Our annual run and walk training sessions will restart in June following our Cadbury Marathon Preparation Seminar, which we organise annually at a time that allows you all 3 months to put into practise what we have all discussed with you during the seminar. Unfortunately last year the seminar was scheduled for the night of the big flood (and we all know what a disaster that night sadly was), giving us no alternative but to cancel the evening – the venue of the Sargood Centre had water erupting from the loos, and it was almost cut off by the moat that was Lake Logan! Anyway, fingers and toes crossed we don’t have to endure anything like those conditions ever again, and am sure this year we will be able to have our usual evening of great information and good advice without drama. Please put 6pm WEDNESDAY 8 JUNE into your diaries right now and plan to attend our FREE seminar and bring your friends. This year we will have our same keynote speaker as was organised for 2015: Associate Professor Tania Cassidy, PhD, School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences at Otago. Tania will present on insights into issues associated with participating in physical activity across the lifespan and I am sure be able to encourage us all to “have a go”. Do make sure you come along if you are slightly tempted to give it a try in 2016! Blair will then present on Injury Prevention, followed by Dr Megan Gibbins with nutrition advice and then Dave Stinson (Caversham Coach) on training regimes in preparation for the event in September. Everyone will have great tips for your preparation and for race day, so come prepared with questions and with a few dollars to give to the Neurological Foundation as a donation at the entrance, and who knows you might be the lucky one who goes home with a free pair of Mizuno shoes, thanks to Ian at Frontrunner Dunedin.

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Following the evening, we like to help anyone who is a little unsure of build up further by offering our FREE walking and running groups from the clinic, every Wednesday from 15 June until the event on SUNDAY 11 SEPTEMBER. The first couple of weeks of this year’s build up will see Geoff and Barbara away from Dunedin, so our deputies Mary Vincent (with all the great walking crew from Caversham, seen here whilst on one of our summer walks in the lovely Botanical Gardens), and Peter Hughes (with all the running support crew) will lead our groups as you quietly build up towards the event. The groups leave from the clinic at 5.30pm on Wednesdays, so even if you are a little unsure of making the distance in September, how about joining the groups and test out your skills. It is ALWAYS easier to be with others and build up together, under careful guidance. You will have a lot of fun, and meet some awesome people as you are doing it. We always start out on the flat, and then build time and some slopes into it as you progress through the weeks. Don’t forget too, that now there are also the new ¼ marathon options for running or walking!

See you at our seminar 6pm, and then DO come and join our training groups, starting the following week.