In the UK, he has worked at Parklangley, Surbiton Rackets Club and Reigate LTC. "My goal at Redhill is to make sure the club reaches it's potential but more importantly I want every member to be on court having great fun and improving all the time". Now, he has started the LTA Level 5 coaching award, the highest Tennis coach qualification in the world.

- Did you expect to receive the Reigate & Banstead and Sports Award 2017 like coach of the Year? 

No and I went to the awards evening with a terrible case on "man flu" so I thought i'd just sit at the back quietly watching the winners go and up get the awards! I was really happy to hear my name read out and I think I look shocked in all the pictures. The last year at Redhill has been hard work but really rewarding so getting an honour like this was icing on the cake.

David Earl receiving his Sports Awards.


- According to the organization, one of the reasons to reward you are “inspiring many people across all age groups to start or return to tennis”, do you see yourself like a tennis inspiration?

I'll let others decide how I'm seen but my goal was pretty simple when I first moved over to the area to start Boom Coaching. I wanted Tennis to be affordable, high quality and get all ages playing, learning and competing at a sport that's given me so much. We've managed to get 10 schools playing and have huge plans for 2018 so watch this space whatever age you are!

- Why should kids play Tennis?

Tennis assists coordination more than any other sport so at a basic level Tennis will give young athletes a better chance of being a rounded athlete. When a child first comes to our coaching our first goal is to give them skills in a sport they can play for the rest of their lives, some will take to it quickly and others will have to work harder but the lessons learnt about themselves and the technical, tactical, mental and physical side of a demanding sport go much further than the court, there's lots of key life skills.

- Another reason for your award is that you've increased membership at Redhill Lawn Tennis Club. How have you done this?

Good quality service and good results. We have a 7 day per week coaching programme with our youngest participants being 4 years old and our oldest nearer 74 years old (I won't tell you who though!). Every school holiday we have junior courses and they start at £10 per day, adult groups are £10 for 90 minutes and our monthly junior coaching programme is £30 per month for 3 sessions per week so we always aim to keep our prices at a realistic level.

- Do you think people need a little push to play tennis?

I hope we can cater for everyone but in 2018 we have some very exciting plans to get everyone on court. We know that there are a lot of people who are rushed off their feet and don't have a long time each week to dedicate hours to learning the ins and outs of tennis. We are planning on launching a new service at Redhill Park and Redhill Tennis Club where we get some hardcore cardio and coaching points in a 40 minute session. Keep an eye on Boom Coaching.



- What do you need to play tennis?

I would say Boom Coaching of course but the truth is you don't need much. The courts in parks are free to use, Tennis Club membership is often around £20 per month and then a friend and racket. At a club there'll often be sessions for people to walk up and play as well as tournaments but if you're looking for a partner you can always call us and we'll help

- Many people say that your tennis training system is enjoyable. How important is have fun in your sessions?

Very! We keep our sessions sociable so everyone can have a laugh but all sessions have strong teaching points because there's lots of fun in getting better

- Tell us about your new qualification.

I'm on the Lawn Tennis Association Level 5 Master Club Coach award at the moment. It's a two year course and the highest qualification possible for a Tennis Coach so it's not easy. I'm only at the start but it's been great to be pushed and as someone who is always trying to get better i'm loving the challenge.