We might not be able to meet together as a big group at the moment, but that doesn't mean we won't still be running and supporting each to complete a new challenge this summer.
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There are 120 different localities, neighbourhoods, villages and towns within a radius of about 7 miles from our usual meeting spot at Staffordshire University. And within those localities, there are some special landmarks that mean something to us. We've picked 12 of those.

So during August, we are challenging ourselves as a club (or individually if you are feeling particularly adventurous) to complete a run in each location and also stop off for a selfie at each of the special landmarks too. You can download a checklist here

The 120 localities are listed below... any that you don't recognise? 

And here are the bonus locations as chosen by members of Potters Trotters as their favourite local landmarks:

1. Mow Cop Castle
2. The Trees in Central Forest Park
3. The Bandstand in Hanley Park
4. Stanley Matthews Statue at Bet 365 Stadium
5. The Clocktower in Tunstall
6. The Big Blue Wheel at Apedale
7. Wedgwood Memorial on Bignall Hill
8. Chatterley Whitfield
9. Onwards and Upwards Fenton Monument
10. Park Hall Country Park
11. Harecastle Tunnel / Trent and Mersey Canal
12. Arnold Bennett Statue at the Potteries Museum

Where will your runs take you this August? 

If you need some inspiration, why not pick one of these challenges:
A landmark or locality you've never visited before for a run
A route taking you to at least 6 different localities 
A route between two landmarks 
A route where you can spell out a word with the first letter of each locality
Go East to West or North to South - how many localities can you pass through in 60 minutes from your front door.
Go off road - pick a locality and find a trail run
Complete a special running session - hill reps in Heron Cross, fartlek in Festival Park, speed work in Sneyd Green or a tempo run in Trentham, progression run at Park Hall

We also have our 5k relay challenge taking place over the weekend of 8th/9th August - once you know who is in in your team, why not work out a plan to tick off as many different localities as you can. Bonus prizes will be available.
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And if you come up with a challenge of your own, don't forget to share it.

Charlotte has put together another club newsletter - this time, it's filled with lots of ideas to occupy ourselves in current circumstances - learn a new skill, read a book, try some new recipes, do some stretches, share your ideas with each other. Please do have a read. Thanks Charlotte and everyone who has contributed. Get in touch if you'd like to contribute something to our next edition. 

Our April Newsletter has been compiled by club member Charlotte to provide us with some tips, hints and ideas for managing our well-being at this challenging time. Please do have a read. Thanks Charlotte and everyone who has contributed.
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A selection of challenges, ideas and suggestions to help everyone stay motivated over the summer. Most challenges can be completed by running or walking and some don’t involve running at all. We will also be fundraising for our 3 nominated charities (Bowel Cancer UK, Chelsea Burley Trust and Cystic Fibrosis Trust) via the Potters Trotters Team Page on Virgin Money - https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/PottersTrotters1 #potterstrotterssummerchallenge2019
Here are the challenges:

1. Alphabet - Cross off the letters of the alphabet from the street names on your summer runs… can you get all 26?
2. Beach - Take off your shoes and get your feet wet!
3. Book Club - A book club on the go… get together with friends for a run&talk all about your favourite running books and blogs
4. Border - go across county or country boundaries during your run
5. Bottle Kilns - Choose a route to try and spot as many of the 47 remaining bottle kilns in Stoke-on-Trent *
6. Canal - The Trent & Mersey and Caldon are on our doorstep but there are many more to explore and not too far away **
7. Castle - Find a route that takes you to a castle, the bigger the better
8. Double - Two runs/walks in one day
9. Fancy Dress - Pick a theme and have some fun
10. Follow The Leader- Get a group of friends and take it in turns to get to the front and choose the route. Don’t plan in advance!
11. Forest - Get lost in the woods
12. Freedom - Complete a parkrun route but not on parkrunday
13. Headtorch - Wait until it’s dark and then run with your headtorch – a run best done with friends
14. Ice Lolly - Decide whether to wait until the end or stop for refreshments mid-run?
15. Island - Anglesey? Isle of Man? Isle of Wight? Isle of Arran? Holy Island? So many to choose from… you just need to cross the sea first!
16. Lake - You don’t have to be able to get all the way round
17. Mile - Complete a mile as fast as you can
18. Naked - Run without technology – no Garmin, no Strava, no Fitbit! 
19. National Park - Just like the Islands, so many choices – the Peak District is closest but there are mountains in Snowdonia!
20. Picnic - Enjoy a leisurely run then share a picnic – another challenge best done with friends and family
21. Progression - Get faster with every mile - last mile should be the fastest
22. Race - Sign up for an event and give it your best effort
23. Relay - Take part in a relay event
24. River - Swap canals for rivers… and the Trent for the Thames at Windsor? Or the Dee in Chester? Or the Ouse in York?
25. Steps - Find a route that involves a series of steps – can you complete 10 climbs before continuing?
26. Strength - Complete a strength workout every week
27. Sunrise - Get up early and watch the sun rise whilst you’re running
28. Sunset - Stay out late and run or walk whilst the sun sets 
29. Train - Go for a run then catch the train home (even if its just from Longton to Stoke) or catch the train and run home
30. Volunteer - Volunteer at a running event

* Bottle Kiln Map: https://bottleoven.blogspot.com/p/whats-left.html
** Canal Map: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/canal-and-river-network​

​Warming up ahead of our the launch of our challenge.... getting ready to run our fastest mile (challenge #17).

It's dark, wet and cold and also a time when we are all really busy. It's sometimes hard to find the motivation to run. So we've created our December challenge - some simple suggestions to help us all keep running at this busy time of year and also to help encourage and support our club mates too. Pick one, pick two or pick them all... but challenge yourself and encourage others to do the same. We'll post a few updates as we go along.

The challenges in full:

1. Share your favourite running photo - flying feet, a big smile, a magical memory?
2. Sign up for a race in 2019 - but don't just sign up, encourage someone else to sign up too. Create an event in our FB group so others know you are taking part too.
3. Try a new recipe for a post run treat - loads of great suggestions here
4. Volunteer at a running event - parkrun, junior parkrun, cross country - lots of possibilities 
5. Run in fancy dress - club run on December 18th, Hanley parkrun on 22nd December, Christmas Day at Hanley or The Wammy parkrun, lots of local races too.
6. Support another runner’s fundraising - ask Janet about Run up to Christmas for example.
7. Pass on your most valuable running tip - a favourite stretch, the most supportive sports bra, the go-faster running shoes!
8. Run with someone different - when you are next at the club, say hello to someone new
9. Treat yourself to some new running socks - you can never have too many pairs of running socks
10. Set your running goals for 2019 - write them down, pin them to the fridge, make a plan to meet them. If you need some help/advice from more experienced runners, please just ask.
11. Try out a new running route - plan a route, arrange to meet a friend, just run. How about a different parkrun? Or a new meeting point? If you are struggling for ideas, work backwards from your favourite cafe 
12. Run a mile as fast as you can - just go for it! Warm up first, then test yourself, just to see.
13. Count Christmas Trees whilst running - Abbey Hulton, Dividy Road, Leek Road, London Road in Stoke!
14. Share your biggest running achievement - your first run? your longest run? the run you thought was impossible? the first time you ran for 10 minutes without stopping?
15. Hang a medal on your Christmas Tree - the shiniest, blingiest medal you have. You earned it, show it off!
16. Run without your Garmin - don't worry about how far or how fast, just run and talk.
17. Encourage a friend to take up running - share your love or running with everyone you meet this December and arrange to run with them if they say yes. 
18. Join us at our Christmas socials - chat, eat, drink, dance and relax whilst wearing real clothes - there are loads of events happening and we'd love to see you
19. Run in the woods with a headtorch - we'll have another opportunity at the club during December or make a plan with friends
20. Write an article for the website - we would love to read your race reviews, hints and tips and stories about club members. 
21. Ask for advice about running technique - if you've got questions, please ask. We will do our best to help and we will be doing more drills to work on technique during December - everyone loves running up hills!
22. Post message of encouragement - especially if it's a rainy day, just post on our Facebook page. It's amazing how much impact one positive message can have.
23. Say hello to every runner you pass - they won't all say hello back but you can always try.
24. Lend someone your favourite book - read about inspirational runners like Kathrine Switzer or laugh out loud at the exploits of Lisa Jackson.
25. Run off road and get really muddy - splash through puddles, get mud streaks in your hair - the last event for cross country is on 15th December - come along if you can.

And if you have any more challenges to add, please do!

By Charlotte Smith.
Fast and furious? Intense? Dramatic? I remember hearing these descriptions last year just before I completed the Alsager 5 for the first time and thinking that this was going to be a little bit intimidating to say the least … It is NOT! This February was the second time I had completed this run, but my first time (and first race!) as a member of the NSRRA (www.nsrra.org.uk). It was once again, a thoroughly enjoyable race and brilliantly organised.

The route is fairly flat, but not so much that it is boring and it is definitely a good challenge. I found that it was the ideal race to embed everything that we had learned from the training within our Club Run sessions with Chris Hollinshead.

My mind was on my use of arms, helium balloons for posture(!) and starting a race feeling strong, but not pushing it too much. The combination of tips that we had learned from our sessions led many of us to achieve a pb, which was a pleasant surprise!

Alsager 5 has a brilliant buzz; it is a great atmosphere and good for runners of different abilities. The sun was shining and the Trotters were out in form – a good Sunday had by all! 

What are we about?
 
We, the Potters Trotters are a group of friendly, enthusiastic and vibrant women who LOVE to run, but also laugh (a lot!), encourage (always!) and challenge ourselves – often achieving a variety of personal goals. We meet at the Brindley Building in Staffordshire University  at 6:30pm every Tuesday and Thursday.
The beauty of our club is that we run, yes to keep fit and to improve, reach new heights of achievement, but mostly, to meet people with same interest as us and to form some very special friendships. In my opinion we are the ideal running club – a combination of determination, resilience, inspiration … all sprinkled with FUN! Not that I am biased of course! ;-)
If you don’t believe me, please read some of our comments from members below. Some have been coming to the club for years, but others perhaps only a few months:
 
Sue: ‘We are real ladies who care about each other, we don't judge abilities and we support each other unconditionally. Everyone is very welcoming.’
 
Lauren: Before I joined I didn't push myself to run further distances, and didn't have the confidence to sign up for some races alone. The club gave me the motivation and the confidence to do more - the encouragement and kindness shown by everyone is amazing!
 
Jackie: ‘I had never even done 5k before I joined, and yet I did 8 miles the other week thanks to the encouragement of ladies from the group! There are no worries about being slow, or holding people up.’
 
Rose: ‘I know many clubs say they are for all but we really are. All speeds and all ages from the very young to the the more mature. We all support and encourage each other’.
 
Alison:  ‘A group of ladies who enjoy running, caring about others within the club and being there for one another, giving support along the way.’
 
Charlotte: ‘For me, the club has inspired me to enter a wide variety of races and push myself - I never thought that I would do anything like the Thunder Run for example! That was completely out of my comfort zone. Most of all though, the friendships that I have made in joining our club are fantastic and the inspiration from such a lovely group of ladies has been wonderful. Love our club!’
 
Michelle: ‘I was never sporty at school and began running quite late in life. I find it unbelievable that I have managed two half marathons. Running raises my mood and zest for life. I have met some lovely ladies and formed lasting friendships.’
 
Helen: ‘I am proud to be a Trotter, I find running one of the hardest and challenging things I have attempted in life but the warm welcome, encouragement and support has made it one of the most rewarding and positive achievements. The group helps us to set and achieve goals.’
 
Jen: ‘Suffering with mental health issues means I don't always go out, meet new people or even have the will to get up in the morning, but I've got people who help motivate me to exercise, get outside, talk to strangers who have now become friends and just have a bloody good time! I ran/walked a half marathon. Me! I'm so pleased that I had the courage to join to better myself, push myself, get fit, be healthier and get involved.’
 
Louise: ‘Keep fit for amateurs and those who've done very little exercise in the past. A chance to do this is a supportive environment where you achieve and excel your objectives through the fab support and great friendships.’
 
Alison: ‘ A few thoughts include: Healthy body, healthy minds. Endorphins are us. Gets those synapses connecting. Connecting communities. Healthy hearts. Community spirited. Inspiration, motivation, respiration, perspiration, destination!’
 
Melanie: ‘I remember the first night I went along to fill in the registration form for the beginners course, I was so nervous and anxious I felt sick. But I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and did it. I've struggled for years with mental health issues and find it so hard to do things, but I feel very supported by Potters Trotters and have made lots of pink pals! We encourage and support each other and the club helps with my confidence. Potters Trotters are a truly wonderful group of ladies. All shapes, sizes and abilities and non-judgmental. I've never had so many friends. Thank you all.’
 
Ruth: ‘The exercise makes me feel better both physically and mentally. Great friends made through club. Non-judgmental, supportive and fun.’
 
Julie: ‘To have a group of women that are all there for the same purpose and are there to support one another is so beneficial and important. I have never been able to run, even at school, and the few times I have tried before, I had always given up. Now doing it in my 50s has been so inspirational, because of sharing and getting such great support from the others in the group. I have made some lovely friends, and there is always without exception someone to run with and support you when it gets tough. It's not something I find easy or natural, but the benefits physically and mentally are many, and can be life changing. I think everyone can benefit greatly by belonging to such a group. It's also much cheaper than other forms of exercise so accessible to everyone. Having great support, and meeting such a diverse group of women is truly inspirational. These woman can!!
 
Lindsey: ‘We are a no frills ladies’ running club which caters for all ages, shapes, sizes and abilities. If you want to be a serious runner you can be, however, if you want to laugh, chat and run then we are the club for you. We are Potters Trotters!’
 
I think that these comments sum us up perfectly! :-) 
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