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Four workshops were held at various venues around the region to engage road runners from all corners of the East Midlands.  The programme offered an enjoyable, educational and sociable series of workshops, linked to local road races and supporting various charities. At the same time it enabled England Athletics to develop new partnerships within the region.

The four workshops were run by Jim Cowan from Cowan Global Consulting and covered topics such as, planning your training, lifestyle matters, nutrition & hydration as well as presentations from PUMA on footwear, a physiotherapist and a session from Paul Evans giving advice for the race day itself.

The workshops were extremely successful with 20 road runners signing up to the project over the winter.  Each runner received kit from PUMA in return for raising money for a charity of their choice.  In total over £3000 was raised!

Jude Brand, a road runner from Leicestershire said, ‘I thought the workshops were fantastic.  I learnt so much from all the presenters and the kit from PUMA was a fantastic surprise!’

For the runners who actually ran the London Marathon all of them improved their times from previous years.  Steve Moore CCSO in the East Midlands said, ‘the project achieved everything we wanted it to.  Raising standards of road running and engaging runners in the East Midlands were the key objectives which were achieved with very positive results.  The project also enabled us to strengthen partnerships with local race organizers and an opportunity to work with key partners such as Cowan Global Consulting and PUMA.’

England Athletics is looking to follow this project with introducing endurance Flying Coach opportunities within club sessions again giving advice to road runners but more importantly working with coaches and group leaders to strengthen and broaden knowledge and skills within clubs.

Click here for more info on the Flying Coach scheme, or contact your local Club and Coach Support Officer (contact details available at www.englandathletics.org/my-area)

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