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Nearly 700 runners gathered in a damp, cold and windy Princes Park on the seafront in Southport amidst the debris of the weekends spectacular fireworks extravaganzas for a couple of sparkling runs – about a hundred lined up for the 2 kilometer fun run followed by nearly 600 for the 10 kilometer main event.

The 2-kilometer runners dashed off first sprinting through the spiteful showers but with smiles all the same. It was a fun family event attracting all ages and everyone seemed to enjoy it despite the weather.

The 10-kilometer event attracted runners, harriers, striders and shufflers from across the region including Wilmslow, Preston, Southport and Shropshire. The two-lap course wound through the parks and pleasurelands of Southport with the first runner home in just over 33 minutes and everyone was safely over the finishing line within an hour and a half of setting off.

Congratulations to everyone who participated, from the youngsters in the 2 kilometer run through to those over 80 who were running in the 10 kilometer event. And congratulations to the organisers for another splendid event.

Round two of the Gloucestershire Midnight Walks in support of the Cotswold Care Hospice took place on Friday 2^nd September in Gloucester. The start and finishing location for this walk around the streets of Gloucester was the impressive main stand at Kingsholm, the home of Gloucester Rugby Club where the ladies limbered up before the start and were welcomed back with orange juice or bucks fizz and welcoming hot drinks, cakes and savouries.

Twinkling bunnies ears and colourful tutus were the uniform of choice for some whilst others preferred the cowboy hats and or boas. Unlike the earlier event at Cirencester there was  a cloudless sky and no rain to dampen the spirits and the majority of the ladies completed 10 miles!

Well done to everyone who participated raising much appreciated funds for the Hospice. And well done too to the organisers and everyone who came to help make the event a great success.

As the darkness crept in and the quiet moonlight fought behind a blanket of clouds, hundreds of fabulous ladies gathered on a Friday night to raise bundles of funds for Cotswold Care Hospice.  Although most of the kids had long since scampered home, Deer Park School in Cirencester flung open its doors and threw aside its desks to provide a thankfully warm and lively base for participants to gather before and after the challenging 5 and 10 mile Night Walks.

A band of beautiful burlesque dancers kicked off proceedings with an energetic routine to assist the  warm-up and get everyone glowing and ready to head out into the damp darkness.  10pm signalled the start of the walk and hordes of bright purple t-shirts and heads adorned with flashing ears and funky hats bobbed briskly through the silky night air.  We spotted some great gangs of girls along the way who had made that extra special effort in dressing up for the occasion; cowboy (cowgirl surely?) hats were a theme and the galloping cowgirls were quite a sight –were they really riding horses? Yeah or Naaaaaay we salute you anyway, yee ha!

Walkers scrambled, rambled and ambled well into the late of night and 367 was first to complete the 5 miles walk, bunny ears flapping in the late night breeze.  She was swiftly followed by many others, beaming at the achievement and promise of a warm school hall!  Those completing the 10 mile walk were surprisingly not too far behind!

 All finishers received a well-deserved medal and a tasty glass of bucksfizz or orange juice to mark the achievement. And of course there was still plenty of energy to raise a toast to the huge amount of money raised for the Cotswold Care Hospice!  Cheers, ladies!

Congratulations to everyone who braved the night-time chill to take part, and well done to the organisers and everyone who helped make the Midnight Walks a great success.

See you soon at our next event!     

Sunday morning dawned fresh and breezy at Holyrood Park – perfect conditions for Challenge Scotland’s big summer events.  With a 5k run, 6.7mile walk, 12mile walk, Golden Mile AND a toddle for the littl’uns, eager participants of all ages and abilities came streaming into the impressive enclosure, excited to begin their event.  Impressive facilities boasted warming drinks and sizzling sausage stands, alongside representative vans for Dogs Trust Scotland, Alzheimer’s Scotland and Walk for Scotland, to name but a few.  Taking pride of place in the centre, there was also a majestic array of some of the coolest two-seater motorbikes we have ever seen!     

Shaking off any early morning rusty limbs, the 5k runners were warmed up by the Challenge Scotland bus and then went on to demonstrate determination and a healthy competitive streak as they took off round Arthur’s Seat.  Partnerships seemed to be the theme of the run: mums and dads taking wee ones along for the challenge, lovebirds linking hands, and friends running alongside each other for charities such as SIMBA, British Heart Foundation and Marie Curie Cancer Trust.

Back at the Challenge Scotland site, the carnival atmosphere was being whirred into frenzy as all walkers congregated, anticipating the start of their event.  Classic disco tunes were sounding from the bus, causing runners and supporters to break out in to spontaneous song and dance; pictures were being snapped of each others’ fantastic outfits; the Challenge Scotland bear was encouraging nervous walkers along; hundreds of happy dogs barked gaily, and most importantly, there were smiles spread across the faces of everyone taking part.   

In spectacular fashion, the 6.7mile, 12mile and Golden Mile all set off within 20 minutes of each other, all heading in different directions; what a splendid aerial view that must have been! Across all 3 runs, we witnessed some of the most innovative outfits we’ve ever come across – a brave gang of smurfs covered head to toe in blue face paint, a whole team dressed as different characters from The Wizard of Oz (they were following the yellow brick road J), and of course, tartan worn in every different form imaginable!  A representative from The Dogs Trust took along a medley of friendly canines and many others from ages 2-90 completed the course for charities such as Macmillan Cancer Support, Breast Cancer Institute and Diabetes UK.

And who can forget the Toddle?  Quite a challenging course was laid out for the aspiring wee runners who fancied a go themselves.  We had a tough time keeping up with some of the front runners, who shot round the course like little dynamos! 

What a fantastic achievement for everyone who took part in the day; whether running, walking, toddling or supporting.  Certainly the most successful, cheerful and enjoyable event we have had the pleasure to attend this year.  A big thankyou to the wonderful stewards and Charity representatives, who were raring with enthusiasm and encouragement throughout the day.  And of course to Challenge Scotland, who organised another fantastic day. 

MPC limbered up for a spritely Fun Run in Cardiff this past weekend – quickly becoming one of our favourite locations for enthusiastic runners and challenging routes.  The Rotary did a fantastic job of organising the event and it was well-attended by numerous charity participants, crazy characters and even a local celebrity!

Participants, organisers and photographers alike gazed warily at a bruised and threatening sky shortly before the start of the run, anticipating downpours and treacherous conditions.  However, it was perhaps the lucky mascot of our cheerful BBC Wales weathergirl Sue Charles and runners’ high spirits that fought off the short, spiteful shower to clear a dry path just in time for the vibrant warm-up. 

As Sue sounded the klaxon, signalling the start of the run, everyone enthusiastically set off around the scenic route, feeling the brisk winds whipping around ruddy cheeks.  There was huge support for charities on the run, notably big representation for Breast Cancer Care – unmissable in pink and equally unmissable in vocal support – the John Lewis team and Teenage Cancer Trust.  And of course, it would have been difficult not to spot Superwoman or a Welsh dragon flying by!

 It’s fair to say that despite the windy conditions, a great time was had by everyone, particularly those presented with prizes by the lovely weathergirl!  A huge thankyou to the Rotary, and congratulations to everyone who completed the course, particularly the wheelchair team, and to everyone who raised money for some fantastic charities.

See you on June 5^th in Edinburgh!               

Early February along Southport seafront is not for the faint-hearted, so it was with glee that we greeted all you sturdy souls at the starting line.  Worryingly, the course had been battered with gale-force winds and vicious rain the night before but alas, we were offered a window of respite for the run itself, with just a few gusts whipping round runners’ legs.

An excited field of over 750 runners gathered at the starting point at Stanley School to brave the elements and, at 10am when the starting gun went off, they turned left onto Marshside road and down to the seafront to start the long trek southwards into a biting wind. It certainly blew away the cobwebs for some and everyone was grateful at the half-way point to turn back north, running past the lakes and the golf courses to the finishing line back at Stanley School. The first past the post came in at an amazing 37 minutes and 19 seconds and just over an hour later the 754^th and final runner was greeted home by the race officials.

Well done to all who ran the race including a large contingent running in the memory of Martin Russell and someone dressed as the Mad Dog himself. And well done as well to all the brave souls who came to support and to those who organised and stewarded the event. An excellent inaugural first Mad Dog event.

Looking forward to seeing you all at our next event!

Happy New Year to all you running fiends out there!  We hope that you had a fantastic festive season and spent last month shaking off those January blues by pounding those pavements. 

We’re kicking off the year with the Mad Dog 10k run in Southport this weekend, and it’s certainly proving to be popular with all entries full up!  All you keen beans will be striding down Marine Road and gulping in the fresh sea air to raise some incredible funds for charities, as well as for personal achievements.  

Remember that this is also a superb day out for the family and there are also added bonuses of goodie bags and spot prizes.  Check out the website for more details http://www.maddog10k.co.uk/

We look forward to seeing you all there!

Harsh December delivered an avalanche of snow that covered every corner of Edinburgh last week; our mitten-ed fingers were chewed through with anticipation of news about Challenge Scotland’s winter events.  In what seemed like something of a Christmas miracle, it was finally declared that the day would go ahead, with the mountains of snow acting as an ideal backdrop for a winter wonderland.  And what a festive occasion it was!  

With a 5k Santa Run, Winter Stroll, Golden Tinsel Mile and Santa’s Toddle for the littl’uns on offer, just like a Christmas selection box there was something to suit everybody, particularly those raising money for charities.  

The day itself arrived cool and crisp, featuring streaks of winter sunshine that twinkled over the blanket of snow hugging every inch of Inverleith Park.  Dozens of shivering Santas arrived ready to run, along with the Challenge Scotland bus ringing with those comforting chimes of Christmas tunes – it was difficult not to feel those festive goosebumps.        

Early morning Sunday strollers stopped and smiled at the bewildering sight of sprinting Santas ploughing through the drifts and skating to the finishing line.  Considering the bitter chill, it was a remarkable feat for those who took part, some great funds also raised by runners for Cystic Fibrosis.

Those brave spirits taking part in the Winter Stroll arrived rosy-cheeked and raring to go, with charities such as SANE and Myeloma UK being represented.  After a brisk and enthusiastic warm-up, walkers made their way through Edinburgh’s Botanical Gardens; with its glistening icicles dangling from towering trees and squirrels dancing across the frosty paths, the atmosphere was magical, almost ethereal.

And finally, the moment arrived that everyone had been waiting for.  As the first strollers made their way past the finishing point, the jingling bells grew louder as Santa Claus himself rode a golden sleigh through the park to the join the excited youngsters awaiting him.  Every child had the opportunity to meet Santa and ask him their burning questions – the joy and excitement on the little ones’ faces was a delight and made some lovely photographs.

Santa’s Toddle gave the younger members of the crowd a chance to exercise their athletic ambitions on a short course and receive a sparkly goody bag.  Many of the wee-ones were decked out in fabulous outfits very fitting for the occasion: mini-Santas, elves, Christmas trees, reindeer and candy canes to name but a few! 

As the events wound down, participants swigged well-deserved mugs of warming hot chocolate and wrapped back up in cosy winter coats.  We wanted to say how great it was that everybody turned up in the chilly conditions and well done to those who took part in the run or walks.   

Our team would also like to say a big thankyou to Challenge Scotland for ensuring that the event went ahead.  It was clear from the wide smiles and constant dancing that a fantastic, festive day out was had by all.    

The beady-eyed among you will have spotted that our team are interested in all varieties of photography…

As the soft shades of gold and auburn fluttered down from the shivering branches, we found ourselves tip-toeing through the autumn debris to capture some scenes of a slightly different nature.   We strolled through acres of land, hiked through dense forests and clambered over stiles to bring you beautiful images of the Great British Countryside.  Our Autumn Collection features photographs of the still wilderness at its most wondrous – cosy up with a steaming mug of hot chocolate and check out our images!  

But this season we haven’t just gone back to nature; we’ve gone all the way to Italy! One intrepid team-member packed up his camera and travelled to Rome to photograph some classic images from the renowned capital.  Hopping from one breathtaking landmark to another, our photographer captured unmistakable angles and unique shades of reflected light that permeate throughout the ancient city.  Take a look at our new Italian Collection for an experimental and sophisticated European flavour of photography.

Our roving team of photographers had to divide and conquer on the weekend of 10^th October in order to cover the last of the Big Fun Runs in the South-East of England and Natterjack’s 10k event in Stockport.  Both events delivered clear blue skies, smiley supporters and eager participants.  We’ve mentioned the Big Fun Runs at Southampton and Maidstone in our earlier Blogs but here’s some news on the Natterjack Run…. and also on the occasion of the following weekend when some of us were the other side of the camera lens!

We were delighted to be the official photographers for Natterjack’s 10K Seaside run at Southport, not to mention the starter Fun Run for all you fledgling runners out there.  A gigantic trainer provided an inspiring symbol for everyone who turned up to tackle the brand new route; alongside a beautiful backdrop at the starting line.  The picturesque route took runners right along the stretch of seaside, through the park and over two bridges; an excellently-designed course.  Congratulations to individuals who gained great times for their Running Clubs; keep up the good work throughout the winter months.

Being keen runners ourselves, a week later on the 17^th October we excitedly waved one of our team off at the starting line at the Cardiff Half-Marathon.  Several of our other comrades were also taking to pounding the streets of Wales that day, so it seemed like an excellent opportunity to continue honing our photography skills.  Despite the fantastic conditions and achievements of the many runners, there was a bittersweet irony to the day; just prior to the event, organisers had altered the route.  Thus, unbeknownst to the jubilant PB (Personal Best) finishers, this resulted in the course being 190m shy of the official half-marathon distance!

See if you can spot our team member’s feet in the snap above!

Check out the Upcoming Runs section of our website for winter events coming up soon – we look forward to seeing you there!