Circle, Europe's largest partnership of healthcare professionals, has announced its support for the 2009 Bath Half Marathon. Due to open a new hospital in Bath at the end of the year, Circle is proud to become an official promotional partner of the city’s largest sporting event.

Taking place on March 15th, the Bath Half Marathon attracts 15,000 runners. Already this year a further 100 corporate teams and hundreds of fun runners have signed up  It is also the biggest single charity fundraising event in the South West, raising over £1.2million in 2008 for a range of local and national charities. Circle is entering its own corporate team.

Andrew Taylor, Race Director at Running High, said, “There is a natural affinity between Circle and the half marathon, both playing an active role in supporting healthy lifestyles.  We are delighted to welcome Circle to the City and as a promotional partner of the event.”

You can enter online by following the link below or you can download the entry form and post it along with your entry fee to the address as stated.

Entries will cost £5 per adult and £1 per child.
 
To enter online click here.
 
You can download an entry form from www.trentfm.co.uk
 
Why not help others while taking part in this event? CLIC Sargent are the official charity, so why not get sponsored and help children suffering from cancer and their families while you have fun joining in.
 
You will receive a sponsorship form in your information pack once you enter Twiggy & Emma's Family 5K.

 
Don't forget to log any training you do for the event on the Shape Up Notts! site.

Pedal it Pink is a new cycle event with a variety of routes to choose from so all abilities are catered for.  There is a 26.2 mile (marathon course) for the more confident cyclist, a 13.1 mile (half marathon course) for intermediates and a 5km family lap for beginners and those who wish to involve their partners and family in the event.  Taking place in Liverpool’s Sefton Park on 19th April, there is plenty of time for you to train for any of the distances.   Entries are now live on the website www.breastcancercampaign.org

The launch of Pedal it Pink is taking place in the Met Quarter from 9am-6pm.  Shoppers will be able to find out more information about Pedal it Pink and the charity and those who sign up on the day will be entered into a prize draw to win a pink Raleigh bike and helmet, worth over £220.  

Shoppers will also get the chance to try out their cycling skills on a revolutionary new static bike called the Wattbike.  The Wattbike tests your fitness over 27 different variables, enabling you to see how you compare to the likes of Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton, who is a keen supporter of Pedal it Pink. 

The money raised from taking part in Pedal it Pink will help Breast Cancer Campaign to fund innovative, world-class research throughout the UK to understand how breast cancer develops, leading to improved diagnosis, treatment, prevention and cure.

Jayne Smith, from West Derby in Liverpool, is also going to be at the launch, she knows all too well how vital the work that Breast Cancer Campaign does.  In 2006 Jayne discovered she had a lump in her breast after being urged to check them by the charity’s ‘Tickled Pink’ campaign.   “I couldn’t believe it,” she said, “never in a million years did I expect to find anything during my self-examination but I couldn’t ignore the hard swelling in my breast.”

Terrified, Jayne rushed straight to the doctor but initially he said it was a cyst. But weeks later, the lump was still there and Jayne began to wonder if the doctor had been right.  In October 2007 after yet another check up and a mammogram, Jayne discovered she did in fact have breast cancer.

“Although I wasn’t too shocked, it left me absolutely devastated. For eight months I knew something wasn’t right and now I didn’t know if I was going to live or leave my two children without a mother.”  Without wasting any more time, Jayne went straight in for treatment and had a lumpectomy followed by a course of radiotherapy.

“After my treatment the doctors told me they’d caught all of the cancer and I was in the clear. It was the best news I’d ever heard and I was so relieved I’d been one of the lucky ones. Breast cancer affects so many people and it’s heartbreaking to read about those who don’t survive their diagnosis.”

It is now over a year since Jayne was diagnosed and treated and to show her gratitude to Breast Cancer Campaign for helping her to find the lump in the first place she is taking part in the 5k family lap at Pedal it Pink.

 “I’m taking part in Pedal it Pink because I want to show Campaign how thankful I am for all the research they fund. Without it, I may not have survived my experience of breast cancer so this is my way of repaying them for everything they have done for me. Not only will it be a great way to get fit, but I’m sure it will be a really fun day out in support of a very worthwhile cause.”

To join the pink revolution, visit www.breastcancercampaign.org, email pedalitpink@breastcancercampaign.org or call 020 7749 3700 to sign up. Come on girls! Let’s get together and put the brakes on breast cancer!

Both teams are on the back of successful weekends on the court and the pitch, with Lightning celebrating a double header win over Celtic Dragons and Northern Thunder, and Nottingham Rugby toasting a last minute victory over the Cornish Pirates.

Australian born number 8, Dan Montagu, who was responsible for the try that pushed Nottingham ahead of the Pirates in this weekend’s game, spent some time with Lightning head player-coach Olivia Murphy, learning the skills that keep Loughborough at the top of the Superleague table.  Dan said, “It is good to cross train sometimes and try different sports, it helps to keep you on your toes and any training is good for fitness.”

Nottingham teammate and fellow Aussie, Tim Usasz added, “I have played netball in the past and it is much faster paced than people often think.  The girls really put us through our paces with shooting, defence and interception training.  Our ball handling is pretty good obviously but there were quite a few new techniques we worked on that transcend to both sports.”

Olivia added, “The boys did really well and we were thrilled to host them at Loughborough Uni for the afternoon.  They have been really supportive of our Bring a Bloke campaign and have promised to come along to our next home game against current title holders Mavericks on 2nd February.  In return, we are going to go over to Notts and let them put through our paces on the rugby field.  Hopefully they will go a bit easier on us that we did on them!”

The next Nottingham Rugby home game is on Saturday 17th January against Blaydon in the fourth round of the National Trophy.  For tickets see www.nottinghamrugby.co.uk or call 0115 9070070. 

For Loughborough Lightning tickets see www.loughboroughlightning.co.uk or call 01509 226124.

The Hogarth Group, with health clubs in Acton and Chiswick have invested in six Wattbikes for their members in order to provide them with the best training tool available in cycling today. 

The Wattbike, which has been developed with British Cycling and has been seven years in the making, is an exercise bike, testing bike, competition bike and a rehabilitation bike all wrapped up in one. It’s key point of difference is exact and precise calibration, making competition and measurable fitness testing possible for the first time.

The Hogarth Group decided to invest in the Wattbike because of the potential that lies within it for training and development.  The Wattbike is currently being used by elite athletes and in talent identification programmes but there are a range of features that benefit everyone who has an interest in keeping fit.

Terry Rodhamel, Hogarth Group’s Fitness Manager, was instrumental in the decision to take on the Wattbikes.  He said, “We have a strong spinning and cycling following here and there is a culture of performance, which is driven by the MD, Dan White, who is a keen duathlete.  So when I heard about the Wattbike, I thought it would fit in perfectly.”

He continued, “The Wattbike is the closest thing you will get to an actual road bike. Also, the information you get on the monitor is relevant to training and improving your performance on a bike.“

The Wattbike’s ground-breaking computer console delivers a level of feedback that, until now, only the world’s best cyclists have been privileged to receive. It reproduces the challenges of the open road with participants able to spin along lightly at a comfortable pace or push themselves to their limits.

It measures every pedal turn from start to finish and offers scope to compete, online, or in an indoor arena, with the bikes linked together for racing. No other product of its type accurately measures power output – watts and it is suitable for riders of all ages, and abilities.

Feedback from the gym members has been incredibly positive and a variety of people have been using them from hardcore cyclists to people simply wanting a cardiovascular workout.  The personal trainers realise the benefits of the Wattbike for fitness measuring and have been pushing their clients to incorporate it in to their routines.

Berj Kantarjian from the Hogarth Club in Chiswick, uses the Wattbike for time trial and cyclosportive training.  He said, “I am following a training programme at the moment and it breaks down what I need to do in watts, so the Wattbike is ideal for this as I can track the power output that I am generating.“

He continued, “The Wattbike feels a lot more realistic than other static bikes and the information you get is consistent, as opposed to getting on different spin bikes which all have different measures.  The information you get about what how you are doing on the bike also focuses your mind and makes you concentrate on improving your technique.”

The Park Club, based in Acton, recently used the Wattbikes for a triathlon they held for members.  Terry said: “It is a great product which will enhance the training and enjoyment of our members.”

Ian Drake, British Cycling’s Deputy Chief Executive commented, "We are completely sold on the Wattbike’s capacity to provide a positive benefit to every level of the sport.  It will support us in everything from increasing participation in the sport and recreational cycling through to underpinning our World Class Pathways and International success.

“We believe there is an opportunity to link indoor cycling and gym activity together under the umbrella of Everyday Cycling”, he continued. “This holistic approach should ensure that seasonal outdoor cyclists are still participating throughout the winter months. We will also have the opportunity to promote outdoor opportunities to indoor gym cyclists.”

As part of the Triathlon, Cycling and Running Exhibition 2009 the Saucony 10k is a three lap dash around the historic Sandown Park racecourse with the emphasis on fun. The challenging course is mixed terrain with a surface of turf and tarmac. Friends and family can watch your progress from numerous viewing points none better than the main grandstand.

A visit to the Triathlon, Cycling and Running Exhibition (directions) is your opportunity to get your 2009 race season off to a flying start. There'll be over 120 exhibitors showing the latest bikes and accessories, race wear, shoes, wetsuits, nutrition, holidays and training. You will be able to get tips and advice from the experts in the 220 Triathlon Live talks and workshops. Test your stamina in the Viner Bikes Indoor Time Trial and much more. Information is available at tcrshow.com.