Seems the sun is going to everyone’s head this month because nearly all of July’s best fitness events are free of charge
FREE
Adidas Runners London
Pic: adidas runners / Facebook
Mondays and Fridays, London Bridge and King’s Cross
adidas.co.uk
Oh we do love a free running club, and this new Adidas community sounds like a winner. There are pre-work runs on Friday mornings near Kings Cross and evening runs on Mondays near London Bridge, with sessions including structured drills alongside social runs.
The thoroughly smashing Claudia and James, founders of AdventRunning, are your coaches on Fridays while Monday sessions are led by Noel Carroll and James Heptonstall, the guys behind this infamous ‘Race the Tube’ YouTube video.
A bag drop is available, sometimes there are free snacks, and you can also trial a pair of Adidas Ultra Boost at any of the sessions. Register here.
FREE
Beth French – Oceans7 Swim Challenge
14 July
Finisterre, Covent Garden 19:00
eventbrite.co.uk
If you need a bit of inspiration to get out there and enjoy some new adventures, this talk from Beth French promises to be a stonker. After overcoming ME as a teenager and training in the art of meditation as a Buddhist nun (?!), Beth is now about to swim seven of the world’s toughest channels in just one year. Only six people have swum the Oceans7 before and I’ve interviewed one of them, seriously it is no mean feat! If you like swimming and outdoor adventures you need to hear this.
FREE
Sports Philosophy Boot Camp
16 July
Hyde Park, 10:30
eventbrite.co.uk
Fancy a free HIIT workout? You’re in luck. Luxury activewear label Sports Philosophy is partnering up with Zealth PT to bring a sweaty workout to the park. Burpee yourself into oblivion and then relax with free healthy snacks and a quick browse through the latest Sports Philosophy collections.
FREE
Fuelling Women’s Adventure, The Call of Wild Camping Evening
Pic: Lily Wild / Facebook
18 July
Camden, 18:45
eventbrite.co.uk
Hosted by Lily Wild – a community of female adventurers – this evening is a chance to listen to inspiring talks from explorers Anna McNuff and Laura Kennington, ask their advice about going camping in the wild, meet loads of cool, likeminded women and hopefully plan your next trip. We’ll be there, say hi!
FREE
Lululemon Hyde Park Yoga
Saturdays until 23 July, 10:00
eventbrite.com
There are only a couple more weeks to get your free lululemon Hyde Park outdoor yoga fix so let’s hope the next few Saturdays are sunny ones. Meeting between Dorchester Ride and Lover’s Walk, these hour-long classes are gratis but you do need to take your own mat and book via Eventbrite to secure your place.
Lululemon Sweatlife the Festival
24 July
Tobacco Dock, E1W, £20
thesweatlife.co.uk
Now you’ve washed off the Glastonbury coating of mud and cider, it’s time for a festival with a slightly cleaner outlook. This one-day fitness fiesta is packed with run clubs, classes from top London studios including Barry’s, Frame and Core Collective, yoga from lululemon ambassadors, development workshops to help you unleash your creativity, release stress and set goals oh, and there’s also a kundalini yoga rave, a bouncy castle and a disco from Grand Master Flash. £20? Sounds like a bargain.
FREE
La Course Recon Ride with Specialized
24 July
Look Mum No Hands Brixton, 09:30
eventbrite.co.uk
Celebrating La Course (the female event held just before the final stage of the Tour de France – no it’s not a full female Tour yet but that’s a whole separate article), this guided women-only cycle takes in the sights of London before heading to Look Mum No Hands in Old Street to watch La Course on the big screen. Meeting in Brixton for coffee and cake before hitting the road, the ride is suitable for all levels and will take in laps of Hyde Park, include a photo stop at Marble Arch and a couple of surprises. All attendees receive a goody bag (who doesn’t love a goody bag?) and there’s a free barbecue and drink and some giveaways at the La Course party. Tres bien!
FREE
Lululemon Ride & Flow with Togo Keynes
Pic: Lululemon / Facebook
24 July
Richmond Park, 09:30
eventbrite.co.uk
Time to oil up the chain and get your bike down to Richmond for a few hill reps. Led by cycling coach Togo Keynes from Njinga cycling, this two-hour session starts with 60 minutes of laps around the park followed by a 45-minute yoga flow class designed for cyclists. There are free refreshments after and time for questions about cycling and nutrition.
Hypnotherapy Workshop: Beating Anxiety with Chloe Brotheridge
Pic: Chloe Brotheridge / Facebook / Becky Rui Photography
30 July
Frame Shoreditch, 14:45; 13 August Frame Kings Cross, 14:00
moveyourframe.com
In a world full of work stress and self doubt, this sounds rather lovely. Designed to help get rid of negative thoughts and habits and leave you feeling calmer and happier, this relaxing two-hour workshop is led by therapist Chloe Brotheridge. Attendees receive a hypnotherapy MP3 to take home and carry on the good work.
FREE
Swedish Fit Classes
Pic: Swedish Fit / Facebook
Every Sunday until 28 August
Decathlon, Surrey Quays, 11:00
eventbrite.co.uk
Unsurprisingly, this group exercise class, which involves cardio, strength work and stretching performed in a circle around the instructor, was devised in Sweden. It’s pretty darn popular in its motherland as it’s gentle enough to be suitable for everyone. If you fancy giving it a crack, there are free one-hour classes outside the Decathlon store in Surrey Quays all summer (they move inside if it’s raining). Want to know more about Swedish Fit? Here’s our review of a previous class.
FREE
Third Space Fitness Festival
Until 31 August
Throughout Canary Wharf
eventbrite.co.uk
If you work or live in the city you’re in luck when it comes to fitness events. Throughout the summer, swanky gym Third Space is offering free outdoor classes to everyone, regardless of whether you’re a member or not. Taking place in Montgomery Square, the Crossrail Roof Gardens and Jubilee Park, the extensive timetable includes yoga, metabolic conditioning and HIIT circuits and free refreshments are also on offer.
Wimbledon Common Half Marathon
30 July
Wimbledon Common, 09:45, £24
runthrough.co.uk
See out the month in style with a 13.1-mile jaunt around the tracks of Wimbledon Common. As with all Run Through events, the atmosphere is relaxed and sociable and the medal’s pretty cool (it involves a womble). You also get a free t-shirt on the day.
Cancer Research Tough 10
Series starts September
UK-wide, £20
cancerresearchuk.org
If you’re starting to plan your Autumn/Winter race diary, these new events from Cancer Research look fab. Much tougher than your standard CR offering, the series of 10k runs are off-road and held in some beautiful but gruelling countryside. Given a Toughness rating out of three, Box Hill, The Peak District and the Pentland Hills near Edinburgh are the biggest challenges, while Epping Forest and Roundhay Park in Leeds and the Chilterns are an easier option. Check out the full list of locations here.
Got any August events up your sleeve? Send them over to charlotte@lungesandlycra.co.uk
