Thank you for allowing your lovely dog to join in my training run this week. I felt it very beneficial to have the extra weight, as your beloved fur ball jumped up to my hips and sunk her teeth into my jacket, biting down as I tried to force her off, whilst you just watched. She may have been only playing or being friendly but it’s not the sort of friendly game I like to play mid run. It may have also been nice for you to see how I was, instead of a quick ’sorry love’ then hurriedly rush off down a side road and leave it to a passing motorist to stop and offer me a lift home.

I don’t want to tarnish all dog walkers with the same criticism. In fact scary dog owners and owners of scary dogs in the main are always considerate to passing pedestrians and runners. The dogs wear muzzles and have leads less than half a meter long which they use to pull them to their side or they wait in a driveway as I pass by. My problem is with walkers who I feel are auditioning for a live version of Trumpton to play the part of Miss Lovelace with her uncontrollable trio of  Pekingese dogs Mitzi, Daphne and Lulu.

I was running on the kerb to the left of you, the walker, on the two meter wide pavement with your dog to your right walking on the grass verge. The fact that the dog was able to cross the pavement and jump up to my waist was because you use extendable leads and so not in control of your dog. In fact normally you have more than one furry ‘child’ with leads that span two driveways, causing pedestrians to move into the road to avoid getting tangled up. I don’t mind extendable leads at full length in the right location, such as in country parks and on the beach, but not on a suburban street.

Anyway you will be pleased to know the friendly play resulted in only superficial injury and bruises although my hamstring is still a bit sore from suddenly having to pull up during my tempo run. However, your dog’s next playmate may not be so lucky. My waist is about level with the neck of a child walking by, or playing on a scooter, which you may wish to consider next time you use such a long lead with your agile dog on the street.

Regards

Strenua

With the 2011 Virgin London Marathon soon approaching I decided to sign up for my regular spring training races. Whilst they are races in themselves I like to use them as long training runs over progressively longer distances in preparation for the marathon with a final half marathon two weeks before as a psychological boost to see how well my training has gone.

I only do one long race a month as with longer distances there are higher costs, not only through petrol costs in travelling to the race, (20mile races aren’t held as frequently and locally as 10km ones) but also through race entry fees. I expect that within reason longer races have higher costs, they have more roads that need to be closed, policed, sign posted, marshalled and equipped with toilets, water stations and first aid support. However, apart from a few races, such as Ashby 20 where you receive a hoodie style sweatshirt for your effort or races where you start and end at different locations, many of the other running costs are the same as those of a local 10k. You need the same facilities for changing and parking, the same finishing T shirt or goodie bag and the same timing system so the actual price per mile you pay is around the same. Here are examples of the costs of races I am planning to run this Spring.

Last year I also entered the world’s first Kilomathon running from Nottingham to Derby. Metric marathons (26.2km) are nothing new but the organisers were clever enough to coin the term ‘Kilomathon’ and so promote it as the world’s first and a perfect pre London training race. As it was the first ever event it encountered a few teething issues, getting to the start corals was a bit stressful, the course wasn’t very inspiring the T-shirt wasn’t even specific for that race, and leaving the finish area and finding public transport back to Nottingham was difficult if you hadn’t pre booked the expensive, yet sold out, official transport. But you got a quality medal at the finish and as I mentioned before long distance events aren’t that common so I like to support the local races.

But this year I won’t be entering. Last year had 4186 official finishers and organisers are aiming to have thousands of more runners for the 2011 race which will be held 4 weeks before the 2011 Virgin London Marathon, and is promoted as an ideal marathon training run.

However this year they have changed the pricing and entry system for the 2011 Kilomathons. They claim that new entry system is much more beneficial to charities and also gives runners the option to enter a fantastic road race for just £5. But to enter at that price you need to raise a credit crunching £260. I fully accept that Hope for Children and Rainbows Children’s Trust are worthy charities to fundraise for but may people who are running the London Marathon, which remember the Kilomathon promotes its self as a training race for, are already raising for their favourite charity. A lot of people are also running through Gold or Silver bonds and having to raise between £1,500 to £3,000. It seems to me that it’s a bit difficult to return to your generous friends and colleagues who are already sponsoring you for the marathon to sponsor you again for a Kilomathon 4 weeks earlier so I expect many will end up paying the £45 entry fee themselves.

In addition GSi Events apply a £2 debit card, £3 cheque or a £2.75 credit card fee to process your entry.

Looking at the entry costs through my price per mile calculations, only when you raise a whopping £220 for a Silver entry does the price/mile lower to under £1.

Some events are held for the benefits of runners, Virgin London Marathon although difficult to be accepted through the ballot, costs only £28 (£1.07/mile) and the Silverstone half marathon £13 (£1/mile). Races such as the Experian Festival of Running in Nottingham cost £33 for a full marathon or £15 for the unemployed, with options on the entry form to make a donation to a local hospice or national charity or receive a fundraising pack. Cancer Research UK’s Race For Life series cost £14.99 for 5 or 10km, but are clearly fundraising events and to encourage camaraderie between the female participants and are not trying disguise themselves as an elite sporting event. Then for just £10 you could enter a race such as the 26mile Spires and Steeples Challenge in Lincolnshire which still manages to provide a finishers T shirt, drinks stations, marshals and free post-race massage and soup for a bargain 38p/mile.

Kilomathon organiser GSi Events’ own website admits that they ‘specialise in organising events that provide a fundraising platform for charities. Creating events that uniquely promote charities and companies at the same time.’ Suggesting that rather than providing a service for runners and encouraging people to become active they aim to produce a fundraising event. I’m concerned that with the popularity of the general public participating in challenging sporting events and the reduction of people giving to charities that companies are seeing runners as a an easy target. Just 5 years ago I would enter a local 5mile or 10km race held by a local charity, running club, or village every weekend, but now the frequency of these events are reducing and I’m worried that soon the only events I’ll be able to enter will be those organised by big organisations who see runners and their races as a cash cow. Whilst I wish that Hope for Children and Rainbows Children’s Trust raise a lot of money through the Kilomathon, as a runner I do hope that fellow runners resist entering races with such a pricing structure else I fear this will become the norm and eventually price us out of participating in the sporting events we love.

What do you think is an acceptable price for a race? With the current economic climate are entry fees discouraging you from racing as much as you like? Or are you involved in a charity and think that sporting events are the best way for you to fundraise no matter what the entry fee? Leave your comments below to let us know what you think.

Everyday we’ll suggest original stocking fillers for the active person in your life.

Today Last Minute Gifts to Download

Not going to make it to the shops this Christmas Eve, or have you discovered an unexpected person to buy for? How about these retailers for downloadable gifts. From relaxing or adventurous activities, magazine subscriptions to charitable donations, lottery tickets and online gift vouchers.

Groupon

Amazon

Are you looking for that perfect gift but not feeling sure about which colour, features, or model to choose? E-mail an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate featuring the item you want to give and let them decide for themselves. They can buy the featured item, choose something similar, or pick from millions of other items at Amazon.co.uk. If you really have no idea what to get someone for a last minute gift buy a gift certificate from Amazon which can either be emailed or printed yourself to give in person.

Virgin Experience Days

Experience days are still available as perfect Christmas gifts whether you are looking for adrenalin junkies or something more relaxing. Buy a Virgin Experience Day and you can also download and print a temporary gift certificate for your recipient to open on Christmas Day.

Activity Superstore

Activity Superstore has just launched its eVoucher! Allowing you to purchase gift experiences throughout Christmas without the worry of not receiving the voucher through the post in time. Beat the Snow! Print your eVoucher for Christmas .

Leisure Vouchers

With over 50 fantastic leisure brands and locations that accept Leisure Vouchers you can be sure you’ll really enjoy spending them.

From great restaurants and brasseries to holidays abroad, weekend breaks and thrilling days out to relaxing and chilling out at spa’s – these are just a few pleasurable ways to enjoy your vouchers with many more besides.

The Leisure Voucher is a great gift or simply a nice extravagance for you to enjoy!

Red Letter Days

Red Letter Days offers a huge selection of experiences for him, her, couples, kids, groups and families to enjoy. Those who enjoy a good dose of luxury will love a pamper spa day or romantic weekend break, while culture vultures can enjoy a theatre evening or sightseeing tour. Gourmets are also well catered for with a host of cookery classes and wine tasting days.

SpaFinder

SpaFinder now has over 5000 spa partners worldwide and 400+ in the UK, each accepting our vouchers for any spa experience offered at their spa. Their vouchers are the most flexible spa vouchers on the market so treat your loved ones or yourself this Christmas.

Running from 24th – 31st December, Buyagift are offering 25% off everything in their Christmas sale. From 1st January the discount will drop to 20%, and will exclude special offers. The code to use is JANSALE25

National Magazine Company

Only£25.99 for a one year subscription to any National Magazines Company magazines plus a bonus gift wrapped issue. Titles include Runner’s World, Men’s Health, Zest, Harper’s Bazzar and Cosmoplitan.

Origin Publishing Magazines

For the all year round gift give a magazine subscription. From now until the 31st December get up to 50% saving on all of  annual magazine subscriptions. 

220 Triathlon Magazine

Give a gift that lasts all year with 40% off a subscription to 220 Triathlon Magazine

Zinio Digital Magazines (Worldwide)

Get instant access with the first ever 24/7 virtual newsstand with the world’s magazines. Zinio offers immediate access to 850+ titles across multiple languages in the Zinio online store – both single issues and subscriptions.Browse and shop by country, language and even purchase in your own currency.

Zinio transforms print magazines into digital format. Same content. Same design. Delivered over the Internet and straight to computers. Get instant access with no download, software installation or plug in required. Customers will be able to access their library online from any computer and from anywhere and have the option to download and read offline, too!

The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association

Guide dogs have been bringing independence and mobility to blind and partially-sighted people for over 75 years, and today there are more than 4,700 guide dog partnerships in the UK. Each year Guide Dogs breeds around 1,000 puppies, which spend their first year in the homes of volunteers, before working with specialist trainers who teach them the skills needed to guide a visually-impaired person. This takes about six months, including several weeks’ training with the new owner. A guide dog has a working life of around six-and-a-half years, and it’s not unusual for someone to have five or more dogs over their lifetime.

You can sponsor a guide dog puppy either for yourself or as a gift for someone you love, choosing to  sponsor either Misty, Julia or Kasper. Guide Dogs will bring the whole sponsor a puppy experience direct to you – through fascinating regular Pupdates at key stages of your puppy’s training and during the early stages of their new life with a blind or partially sighted person, photos and an exclusive calendar featuring shots of our cute puppies. In fact, it’s the next best thing to being right there; sharing in your puppy’s little moments of achievement on their journey to becoming a guide dog.

If you don’t want to commit to regularly sponsoring a dog then you can give a one off donation to the Christmas Puppy Chain Appeal. £15 could buy 2 puppy jackets for guide dogs in training and £45 could buy a harness, handle and lead for a guide dog.

Oxfam Online Shop

Oxfam GB is a leading international NGO (Non-Government Organization) with a worldwide reputation for excellence in the delivery of humanitarian aid and development work. Oxfam GB is part of a global movement of people working diligently with others to fight poverty and overcome suffering & injustice.

Oxfam Unwrapped offers a chance for people to share with their family, friends or loved ones a gift that can make a real difference to someone’s life.

Buying an Unwrapped gift helps overcome poverty and unnecessary suffering. They have a choice of 60 gifts, from our bestselling goat and safe drinking water to building a classroom or Training a farmer. Oxfam Unwrapped has something for everyone! When you buy a gift they will send the recipient a gift card that let’s people know what they’ve been bought. Oxfam will then deliver the real item to the people who need them most.

Present Aid

Present Aid has over 40 fun and unusual gift ideas that will be loved by everybody and also help poor communities around the world. Christian Aid is an international development charity working in over 50 countries to help people in the fight against poverty. Whether it is something sporty for a super fit granddad, a new bike for the green member of the family or an unusual pet for the kids, Present Aid is sure to have the perfect gift. And, not only will it be their loved one who benefits, a Present Aid gift will also help to make a lasting difference to someone else’s life.

Where does the money go? The gifts on sale are virtual. This means that whatever present bought, the money will go directly to a project fund relevant to the gift. For instance, if you buy a goat, ducks or even composting worms, that money goes directly to our agricultural and livestock fund.

Everyday we’ll suggest original stocking fillers for the active person in your life.

Today technical essentials for the modern athlete.

In the past we were quite happy to go for a run or a cycle, time ourselves with a stop watch and guesstimate how far we travelled using a road atlas and a ruler. We entertained ourselves on route by admiring the scenery or chatting to our club mates and we were motivated by self satisfaction of our achievement when we got home.

But now going for a simple run or bike ride has got technical. So here are some technical ‘essentials’ for the modern recreational athlete – All perfect gift ideas whatever your budget.

First of all we now need music for entertainment and motivation. Personally I prefer to listen to music at the tempo I’m aiming to run at, whilst others like to listen to music with a running in the title such as Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen. If you can’t decide on your own running playlists then there are enough readymade playlists and podcasts to buy and download from  or iTrain.com giving you motivation whatever the sport.

Next we need the mp3 player. iPods have become the staple accessories for the recreational athlete. You first begin with an iPodto listen to music. Then you think you can’t run without the Nike Plusattachment to measure your pace and how far you have travelled, with the added excitement of Paula Radcliffe congratulating you at the end that was your longest ever run.

But why just measure how far you have cycled or ran, why not map it? Subscriptions to online services such as MapMyRun.com allow you to map your route, measure the elevation, record your training in a log, suggest alternative routes from fellow athletes in your area, and calculate the calories burnt.

Then we have the iTouchwith all the great sporting apps. Measure the distance to the hole in golf, download a free weight program for the gym, monitor your calorie consumption, and use the GPS in the iPhone to go geocaching or use the adidas MiCoach app to record your training run.

Whilst it is not really an essential, I would love to have this piece of sporting technological kit by Oregon Scientific: The world’s first HD All Terrain Action Camera with G Sensor and GPS. The New ATC9K HD  is described as being specifically designed for extreme sports enthusiasts and professionals who want to capture every high action moment, on the slopes, on the waves or on the road.

Not only does the camera capture 1080p professional quality high definition video and takes photos of 5MP, its built-in G-sensor can also measure the force of gravity during acceleration, deceleration and hang time. This makes it perfect for extreme sports enthusiasts, sport trainers, professional sportsmen and those who wish to record and review every detail of their performance. Additionally it’s the only action camera water proof to 20m without external casing making it ideal for scuba divers, the self-contain design is also shock resistant.

A built in LCD screen and laser pointer help you line up the camera , with the LCD screen also allowing you to play back the videos where ever you are. The camera also comes with a full set of mounting accessories that enables users to mount it on any handles, bars, and helmets and use it for a wide variety of extreme activities. Simply mount it onto anything such as you bike, car, helmet or attach it arm, strap or sleeve. Recording straight onto a Micro SD (up to 32GB) the all in one design is the ATC9K is you perfect companion, hands free, shock resistant, water proof tough enough to follow you into the most extreme conditions.

As a special offer to celebrate the beginning of the Ski Season Oregon Scientific are offering a free GPS unit worth £50 with every ATC9K.

I love linking my Garmin Forerunnerdata from my running races to Google Earth and so my favourite part of this bundle is that it comes complete with a unique GPS plug-in that enables you to map your location, speed and distance travelled using Google Maps or Google Earth. While watching the video clip playback on a computer, you will also see your corresponding location, acceleration and altitude on Google Map. Keep track of each trail and race with this useful tool designed for trainers and sports lovers.

The ATC9K including free GPS unit is available for £249.99

Of course the essential piece of equipment to make use of these programs and gadgets is a computer.

If you already have a home computer chances are it’s already overworked with school projects and research, or filled with holiday photos. If you have a laptop for work, your IT department probably won’t allow you to download so many non-work related programs and software. So you may have to invest in your own laptop or notebook and there are lots offers available this Christmas before the VAT increases.

So there you go. My Christmas wish list technical gift suggestions, all essential, I think you would agree, for the modern recreational athlete.

Everyday we’ll suggest original stocking fillers for the active person in your life.

Today Relaxation Experiences

Even the most active adrenalin junkie needs to relax. Whether its de-stressing before an important event or recovering after a race or hard training session. Or if your gift recipient is someone who always seems to be wet, muddy or windswept it is occasionally nice to be pampered, have your hair styled and be seen in some glamorous clothes. So check these suggestions of relaxing experiences.

Activity Superstore

Make someone’s special dream come true this Christmas – treat them to an activity they’ll never forget!

Choose Activity Superstore for the largest range of original and exclusive gift experiences including total indulgence pampering experiences from a day at a luxury health spa, to  facials, massages, manicures and body treatments for both men and women.

FREE Special Delivery on orders over £50 and last Christmas posting day is Thursday 23rd December.

Buy a Gift

Buyagift are the leading online gift experience retailer, selling over 2000 different gift ideas.

Share your gift by buying Buy A Gift‘s two for one offer of an Indulgent Pamper Day at one of 18 health spas nationwide, including two 30minute treatments for only £44.95.

Other pampering experiences include makeovers, beauty treatments, salons and beauty products.

Running from 24th – 31st December, Buyagift are offering 25% off everything in their Christmas sale. From 1st January the discount will drop to 20%, and will exclude special offers. The code to use is JANSALE25

Leisure Vouchers

With over 50 fantastic leisure brands and locations that accept Leisure Vouchers you can be sure you’ll really enjoy spending them.

From great restaurants and brasseries to holidays abroad, weekend breaks and thrilling days out to relaxing and chilling out at spa’s – these are just a few pleasurable ways to enjoy your vouchers with many more besides.

The Leisure Voucher is a great gift or simply a nice extravagance for you to enjoy!

Red Letter Days

Created in 1989, Red Letter Days pioneered the concept of giving experiences as unforgettable gifts. Owned by Dragons’ Den entrepreneurs, Peter Jones and Theo Paphitis, Red Letter Days offers a huge selection of experiences for him, her, couples, kids, groups and families to enjoy. 

Those who enjoy a good dose of luxury will love a pamper spa day or romantic weekend break, while culture vultures can enjoy a theatre evening or sightseeing tour. Gourmets are also well catered for with a host of cookery classes and wine tasting days.

Spa Finder

SpaFinder‘s mission is to empower people to find their perfect well-being experiences.
Our Gift Vouchers make the perfect present on any occasion all year round, and can be redeemed at hundreds of spas across the UK and thousands of spas across the world.

Virgin Experience Days

Top Offers from Virgin Experience Days

Personal Shopper (also Deluxe and VIP) from £225.00

Whether it’s a crucial job interview or a hot date, first impressions really count. Project an image of confidence and you are more likely to succeed in business and social relationships. Here’s your opportunity to restyle yourself with expert advice from Personal Shoppers at House of Fraser. Sit back and relax in the privacy of the personal shopping suite with a tea or coffee whilst the store is brought to you.

National Trust Day for Two £49.00
Discover the mystery of an historic house and garden, or the fascination of an English castle or archaeological remains on your day out for two at a National Trust property. Top it off with a cream tea for two and remember your day with a commemorative book!

Theatre and Dinner for Two from £85.00

Discover the magic of London’s famous West End with this Theatre & Dinner package for two. This is a fantastic chance to enjoy a delicious pre-theatre dinner for two at a popular central London restaurant and then see one of the West End shows. The perfect gift for any theatre lover. There’s something to suit every taste with the selected choice of shows. Depending on what is available when you book your choice may include; the star studded hit musical Chicago, the gripping adaptation of best selling novel ‘Woman in Black’ or Willy Russell’s award winning musical ‘Blood Brothers’. Whichever you choose you are sure to be enthralled.

Visit to RHS Garden Wisley & Overnight Stay for Two £235.00

Wisley is undoubtedly one of the greatest gardens of the world and is the flagship of the RHS. This experience will enable you to take time out and explore everything the gardens have to offer. Relax with an afternoon tea in the glasshouse before making your way to the luxury Mandolay Hotel where you can enjoy your overnight stay.

<<<Magazine Subscriptions<<<More Christmas Gift Ideas

Everyday we’ll suggest original stocking fillers for the active person in your life.

Today Adrenalin Fuelled Experience Days

Give the gift of adrenalin fueled experiences. From flying a plane to driving a tank to skydiving, there are plenty of activities available for adrenalin junkies. Whether a lack of money or nerves people may be reluctant to buy these experiences for themselves but you can be sure they will be greatful of a gift experience. (If you are worried they won’t be brave enough to go through with the experience you could always buy gift vouchers instead for a relaxing spa or shopping trip).

Top Offers from Virgin Experience Days Introductory Flying Lesson £99.00 Extended Flying Lesson £189.00

Feel the adrenalin rush as you take the controls of a light plane and soar across the sky! You get one-to-one training with a Civil Aviation Authority licensed instructor, and your flying time counts towards a Private Pilot’s licence. Choose either the Introductory option for an introduction to flying or Extended flying for a longer, more in-depth lesson.

Engine revving and wheels spinning, you skid sideways around corners in ways you won’t believe. Your instructor alongside you has briefed you on techniques used by champions and explained the safety procedures. You’re trying hard to follow his instructions, but you’re still amazed by the sheer fun of rally driving. You’ll be taught to handle a rally car on tarmac and/or loose surfaces and to cope with cornering and braking.

Like parachuting without all the training. After a short safety briefing session, you fly to a height of approx 10-12,000 feet and safely strapped to a British Parachute Association tandem instructor, you leap into a 5000 feet free-fall. Your instructor controls the whole descent, including the parachute opening and landing.

Silverstone Thrill £99.00 Can’t make your mind up on which sensational car to go for? No problem, we offer the Silverstone Race Track Thrill voucher that allows the lucky recipient to choose for themselves:

Aston Martin Thrill: Blast the iconic Aston Martin V8 Vantage around Silverstone’s Southern Circuit for three sensational laps.

Ferrari Thrill: Revel in the distinctive engine howl as you unleash the mighty Ferrari V8 down the Hangar Straight. Our Ferrari 360 Modena F1™ cars are fitted with the paddle shift gear box so you really will feel like an F1™ Driver as you shift down the gears and throw the car at famous corners like Stowe and Club. Three laps of the 2 mile Southern Circuit in a Ferrari is the stuff of dreams!

Rally Thrill: Prepared by M Sport, the Ford Works Rally Team, the Fiesta STI is the same as the car used in the FST Championship. You’ll learn to handbrake turn and practice the Scandinavian Flick as you charge through our Rally Special Stage. With gravel ricocheting off the underside of the car and mud spraying the windows you’ll realise that to drive a real rally car fast takes a unique blend of skill, car control and courage!

Single-Seater Thrill: Hey is that Lewis Hamilton? – no it’s you! Our Formula Silverstone Single-Seaters are the real deal, punchy engine, aerodynamic wings and a lightweight streamlined body. Out on circuit they handle like they are on rails and are so responsive it feels like you control them by thought alone. You can see the wheels move around, hear the wail of the engine and feel every detail of the track surface; this is what it feels like to qualify for the British Grand Prix! Everyone should drive a single-seater at least once in their life; this is your chance to drive one at Silverstone Race Track.

Lotus Exige S Thrill: A supercharged Lotus Exige S and a race track – what else could you want? “Speed through Lightness” is Lotus’ philosophy and with the Exige S they have taken it to the limit! No other road car can touch the nimbleness and cornering ability of the Exige and with the supercharger screaming away behind your ear you’ll push this minimalist rocket harder and faster than you ever thought possible for 5 Laps of the Southern Circuit.

You think giving an adrenaline experience for Christmas is a very expensive idea? Think again, Extreme Element have 65 experiences that are available for under £50, making them a totally affordable gift option. Altenatively you can buy 1 Star Gift tokenso the recipent can choose themselves. Here are a few examples below.

Discover 4×4 Driving

Our Discover 4×4 Driving Experience is superb value and stupendous fun! You will have full control of the off-road vehicle as you get to grips with the techniques and skills required to tackle all terrains! Off-road driving is very different to on-road with completely opposing pedal control and gear changes required to make your way around, over and through the countrys challenging contours! The tantalisingly tricky tracks that await your 4×4 experience will challenge even the most experienced drivers, with slopes and hills that are guaranteed to get you thinking and grappling for control. The expert instructors that accompany your drive are bursting with advice and tips for your improvement, and more importantly, your enjoyment! Price £47.00

150ft Bridge Abseil

This is no ordinary abseil!! Imagine yourself hanging off the side of a disused railway bridge with nothing between you and the ground other than thin air. Like no other abseil this is not for the faint hearted. It’s 150 ft to the valley bottom from the top of a disused viaduct. A real heart stopper!! Really breathtaking!! Price £35.00

Bungee Jump

There is very little out there to match the pure adrenaline rush of a Bungee Jump, as leaping from a 160ft platform with just a giant elastic band around your ankles is as thrilling as it is daunting! Once you’ve made the leap of faith and fallen as low as the extension will allow, the cord’s recoil will send you skywards with massive G force! You will enjoy the upside down view as you bob around for a few seconds before being gently lowered back to the ground with a huge grin on your face. This experience will leave you wanting more – guaranteed! Price £49.00

Introduction to Clay Shooting

High in excitement this is your opportunity to learn, improve or just practice the art of Clay Pigeon Shooting at the largest Olympic Standard range in the UK. With unrivalled facilities perfect for any standard this experience is great for a group or corporate event, this is you can challenge each other improving team work and moral. There is little that equals the exhilaration of breaking your first clay and the noise and smoke will keep you wanting more and more. Price £48.00

Indoor Skydiving from only £30.00

Indoor Skydiving is unique in many ways and expertly simulates the freefall experienced during an outdoor skydive. An immensely powerful wind tunnel, which is more commonly used for testing the aerodynamics of F1 cars, has been turned vertical and provides a perfect representation of Skydiving. Similar to a table tennis ball floating on a hair dryer, once the technique has been mastered the fun really begins as you fly at speeds equivalent to 100mph in the pressurized tunnel making your indoor skydiving experience a great one!

Special offer for Christmas! That’s right, we’re feeling jolly this Christmas and are offering some great deals, like this Discover Indoor Skydiving Experience. Indoor Skydiving has taken the nation by storm with its novel nature and outright enjoyability level! Turning a wind tunnel that used to be used for testing the aerodynamics of Formula 1 cars gives an immensely powerful flow of air, and this noisy gust has proven perfect for practicing a bit of skydiving! Price £29.99

Tandem Skydiving from only £250.00

Ever imagine what it would be like to freefall through the sky at speeds of over 100mph? Well here’s your chance for a unique experience with a tandem skydive. Strapped to a professional skydiving instructor you’ll both leap out of a plane at approximately 12,000 ft then freefall for around 7,000 ft where you’ll then release the parachute to ride gently to the ground. It’s the ultimate thrill.

The old classics are very often still the best having stood the test of time. This is unquestionably the case here with the king of extreme adventures – skydiving. The pure adrenalin rush of falling 10 – 12,000 feet is a nerve-tingling thrill that will stay with you for ever. It is no coincidence that people talk about their skydive for years after they’ve done it! The ever-lasting plane journey to your descending height feels like a lifetime as you eagerly anticipate cheating gravity, taking in the picturesque view afforded by such supernatural heights.

Buyagift

Running from 24th – 31st December, Buyagift are offering 25% off everything in their Christmas sale. From 1st January the discount will drop to 20%, and will exclude special offers. The code to use is JANSALE25

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