(Image: Pixabay)

You may have entered your first marathon this year, and no matter how much you prepare beforehand, it’s nearly impossible to anticipate exactly what will happen on the day.

There are many runs taking place across Yorkshire and beyond this year, and there’s a fair chance a great many newcomers have chosen one to be their first official event.

In 2023, over 10,000 people took part in the Rob Burrow Leeds marathon with this year’s event set to be even larger. Then there’s the London marathon, which is taking place on April 21, and attracts around 48,000 runners from all over the globe.

26.2 miles is a daunting distance, but the challenge can be part of the enjoyment – take it from these marathon veterans, who have come together to share their first-hand advice and knowledge.

‘Plan your fluid intake properly – and find a running buddy’

The piece of advice I’d would give anyone starting their marathon journey would be find a friend to run with.

Not only does it become a social thing, but when you make a commitment to go for a run with someone you always go, whatever the weather, and don’t make an excuse to stay in. That’s by far the best way to make sure you do your training miles.

And on the day of the race, plan your fluid – and food or gel – intake. I didn’t, it was the one thing I didn’t prepare properly. So, late in the run I drank too much, including an isotonic drink, that I then threw back up!

Dave, 61, Nun Monkton.

‘Training can be lonely and long’

The main thing I wish I’d known was how the training would be. It can be lonely and long – it’s very hard and it’s a serious commitment.

But crossing the finish line with my daughter negated all the hard work. I was just so proud of her, and to share the experience together.

Simon, 59, Harrogate.

‘Check the route to work out the difficult parts’

(Image: Pixabay)

I ran the Manchester marathon in 2017 and really wish I checked the route in more detail. I actually ran on the day without earphones because it said there would be crowds and didn’t recommend them.

The route went out of Manchester city centre so on the 20 – 21st mile or so there was a long stretch of running by fields with no spectators, water stops or people handing out sweets and I was pretty close to stopping because I was tired and lacked motivation.

If I checked the route, I would have probably known this would be the most difficult part. I also wish I’d done longer training runs – the extra 10 miles on the day was killer.

Nick, 28, Leeds.

‘The support of fellow runners and the crowd is the best motivation’

There’s a special energy on event days, and everyone gets behind the runners which is the best motivation to keep going.

It’s hard to explain how much it actually helps though, you really have to experience it. Whether it’s a runner giving you words of encouragement or the crowd cheering you on, it can be the difference between pushing on or stopping.

 Lydia, 44, Ripon.

‘Invest in a quality set of headphones that will last the whole run’

 I wish I’d known to invest in a pair of wireless headphones that had a longer battery life, as mine died around mile 19 or 20.

For me, this was the stage of the marathon where I was really struggling and only being able to hear shoes pounding the floor and my heavy breathing was even more mind-numbing.

Tom, 22, York.

‘You have to sacrifice a lot of hours but completing it makes every second worth it’ 

(Image: Pixabay)

No amount of training can truly prepare you for how challenging a marathon is. Every inch of your body will tell you to stop, but knowing you can overcome that is pretty monumental.

It’s a real commitment and you have to be prepared to sacrifice a lot of hours to train. But, ultimately, it’s an endurance sport – it’s not meant to be easy – and knowing you’ve completed it makes every second of training worth it.

Also if possible, do the marathon with someone else. Training can get lonely and it’s hard to keep only yourself motivated. I wouldn’t have even signed up for a marathon if it wasn’t for my dad, let alone have crossed the finish line without him running it by my side.

 Flora, 24, Harrogate.

‘My friend said marathons were addictive, and she was right’

I wish I’d known that my experienced runner friend Kate was right, and that running marathons is addictive, when I said I was only going to do one.

Now 14 marathons later I realise how important that was. Although you have to train hard and running 26 miles is a long way, just finishing one gives you a real sense of achievement and the pain is quickly forgotten.

Nev, 60, North Yorkshire.

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Ripon Disability Forum is arranging free training for local businesses, voluntary organisations and councils aimed at making the city more accessible.

The training, at Community House on Allhallowgate, is being provided by disability consultants Nimbus Disability. It will take place from 9.30am to 2pm on October 26.

Nimbus created The Access Card, which is an ID card for disabled people that indicates what their legal rights might be and gives businesses an indication of the support they need to provide.

RDF trustee Jeremy Dunford, who is a wheelchair user, said:

“The Purple Pound, which refers to the spending power of people with a disability, is estimated to be worth £274 billion per year to the UK economy, so it is in the interests of businesses to ensure that their premises are as accessible as possible for those with limited mobility.

“However, it’s not just about clients and customers, it’s is also about employment opportunities, information sharing/presentation and technology.

“It is also about developing the best accessible practise by overcoming barriers that can be overcome and sharing open information when a barrier cannot be overcome for example, when it is not possible to provide ramped access to a listed building.”

With 25 places available at Community House, the training is being offered on a first come, first served basis to businesses or organisations that operate in, or serve Ripon and its surrounding area. Attendance via Zoom can also be arranged.

Bookings should be made via ripondisabilityforum@gmail.com or the forum’s facebook page.

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A Harrogate-based teacher training organisation has celebrated training more than 1,000 qualified teachers.

Red Kite Teacher Training reached the milestone after the graduation of its ninth cohort.

The association was founded in 2015 and is part of the Red Kite Learning Trust, which works with schools across North and West Yorkshire, including Harrogate Grammar School.

This year, 150 successful trainees were recommended for Qualified Teacher Status, bringing the total number of qualified teachers trained by the association to 1,049.

Director of Red Kite Teacher Training Victoria Lickley said:

“We are immensely proud to have supported so many newly qualified teachers.

“Our school-centred approach equips trainees with the skills and confidence to become innovative and passionate teachers who go on to enjoy brilliant careers.

“this year’s trainees will be future mentors and facilitators across our courses.”

Ellie Rowe, the 1000th trainee to qualify from Red Kite Teacher Training, was proud of her achievement and added:

“Teaching is the profession that teaches every other profession.”

The trainee teachers from this year’s cohort came together to celebrate their graduation at an event hosted by Harrogate Grammar School.

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Defibrillators can be found at an increasing number of locations across Ripon and surrounding areas, but would you know how to use one to save somebody’s life?

The Defibs-Ripon group has organised a free CPR and defibrillator familiarisation lesson to ensure the vital skills are shared with as many people as possible.

The 90-minute lesson is being provided by Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) and attendees will have the opportunity to practice cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the service’s training dummy, as well as being taught how to use a defibrillator.

Alec Lutton of Defibs-Ripon said:

“Handling the defibrillator and trying out CPR helps take away the fear of having to do this for the first time in an emergency and may help save the life of a loved one, or a complete stranger, some day.”

The training session will be held at Ripon Bowling Club on Tuesday, August 22. Places are free but must be booked in advance by emailing ripondefibs@gmail.com.

Mr Lutton added:

“Over the last seven years we have tried to encourage as many people as possible to attend these lessons. However, some think it will never happen to them or their friends.

“The important thing to remember is that it can happen to anyone at any time, and anywhere.”

A training centre for the hair and beauty industry in Harrogate is set to be wound up after its director said she could no longer work in the “broken” education system.

Intuitions Ltd, previously based in Tower Street before moving to Station Parade, had been working with salons to train hairdressers for almost three decades.

However, Michelle Oliver said she closed the company in January after the Education and Skills Funding Agency reduced funding by 23%.

She said Intuitions had been heavily subsidising functional skills funding for a number of years, and the government had now removed funding for some areas of training including induction, initial assessments, and formal assessments of skills.

Ms Oliver added:

“Despite almost 30 years of trading, gaining a ‘good’ Ofsted result in July 2022 and an excellent relationship with our local employers, I no longer wanted to be part of what I feel is a broken education system with layer upon layer of meaningless bureaucracy that appears to have been put in place to prevent small independent training providers from succeeding.”

Intuitions had moved to Station Parade from Tower Street

The last Ofsted report praised Intuitions’ move to a salon-based approach, offering one-to-one and small group training. As part of this, the company had moved to an office in shared workspace Wizu on Station Parade.

However, Ms Oliver said the number of apprenticeships on offer with local salons had fallen since the covid pandemic, having an impact on the number of students training with Intuitions.

Ms Oliver is one of two remaining directors of Intuitions Ltd, having taken up the post in March 2000, alongside company secretary Berenika Wilkins. The company was founded in summer 1993 by John and Sheila Morton, who resigned as directors following Ms Oliver’s appointment.

She said former Intuitions employees had been given paid notice or made redundant and all had found jobs elsewhere.

Trainees and their employers, meanwhile, were supported to find other training providers.

A meeting of creditors has been called for April 11 at 10am, when liquidators are expected to be appointed.

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This story is sponsored by Coach.

Harrogate’s £1.5m Coach gym is continuing to go from strength-to-strength following its launch in the town a year ago.

The affordable boutique gym boasts more than 200 pieces of state-of-the art equipment, as well as over 200 instructor-led fitness classes across four studios.

Surge Padel, where members can play one of the world’s fastest growing sports, can also be found on the first floor of the building at Hornbeam Park.

Stuart Perrin, owner and CEO of Coach, which opened in January 2022, said:

“Coach is a boutique health and fitness concept, which in a nutshell means everything is very high end. From the fixtures and fittings, to the experience.

“It’s something very different and is the biggest gym in Harrogate by a long way.”

Coach boasts a bar area, which serves bespoke shakes and smoothies. There are also luxury changing rooms, including GHD straighteners and solid oak benches.

The gym itself features a range of equipment – from cardio and resistance machines to free weights, squat racks, battle ropes, tyre flips and a sled.

Mr Perrin said:

“If you’re a real gym-goer, the equipment we have is really quite special. We have the best the brands have to offer, including Nautilus, Schwinn, StairMaster and Concept, all under one roof. We make sure we have the best possible pieces of kit.”

Boutique fitness studios

Coach’s four boutique fitness studios offer something for everyone. They include:

Coach Spin: A spinning studio that can take up to 30 people in a session.

Coach Class: A group exercise studio, which hosts everything from Body Pump to yoga and Pilates. Classes are delivered and programmed by highly-qualified, passionate and respected instructors.

Coach Box: A boxing studio, which can take up to 20 people in a full cardio and bodyweight resistance class, where you learn the fundamentals of boxing in the process.

Coach Evolution: A High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) studio which has 10 treadmills, 10 airbikes and 10 HIIT benches. Coach Evolution is designed using HIIT to give you a full cardiovascular exercise and full-body resistance workout.

Mr Perrin said:

“Within Coach itself we have four studios and we offer a timetable of more than 250 classes a month, which are included in membership if you are on our top tier.”

Coach is offering Stray Ferret readers a free day pass to come and try the facilities, which can be accessed here.

Mr Perrin added:

“Members love the feel, the experience, the quality. Come and try it for yourself with a free day pass.”

Coach Gyms is redefining affordable luxury. Join now from only £18.99 a month. Find out more and join the fitness revolution today!

The Stray Ferret Business Awards 2023 are for businesses across all sectors in the Harrogate district.

In these final few days before entries close, we are revealing the last of what our judging panel is looking for when it comes to each of the 10 categories.

The final category up is the Best Digital Marketing Campaign Award, which is sponsored by Next Chapter.

Digital is clearly the way forward. This award recognises the work of businesses that have run incredible campaigns on purely digital campaigns.

Companies looking to enter need to provide information on the digital marketing plan, including its aims and objectives. Also provide statistical information on why the campaign was a success.

Does your business deserve to win the Best Digital Marketing Campaign Award at the Stray Ferret Business Awards? Entries close at 12pm on January 16. It’s simple and quick, so enter today!

Click here or the banner below to enter for the Stray Ferret Business Awards, sponsored by Prosperis.

The Stray Ferret Business Awards 2023 are for businesses across all sectors in the Harrogate district.

In this final week before entries close, we are revealing the last of what our judging panel is looking for when it comes to each of the 10 categories.

Next up is the Best Employee Development Award, which is sponsored by Jones Myers, Family Law Solicitors.

This award is designed to highlight businesses that develop their employees, giving them the best start for a new career.

Those looking to enter this award need to give details of the business values and culture that lead to the creation of the training programme and highlight employee successes that came as a result.

Do you know a person that deserves to win the Best Employee Development Award at the Stray Ferret Business Awards? Entries close on January 16. It’s simple and quick, so enter today!

Click here or the banner below to enter for the Stray Ferret Business Awards, sponsored by Prosperis.