Sorry, sorry, it’s late again but I’ve been busy lying on a beach. There are loads of cool October fitness things going on to cheer me up now I’m back in the cold and drizzle though.
Gin Glorious Gin Running Tour
Private tours available on the best date for you, prices vary
secretlondonruns.com
Gin and running you say? Tell us more. The latest tour from Secret London Runs is an 8k run celebrating London’s long-held love of the juniper liqueur. Starting and ending in a secret east London gin palace, you’ll roam the city streets for around two hours stopping along the way to play gin-themed games, learn about the history of our favourite spirit and visiting historic gin joints. You’ll finish in a lovely fuzzy, gin-fuelled haze with plenty of time for a celebratory tipple.
FREE
Six-week Mountain Athletics Training Programme
Free downloadable programme, live online workouts every Monday 06.30, 10 October-14 November
thenorthface.co.uk
Heading to the slopes this winter? Don’t strap on your skis without completing this six-week programme from the North Face first. Devised by personal trainer Charley Radcliffe –who lives, skis and climbs in Chamonix, lucky bugger – the free programme is available to download from the link above and is designed to get you mountain ready.
Encompassing four sessions a week, follow those on the plan at your leisure and join Charley for live workouts on the North Face Facebook page every Monday. Expect bodyweight work, outdoor runs, burpees and a huge improvement in your strength, core and cardio capabilities.
Om Yoga Show London
21-23 October, from £10 (£8 concessions)
Alexandra Palace
omyogashow.com
Cool yoga wear, loads of classes, workshops, healthy food and guest presenters including Goldie and Tara Stiles, this is basically the yogi’s version of a huge wedding show. Our favourite bit is seeing how many free tasters of raw energy bar we can sample.
Flow in the Dark Yoga
21 October (sold out); 11 November, 18.45 and 20.00; 2 December, 18.45 and 20.00; from £20
Secret converted chapel Maida Vale
thewellscene.club
Because everything’s better with glowsticks! Don your neon hotpants and your white tops, this month the Wellscene are launching pop-up yoga classes held in the dark with black light and candle light to make sure everything glows. The hour-long feel-good classes are sweaty fun and the tunes are cranked up loud. There’s a free glass of Prosecco or non-alcoholic drink after the 8pm classes and a bar if you want to carry on drinking and raving for a bit after. Friday night yoga, so much better than the pub.
Tough 10 London
23 October, 10am, £20
Epping Forest
cancerresearchuk.org
Cancer Research’s new Tough 10 trail race comes to London with a 10k run around Epping Forest. The perfect way to get a bit of countryside in the city, this course is a great introduction to trail running. Races take place throughout the autumn and are rated Tough, Tougher and Toughest – this is a ‘Tough’ event, if you fancy really challenging your quads the Box Hill run on 19 November looks like a serious lung burner.
Hot Paola’s Bodybarre Flow Workshop
24 October, 20.30, free for members or £16 drop-in
Hot Yoga Society, London Bridge
hotyogasociety.com
One of London’s favourite barre instructors, Paolo is taking her class up a notch with added heat in this 60-minute workshop. With elements of ballet and Pilates you’ll be working deep into your stabilising muscles, improving your posture and getting some lovely stretches in. Plus the heat means you can pretend it’s still summer.
FREE
Baby Got Track
26 October, 18.45
Linford Christie Stadium, White City
eventbrite.co.uk
We’re all signed up for this free event from lululemon Westfield, because frankly it looks tremendous. A retro track evening there’ll be running, relays, sprints and medals (we’re hoping they’re chocolate). To reward all that sweating, food trucks are serving up burgers, shakes and hot dogs and there are popcorn and goodie bags too. Ain’t running great?
Thriller Dance Workshop
29 October, 14.30, Frame Shoreditch; 14.00 Frame King’s Cross. £25
Frame Shoreditch and King’s Cross
moveyourframe.com
Best thing about October? Halloween obviously. These two-hour dance workshops at Frame will teach you all the moves to the best fright night song out there, Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Just add zombie costume and you’ll be lighting up that dance floor coma all Hallow’s Eve.
1Rebel Open House
29 October
1Rebel
unbouncepages.com
The swanky boutique gym chain is having an open house session on 29 October and they’re expecting it to sell out, so if you’re interested get in quick when tickets go on sale on Monday 17. Alas open house doesn’t mean you get to try all the classes for free (which is what we thought when we first heard about it) instead it’s a day of motivational talks, Genius sessions from 1Rebel master trainers, nutritional advice, DJs, beauty treatments, blow drys and giveaways. Full details (including price) are still to be confirmed but you can register your interest here to find out more http://unbouncepages.com/1rebelopenhouse/
Maverick Race Berkshire
Pic: Boxhead Media, Mike Smith
29 October, Henley on Thames, from £15.50
maverick-race.com
It’s the last race of the season for this fantastic trail series held in areas of outstanding natural beauty around the country. We’ve done a couple of the events and they’ve been friendly, welcoming, well organised and great value – you get a t-shirt and medal in that entry price – and dogs are welcome too. Starting at the Stonor Park estate there are 8k, 15k and 21k distances through the stunning Chilterns so views are bound to be epic and there’s always an amazing cake stall at the end. Do it, you won’t regret it.
Trick or Treat Run
30 October, Richmond Park, from £15 for adults, family discounts available
humanrace.co.uk
A family friendly run with 2k, 5k and 10k options (the 10k is adults only), the Trick or Treat Run is yet another excuse to dress up as some kind of ghoul and then sweat all your face paint off. Along the course, Halloween Zones are manned by spooks and spectres whose soul aim is to scare the pants off you, there are prizes for the best costumes and at the finish line you can choose from a trick or a treat.
Know of any cool stuff happening in November? Share the sweat, email charlotte@lungesandlycra.co.uk
