Yoga workshops, new fitness studio openings, FREE stuff… and running, lots and lots of filthy trail running. Here’s your guide to what’s a’happening this month.
Project Fit FREE first class
Cornhill, London
project-fit.co.uk
We’re going to check out Project Fit tonight so we’ll report back with our full verdict. For now though, we can tell you that this new city-based studio offers group exercise classes combining ‘body transformation exercises’ with intense cardio intervals on treadmills. Sounds sweaty! Workouts are tailored to different abilities so it’s suitable for all levels, every session is different and some evenings will include a live DJ. Visit the site to find out more project-fit.co.uk and claim you free trial class.
#261 Runs London with Kathrine Switzer FREE
9 November, 11am
Meet at Clapham Common Tube, London
facebook.com/events
Thanks to Laura from Life, Laura, London for bringing this event to our attention. Kathrine Switzer is a running hero! She ran the Boston marathon as the first registered woman in 1967, despite the fact that women were forbidden from entering and the race director was trying to forcibly remove her from the course. She went on to campaign for women to be able to participate in long distance races both for fun and at an elite level. Seems inconceivable now huh? Anyway, 261, her Boston race number, is now a women’s marathon and 10k in Mallorca and they’ve organised a special run with her in London this weekend. Meeting at Clapham Common tube, Kathrine will discuss her experiences and answer questions followed by a yoga-running session with personal trainer Miriam Santos. Sign up via Facebook.
Hot Bikram Yoga 6 Class Challenge
13 November, £20
Fulham, Balham and London Bridge studios
hotbikramyoga.co.uk
Like yoga? Want to do your bit for charity? Absolute nutter? Excellent. Hot Bikram Yoga is challenging yogis to complete six hot and sweaty classes in one day to raise money for BBC Children in Need and children’s charity Share a Family. (Just one Bikram class kills me, nuff respect). Last year they raised a massive £17k and they’d love to raise even half that amount again. To be part of the team visit the challenge page, buy your £20 pass (which includes a challenge t-shirt and a charity donation) and get fundraising. If you are doing it, let us know and we’ll be pleased to send some support your way.
Brutal 10
15 November, 10am
Long Valley, Hampshire, £16
http://brutalrun.co.uk/race/longvalley/
I’m consistently hearing good things about this series of ridiculously affordable, steep and muddy 10k off-road runs from members of my running club (apparently there’s a lot of wading through streams and bogs too). And now that my leg is finally on the mend I’ve decided that building up my running and taking on the December or January event will be my winter challenge. Let me know if you fancy joining. Check out full listings here.
Men’s Health Survival of the Fittest (London Day & Night)
Entries close 17 November, event 22 November, from £65
mhsurvival.co.uk
Now in its new home near Wembley stadium there are still a few places up for grabs in this hugely popular (and slightly pricey) obstacle race. Choose from the 10k daytime race where you’ll tackle around 20 obstacle zones including water slides, trolley dashes, cargo nets, hay bales, ramps and the odd river dunking. Or, as darkness descends, you can go for the 5k night time option containing around 90% of the obstacles. Show offs can opt to do both.
VOGA FREE
23 November, 10.30-11.30am
lululemon athletica, Covent Garden
lululemon.com/london
Not only do lululemon sell rather amazing activewear, they also offer free yoga classes and run clubs at their London showrooms. Teachers and styles of yoga change each week and this month they’ve got some corkers, including VOGA – a fusion of Madonna-style vogueing and yoga set to 80s beats. Wicked. Taught by VOGA founder Juliet and suitable for all levels, this class is bound to fill up fast so make sure you get there early as it’s first come, first mat.
23 November, 10am, £20-£22 for solo runners, £45-£47 for teams
Denbies Wine Estate, Surrey
eventstolive.co.uk
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, Events to Live offer some of the best and most affordable races in the South East. As you may guess by the name, this is one of their hilly ones! Relay teams of three each run a leg over the three hills in the Mole Valley – Box Hill, Norbury Park and Ranmore. The legs are different lengths, different gradients and differing terrains so you can fight it out amongst yourself. The hardcore can run it as a pair or solo.
The Urban Tri
Entries open 24 November, event 7 December, £40
boomcycle.co.uk
A collaboration between BOOM Cycle, Yotopia and Sweatshop, the Urban Tri turns the traditional triathlon on its head. Instead of the usual swim, bike, run format, participants complete a 45-minute hot yoga class at Yotopia, run three miles through the city with Sweatshop and end up at BOOM Cycle for an eight-mile indoor cycling class. Kit transfer, showers, towels and REN cosmetics included. The first event in October was a sell out, certainly sounds an interesting way to spend your Sunday (although it’d probably be a bit nicer if the lovely warming yoga was at the end). Click here to book.
Happy Inversion Day FREE
30 November 10.30-11.30am
lululemon athletica, Covent Garden
lululemon.com
I am definitely signing up for this one! Dancer, martial artist and one of London’s hottest yoga teachers, Celest Periera’s workshop is a fun exploration of poses that take you upside down. Whether you want to take your handstand to the next level, have never tried an inversion or are even a bit scared, poses are broken down into manageable steps meaning it’s suitable for all. Maybe this is the time I finally crack that headstand!
Friday Night Hip Hop Yoga Party
14 November, 19.30-21.30
Good Vibes, Covent Garden
goodvibesfitness.co.uk
Earlier this year, as part of our Summer of Sweat series of discounted fitness events, we ran a Carnival-themed yoga party at Good Vibes, complete with rum punch (above). We ended up going out dancing till 5am, whoops. For the more restrained, this as an alternative to a raucous night out and it’s a great way to get you in a good mood for the weekend. Taught by Clare Dobson, the fun and creative yoga session is set to old school hip hop and topped off with a glass of bubbly and a natter with other yogis at the end. Lovely. If only we’d ended it there!
Prestige Boot Camp
29 & 30 November, 10am-16.00, £39.50 for one day £79 for both
Hyde Park, London
prestigebootcamp.com
Last week I went on a residential boot camp in Suffolk (review up next week). Seven full days of exercise, I was in heaven. A very achy, hungry, stiff-legged version of heaven. Now the guys who run it, ex Royal Navy PTIs Staff R and Staff W (some forces thing about not calling them by their real names I reckon), are coming to London for the weekend to share the boot camp experience. I can massively recommend it. Expect running, boxing, fartlek training, interval training, circuits, team games and general happy exhaustion.
Rail to Trail
29 November, from 8.30am, from £29.50
Cuxton, Kent
trailscape.co.uk
The latest in this series of trail events, all less than an hour’s train ride from London, takes you through the autumn woodland, open fields, hills and valleys of rural Kent. There are 10k, half marathon and marathon distances to choose from (although distances can be a bit more ‘ish’ than exact) with some of the routes taking in sections of the beautiful North Downs and Pilgrims way. For details of the full Rail to Trail series and to book visit trailscape.co.uk
Know of any cool fitness events happening in December? Email charlotte@lungesandlycra.co.uk
