New Site New Blog

**Important Notice - New Site, New Blog, New Era**

Up and Running launches new site and hosts a new social media running hub.  For those who follow us on Blogger, and read the occasional post this is a notification to inform you of some changes.  We have, on 9th Feb 2012 launched a new Up & Running site.  This is a whole new development with new features, facilities and a hub for social mediums (Blog, Twitter, Youtube, Facebook).  We therefore invite you to visit www.upandrunning.co.uk and the new blog home http://www.upandrunning.co.uk/blog and join the chatter.  Thank you to Blogger for their hosting, and thank you for reading.  Come and visit us in our new home and lets talk RUNNING!!

Up & Running (HQ).

Milton Keynes social run

The second Social Run of the year was well supported and our numbers were swelled by several clients of British Military Fitness who are using our Social Run as part of their training schedule. Welcome one and all! 23 runners on the day who will be included in our National Draw for £100.00 worth of Sub4 technical clothing as well as enjoying a special on the day discount of 20% in-store.

Fog and mist were the order of the day keeping temperatures pegged down, so the initial warm-up helped to increase blood flow and the uphill start phase of the run helped to warm up the muscles. Everyone soon slotted into their groove with the aid of the established pace groups - we welcome runners of all abilities on our runs - the undulating 10K course has something for everyone and takes in the varied scenery that Milton Keynes has to offer. It's not all concrete cows!! No one gets left behind on our runs with Lloyd helping one of our runners complete the course despite sustaining an injury . Check out the video of the run. Well done to all who came, took part and finished the course. Our next run will be the 26th February 2012 (the last Sunday of the month) and we look forward to seeing you all again.

Regards

Gerry

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Stop press..... Below is Matt's (one of the social runners) Garmin route and feedback.  "I joined you this morning for the 10k (first one with you), just wanted to say thanks... great fun! According to my Garmin I did 6.68 miles, so a little over 10k. Happy with the time and pace.
The Etonics you sold me in Nov are working well!"

Thanks Matt.  Glad you enjoyed it.

Liverpool Social Run

U&R Liverpool had another good turnout for the Social Run yesterday. About 13 runners of mixed ability were led just over 5 miles by Matty, myself (Simon) and the "temporary" return of Briony (so she says!). On a fresh morning it was good to see the regulars as well as new faces, including two lads out of Hollyoaks who are taking on the VLM and a couple who are new to running and aiming towards a half marathon. Looking forward to the next run on 26th Feb, when hopefully we'll see everyone again and of!

Cheers,
Simon (U&R Liverpool)

Brass Monkey race report

Three of our staff headed up to york race course for the brass monkey half marathon on sunday 22nd january. With the conditions being very windy the chances of fast times were out of the window before the race had even begun but this didn't dampen the spirits of Darren York/Leeds City AC, Richard Huddersfield/Holmfirth Harriers and Andy York/York Acorn AC as they set off on the out and back course. Richard was first back after sticking with the lead pack up until 6 miles where the wind was at full force he came through in the second half of the race to finish 5th in PB of 72:34. Darren was next home in 8th 74:12 having run some parts of the race on his own in tough conditions he was pleased with his hard earned efforts in his build up to london. Andy completed the U&R team finishing in 1:43.09 another great effort in tough conditions as he looks towards building on his next marathon. All the guys ran well and look forward to next years event here are a few snap shots: 

Richard 

http://www.flamingphotography.co.uk/imgs/gallerylarge/c3e_5169_14007395.jpeg http://www.theracephotographer.com/2012/BrassM/Set_A/large/image_a0011.jpg

Darren 

http://www.flamingphotography.co.uk/imgs/gallerylarge/fe9_5169_14007138.jpeg http://www.theracephotographer.com/2012/BrassM/Set_A/large/image_a0017.jpg

Nation XC - Darlington's Andrew Wiles

Greetings and salutations sports fans,

Sat 7th Jan saw Andrew Wiles face his biggest racing challange in his short 5 year racing career, invited by UK-Athletics to race against a truly world class field that included Kenise Bekele, Eluid Kipchog and eventual winner Absele Kiprop over a undulating 3K cross country course next to Arthurs Seat at Edinburgh.

Speaking before the event Andy told this reporter that he was very excited about the event and was looking forward to racing against some of the best distance runners in the world - Well over his lower back problem, that had plagued his training for a month, Andrew's training and hard sessions had gone really well through the previous week and he was feeling in excellant shape.

Other notable athletes from England were club-mate Ricky Stephenson back from altitude training in Kenya and eager to stretch his legs with a supporting cast of Jonny Hay, Ross Millington and Steve Vernon.

After the initial introductions to the expectant crowd the race was off with a bang! and a furious pace being set by a mixed bag of African, European and English runners, with a short but steep hill after 300m , Andrew stayed out of trouble on the very tight first few bends and settled into a comfortable position at the back of the lead group of runners, then just as the pace started to settle down Millington took the race by the scruff of the neck and took it to Kipchoge, Kiprop and the other lead athletes.. Holding onto the his position but watching the pack start to fragment from the hard front running by Millington.

Wiles kept his head and started to work through the pack as best he could, with the rest of the race becoming a procession of athletes as they guys settled into their individual paces. Andy kept focused on the athletes just ahead of him and was determined that he kept the gap down to a few paces, and working off the guys as they attacked the hill on the 3rd circuit.

With 500m to go Kiprop opened an extensive lead and kept the pressure on, making the winning victory margin look very easy... and with 19 year old Jonny Hay out-kicking Kipchoge for an amazing second place, then back to the chasing pack and great racing from Ricky Stephenson earned him a superb 5th place, with the hard working Millington placing a creditable 6th , followed very closely by Vernon 9th and Wiles out-kicking Bekele to snatch 10th position from the fading Ethiopian

Speaking post race Andrew was over-joyed with his result and the rest of the English lads who had worked very hard to earn there moments of glory, commenting that he was happy with his race and he felt he did all he could to make sure he finished well, he is looking forward to getting winter out of the way and getting back on the track.

This was an excellant weekend for individual English athletes, and shows that Athletics in UK is very healthy and we do have some great junior and young men making their way through the ranks for the future.

Congratulations Andrew, we look forward to the Spring! and seeing what a solid winters work brings.

Mic

PS - You can still see this race at http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b019c13b/Great_Edinburgh_International_Cross_Country_2012/ fast forward 1 hour and 10 mins for coverage.

Mic Doughty
Manager, Up&Running Darlington

Social Run report Milton Keynes

Social Run report 1st January 2012

“Would any one turn up for the first Social Run of the year.............................................Of course they would. A little partying the night before and a few shandy's would never put off our intrepid and dedicated band of Social Runners! We did set off an hour later, to accommodate those who had just changed from their party clothes and into their running gear! The warm-up took place in the staff car park – cramped but cosy and safe.

Dry, over-cast and mild conditions were the order of the day.......just right to blow away the cobwebs away and deal with the after effects of too much Christmas Pud.

 
We now have an established course just over 10K with a variety of inclines as well as very frequent changes of scenery ranging from urban pavement/paths to canal tow paths and woodland. No records were going to be set but the group did finish the course within 1hr 20mins. Back at the store, we held a prize draw for a new Up & Running Technical Jacket worth £40.00. Well done to our winner, Len! All the runners received a one-off New Year discount of 20% off in-store as well as 10% off in Costa. All runners names will be included in the nationwide monthly draw to win £100.00 Sub4 technical clothing.

A big thank you to our Social Runners and staff for supporting our runs and making them a huge success.

Our next run will be 29th January 2012 at 10:30am and every last Sunday of the month there after. Put it in your new diary now."

Gerry, Amy and team.  

Stop press, here is a video of that first run of the YEAR!!  

Greetings Sports Fans,

I just wanted to share the following result.  Darlington Up&Running's and New Maske Harrier 1500m - Andrew Wiles has just cracked 30 mins for 10k at Ribble Valley today (report sent 27th December 2011),

Racing against a top class field that included Alistair Brownlee{2nd}, club mate Ricky Stephenson{3rd} and Jonny Melor{1st} - Andrew placed 5th on a very challenging and somewhat lumpy course in a excellent 29:46 - Smashing his old 10K PB by 70 seconds! Andrew said today that he is "very happy to be over his back injury" that has been plaguing him for 4 week and is "very keen to get back on cross country scene this winter".

Epic racing Andrew, keep up the excellent work !

Mic and all at U&R