As always the shameless and the blameless get equal anonymity, and will remain nameless as guests :)
So if you have read any of my recent blog posts, you will notice that I occasionally love to have the odd weekend away with a company called Focused Performance who are a coaching company, who also put on trail running weekends and hikes etc, and often includes the likes of a Pilates class, Yoga or a special guest who does a masterclass on a running related topic etc.
Geoff himself who is the host, is a qualified running coach with vast experience of trail and mountain running and also hosts master classes himself as well. He's done them at the National Running Show too on some years. They are usually followed by a Q&A , so you get the chance to ask questions related to your own issues, which is very helpful.
Earlier this month (August) I was away at their Geoff Fest event for four days, which was a new event and had a wealth of different guests and things to do as it was a walk, run, hike or class based, you chose what you felt like doing each day.
It was a very hot weekend at Edale in the Peak District, and somewhere I hadn't been before. I had a great time, and would definitely return again. But I didn't have the mental strength to write one of my blogs about a four day adventure were I did so much. I also had way too many photo's to choose from!
Arrival day at New Forest...
So last weekend I was away again at their new event at the Minstead Study Centre in Minstead itself, which is in the fantastic New Forest in Hampshire. I highly recommend going there at some point, it's a lovely national park, filled with wildlife.
Even on our arrival at the Minstead Study Centre we were greeted by wild horses wandering down the lane at the gate of the property, which was a lovely start to the event and our stay.
I was lucky enough to have travelled down with Geoff himself who is the owner of Focused Performance and the main reason most guests go back to his events to be fair, even if the jokes are questionable whether they pass the Christmas cracker quality test!
Also in the car was the delightful Jane, who is better known as G2, i.e. Geoff number 2, as Jane rightfully also takes centre stage at times too, and is a great run, walk or hike leader and can keep Geoff in check, as well as the other guests too.
The trip down was a Geoff and Jane banter fest as they made sarcastic or ever increasing jibes at each other to entertain us on the trip down. This is usually continued during the event , much to the amusement of the guests, who often ask whether they are married lol.
Geoff and Jane have strictly a love hate relationship. Geoff loves himself, and Jane hates Geoff! It all adds to a fun filled weekend and event, especially once the drinks start flowing at the end of an active day when the trips to the local pub are recommend, and we all get to chill out together, or just chill out at the accommodation itself if you want a quieter more relaxed evening.
I actually find the evening bits of the day one of the best bits for getting to chat to other guests properly, as guests quickly fit in with each other and relax and start to have conversations about their everyday lives and often tell each other or the group things that they haven't even shared to friends, due to the comfort zone of non judgement these events have.
Personally I have social Anxiety along with Anxiety, so often find it hard to feel comfortable, or to fit in. But with the Focused Performance weekends I find it easy to fit in, mostly because I've done several, and know several of the other regular guests. It also helps having running experience as I'm then able to offer advice when asked by newer runners, which helps build my self confidence.
As I'd travelled down with Geoff and Jane, we were there at a reasonable time so I personally had lots of time to wander around the accommodation and it's grounds. As it's a study centre and Eco orientated, there were several gardens around the back growing fruit and veg etc, along with an area with bee hives, two small empty hen huts and a field with three friendly and approachable sheep too.
There were small routes through little bits of ancient woodland with circular log seat areas were visitors could sit and chat and study. The centre is actually a primary school orientated centre where the kids can learn all about plants and ecology and how to grow certain fruits and veg, and also get to eat some of them too at meal times.
The centre actually has two large dorms were the kids normally sleep, or in our case 'big kids' with mobile phones in tow and a hunt for charging points. Luckily the centre has it's own solar panels too!
They also have recycling bins for the important things like, spent alcoholic beverage containers ;)
Anyway, guests started to slowly arrive from the time we had arrived, but most arriving after 6:30pm from all parts of the country. I had a good chat with a newbie to the events who was also there as we arrived.
There were several of us pottering around the gardens having a good nosy. We also found a thatched mud hut too onsite with a firepit in the centre of it. And a convenient fire extinguisher outside it's entrance too. just as well we didn't check it out after a visit to the local pub, because I suspect the fire extinguisher would not have been enough to protect it!
Teatime was fast arriving, and there was at least six guests there already, so I dropped a hint about the obligatory Prosecco welcome drink usually offered by Geoff, and Geoff was there within five minutes to do the honours. Relax time had officially started.
Teatime was now here, and almost everyone was here, bar two more guests I think it was, who were arriving later.
Most of Geoff's events have a private chef onsite, who prepares food we pre ordered during the week before. In this case it was Ryan, who seemed like a decent bloke and good to get on with, which is a bonus were chefs are concerned, as hard worked chefs can be hard work themselves, but on these events they get the chance of a more relaxed weekend, with less pressures and usually a far more chilled clientele.
Food was an included two course meal, which in my case I'd completely forgotten what I ordered, but thankfully it's all printed out on spreadsheets in the kitchen, which certainly helps when people try to change what they ordered, which you can't do when you have pre ordered and quantities are based on those orders.
I'm vegan myself so have to stick to what I ordered anyway, and we have people usually who are vegetarian, gluten free, lactose intolerant etc etc so you can't swap and change meals as it affects all those parameters.
The food I had was tasty enough, flatbread and hummus to start, and Bang bang cauliflower with some side salad and some sliced roasted sweet potatoes.
May main observation from that evening was that some portion sizes just weren't as big as some may have expected after a long days travelling, and it would have been advised to have filling side options placed in the centre of each table to help fill up those that wanted more, like bread rolls, or chips, or wedges etc. Mine was difficult as it was plant based and vegan so literally a plate of veg, and it needed more sweet potato as my main carb source to fill me up.
As a whole food is always excellent at Focused Performance events, as Geoff prides himself on offering tasty and nutritionally balance meals, usually which are nice to look at, and not lazy bulk made Lasagne and chips or big pots of stew and potatoes etc, which is the fare of the lazy chefs or old school school dinners.
Feed back is always welcomed and asked for after events too in anonymous questionnaires etc, so I advise always filling these in, as I know Geoff appreciates the comments, and we all have different needs, tastes and requirements, so it's often a struggle to meet all flawlessly.
After the meal on the first night it was late as we ate late evening purposely to ensure all guests could get there on time and be fed. So it was now the obligatory, sit and chill with a brew and chat, go to bed early if you had had a long day, or keep Geoff happy by letting him take you to the nearest local pub!
Personally I stayed in and had a chat with others and then went to bed early, as I knew I wouldn't sleep well in an alien environment, a strange bed and knowing I needed to get up fairly early for my first brew and later breakfast.
The first days adventure..
Well day one for me was getting up at 6am as I'd not really slept too well and wanted an early coffee to wake up fully. I followed this by going out with my GPS device and exploring the local area a little on a walk.
I left the centre and headed for the nearest footpath, which was only 20 metres away from the door! I followed this for a while along the edge of some of the local woodland, past some fields with horses in, and then alongside an old church with an even older looking graveyard.
The sun hadn't been up long so it was the nearest I'd get to a sunrise walk, and it was enjoyable as I'm rarely up in the early hours as I work even shifts in my job.
The path actually came out about 100 metres away from the local Minstead pub 'The trusty servant' and it's village green memorial cross. I took a right out of the village and followed the local road which was quiet thankfully due to it being early hours.
I didn't manage to find any nearby paths as it was mostly farmers fields or private properties with the odd horse as hostage.
Eventually I found a decent clearing at an area actually called 'The football field' and Football field lane, and wandered into the forest that way. There was was the odd wild horse or pony in those areas which was nice to see, and I had a good wander in there, but often came up to perimeter walls to private properties, so I slowly looped back toward the Football field and its lane which I knew took me back to Minstead village another way.
It was a nice walk and I also encountered a lone cow that was making it's escape from a local farm via the cattle grid. I couldn't see any dairy activity in the area so I wasn't sure where it had actually come from. I left it alone anyway as it seemed happy to stand on the free side of the cattle grid and just stand there mooing out loud!
I eventually got back but was just under three miles total so headed a little further beyond our property into the woods, but again came across private property walls, so decided to leave the actual forest adventure until Geoff runs of the day!
I was back just in time for breakfast, and it was good to see everyone again, and I looked forward to my first meal of the day, breakfast. Yet again I'd forgotten what I had ordered, so waited patiently and with anticipation to see what I would be getting. I was praying I hadn't ordered boring porridge.
Thankfully I received the vegan breakfast which was fake bacon, mushrooms and beans, and along with the side servings of toast that came along I was adequately filled ready for our first run.
We actually had our first little workshop pre the first run too, which was a running up and down hill techniques workshop. I've done this multiple times and it is a good workshop to do if you have only ever run on the flat, and even if you already run trails, as we don't always run with the most helpful technique when we have self taught ourselves.
After a mini break to get ready fully for our first run it was time to set off out on our first run from the door, which was aimed at being a roughly 6 mile run with lots of little rest breaks, photo ops, and chat stops etc.
The run started with a warm up at the property entrance, which is always vital on these types of runs and then we were off down the local roads heading for the actual New Forest and it's splendid trails.
We did about a mile and a half max down the road and then hit the trail paths and then it was into the forest wilderness. The paths and trails were of a good size as they are also mostly bridleways too so wide enough for multiple horses and runners and walkers etc.
We had plenty of stops and had ample time to stop and take pictures too, which I did many a time. I tend to drop off the back of the group and take pictures of the local scenery that incorporate the group as a whole running off into the distance and later share those pictures with the group as they aren't individual private pictures.
This approach also allows me to run faster to catch up and then take more pictures, so I end up running at the front, the middle and at the back and get to chat with lots of different people.
It was a very warm day so any shelter was welcomed, and there was plenty of it in the forest, but we were rarely fully enclosed so could also catch up on valuable Vit D bursts!
Geoff gave us a few interesting facts about the New Forest as we went, and occasionally gave nav tips to those that wanted them, along with plugs for his nav events lol. I highly recommend those events if you are clueless with maps and compass etc, especially if you plan on going anywhere near a mountain range, or enclosed forests.
Modern technology is great, but it only works when it's charged up, upto date, and hasn't been dropped on a rock. Phones etc also notoriously can freeze and give up in very cold or damp conditions, which are usually the life threatening conditions. So I highly recommend a basic map reading video here and there, or event with Geoff.
We had ample encounters with the local horses and ponies that were happy for us to walk by and take photo's etc, and there were the odd cyclist and families out walking etc, as it's a great place to go, and it's big enough not to be overcrowded.
After we had done about 5.5 miles we had a brief preview of the route we were going to take the next day from a fine vantage point where we could see the typical New forest landscape, and then we headed back down the road we had come from that morning and back to the property.
In total we averaged roughly 6.5 miles overall and were out for roughly 2.5 hrs maybe more as I occasionally paused my watch on longer breaks, so maybe nearer 3 max. We also did our cooldown stretches too, led by Heather our other run leader, Who I've completely forgotten to mention as of yet, apologies!
Lunch was upon us and I was looking forward to it as I was now hungry, but I did remind a few other hungry people that it's lunch, so one course, not the two we get at teatime, so not likely to be massive.
I think I had pasta as my personal choice, I honestly can't remember, but it was a basic pasta with a basic sauce so it accommodated multiple dietary needs, and as a vegan I'm one of the worst. But I'll eat anything as long as it's vegan on these events.
After lunch it was free time, and time to shower if you wanted too already, or hadn't done pre lunch. Shortly after Geoff was doing another masterclass, this time as a kind of strength and mobility/injury prevention class, and one that required some participation if you wished.
Most had showered and ditched their running footwear by now, so most did the class barefoot, but it was on grass, so comfortable.
It was a good class I've done it before, but one of the highlights was seeing everyone jumping around like ankle shackled penguins, and the tennis ball session which gave our resident dog for the weekend a highly entertaining workout!
Next up was more chill time, so it the pub for several of us as it was still warm and sunny, and the pub was literally half a mile away and had a nice outside area for us all to sit and chat.
I took those that followed on another off road route to the pub that I'd discovered that morning, past the creepy church etc, to eliminate the necessity to avoid the cars on the country lane.
Apparently by the way, the creepy church and very old graveyard is also the resting place of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and his gravestone/cross had items left by fans, like a magnifying glass, and a pipe and a few other items.
When we got to the pub there was already a group there who had already done their showers etc and maybe a few who hadn't done the outside masterclass.
It nice to have the odd relaxing drink, as I wouldn't normally drink on running events, but as they are shorter runs I don't really need to worry, as long as I rehydrate properly later on.
Several or maybe three pints of cider later it was back just in time for our evening meal at a reasonable 6:30pm this time. We may or may not have had a pre dinner snack in the pub to carb load!
I sat down for my meal this time slightly preloaded with chips from the pub, so was happy with anything. I honestly can't remember what my starter was, but my main course was a bean stew over rice in a bowl. The sauce from the stew had given the rice a nice bit of flavour throughout, unless it had been cooked in veg stock and got it's flavour from there.
It was plenty for me this time, but as I said I'd also eaten before, but it was way more caloric than my previous nights meal.
Once meals were done it was a chance for Geoff to give us a brief chat about the next days run, as he had done the night before also, and a chance to make sure everyone was ok injury wise etc.
After tea it was a few drinks outside the accommodation as guests for those that wanted, be it coffee, wine or otherwise and a good chat. Also a chance to chill and settle early for bed it they wanted an early night.
Personally I was just going to stay with the odd drink outside the property, but eventually several decided we'd meander to the pub in the dark but with the odd bit off torchlight along the road this time, picking up another guest who had just left the pub and was heading back, but easily convinced into returning to the pub!
It was a good night, several drinks later and it was time to return back to the property trying to be as quiet as possible.
Upon returning it was then into the old Victorian schoolhouse that was also onsite, and the area we use for food service etc, for those that wished, otherwise it back for coffee and bed etc.
I manged to share a bottle of Kopparberg with another guest as neither of us wanted anymore to be fair, I was full of liquid and bloated, but mostly clear headed but and it was getting late.
We spent a bit of time talking about God knows what for a while, but had a chance to chat with chef Ryan and also Geoff about the odd meal concern, which is always easier when every one's had a drink. It's also good to get their perspective on many things.
I eventually sloped of just after 1am, knowing full well I'm up again shortly after 6am, so needed some sleep, and as I said I physically couldn't take in anymore liquid, be it alcohol or coffee.
Those that stayed opened another bottle or two of wine and have their own funny stories of what happened after that, tales of spooky school bells, haunted rooms and various other things that go bump in the night ;)
Day twos adventures..
It was now Sunday morning, and early again after mixed sleep. As I was in a dorm I got mixed sleep, as I live alone so other people's movement or any noise is going to get my brains attention, but I sleep enough overall. Where possible I book a private room at events as I also can let out the odd snore too, and worry more that I might wake others than I do about them waking me, as I know I'm quick to fall asleep again.
I woke early but didn't actually get up until 7am as I could tell the cotton wool that had made a nest in my head overnight, hadn't got the early wake up call memo!
Once up it was time for a coffee with the other guests that already surfaced from various stages of sleep and alcohol, or not and had amassed on various bean challenged bean bags, especially designed for old or knackered runners to test your post run mobility or morning after ability.
Breakfast was 8:15am, and I'd already ditched any idea of a morning walk due to the old groggy head, which may as well had been the name of the cider I was drinking the night before.
My breakfast thankfully was the same as the previous day, the vegan breakfast, as I'd enjoyed the one the day before. It was just enough sustenance along with the toast and orange juice etc, bearing in mind we are running 90 mins later.
Everyone seemed in good spirits, no tales of injury worries or asking for multiple options of the days itinerary, which to be fair is often accommodated for when possible, but when all options require run leaders to be able to cover emergencies, it's not always possible.
I've always witnessed Geoff and the team leaders bend over backwards for guests, something I doubt other companies would do.
Today was one of those days were we all got on well, and we all wanted to be out as a group of friends, runners and fellow guests. The type of event I like, and one that brings people back time after time.
I'd say it's an ideal business model when your emphasis is keeping your guests happy, giving your guests an often unique experience, and the best they can get for the price they paid.
A price I have to say is extremely economical compared to trying to do it on your own. And then letting your satisfied guests be the marketing tool for multiple returns and new guests alike.
Anyway, I've digressed among breakfast somewhere....
This morning we were off at 10am after our warm up and off down the same short trip down the local lane to the lovely vantage point we'd had near the end of our forest run the day before, having passed prior the farm tea room that doesn't accommodate coffee drinkers who can't eat their non gluten free options, and doesn't take cards. Trip advisor review on the way I reckon.
We had a lovely out and back adventure in a roughly triangular shape so not to repeat the same route out, and as the day before it was a great mix of terrain and scenery. Good under foot terrain, yet still testing to ensure you were concentrating on what you were doing.
Some of the terrain was higher up and exposed to full sun with great views of the miles that were laid out in many directions, but was truly warm to say the least, but after 31c in Edale in the Peak District two weeks ago I was pretty ready for it. The downs into the forest areas was a blessing with the shade and wide accessible paths and trails, and lots of route options for Geoff 'alternate route' Brierley to lead us on ;)
Lots of stops to keep everyone together and give us ample rest and take photos too, and time to chat, although the pace was so accommodating as always we could always chat and run anyway. It's a social event after all.
Myself and Nigel did our best to take ample pictures while out on the runs as per normal. I try and get the scenic distance shots, and Nigel is a people person, so takes pictures of people so they have some great personal memories of the day.
You may see the odd picture of myself or Nigel in some precarious positions trying to get the right angle for a picture, including one of us stood on a tiny pole trying to take a picture while stood on one foot!
I always find photo's of the day are precious and a great memory, and people often speak of the wish they'd taken pictures themselves or more pictures, but while you are running you are concentrating on where you are going. I'm lucky enough to have the time and pace to take pics and catch up or run ahead and take pictures.
We always share the pictures within the Focused Performance Experience Group on Facebook, which was set up after I suggested it to Geoff on the journey home one day. I always like to bounce ideas or suggestion's off Geoff, many of which he takes on board.
I've digressed again, a bit like Geoff's tales ;)
We had a couple of little stream crossings along our route over the weekend by the way, but always crossable with low water and stone ridden streambeds, but Geoff was always on hand to give people a helpful push when needed to get them across, but the guests are always willing to give Geoff a good push across a stream too, whether he wants it or not! :)
Once the route was finished it was back down the local lane to base, and I do believe about 4.2 miles in 1hr 20min excluding the odd paused watch stop, very likely 1hr 30min total as we were bang on pre-planned pre lunchtime arrival of 11:30am for refreshments and showers before lunch at midday.
I took the almost first back advantage of running to the showers before the rush. The showers were always fun, as the eco centre has timed lights, so half way through your shower the room light went off! This usually led to a spell of frantic arm waving trying to get the light sensors to kick in after picking up the movement. Certainly not worth the risk of stepping out the shower and opening the door at an inopportune moment as someone else walks in! This also happened on long sit down visits to the loo too, always good to know exactly were the toilet roll was, and the spare!
Lunchtime was midday, and for me it was pasta, in my case a vegan pasta, I'm assuming they used egg pasta for the others as I waited for mine. Most use standard durum wheat pasta, so no need to cook separately. No issue for me though, I just chatted as I waited.
We got another chance to chat as we ate, as we would shortly be disappearing en masse, with literally everyone talking about wanting to see each other again at other Focused Performance events in the future, which is always nice.
I wore my New forest Trial running Summer of 22' tee shirt at lunch which I designed especially as a memento of the event, mostly for me, but also I designed several different colours etc, so they would maybe appeal to others at the event who wanted a memento. The tee shirts raise money for charity as I send all the profits directly to charities. (See the picture above).
Thankyou to anyone who has ever bought a product from my new side venture for my fundraising, shoutoutwear.co.uk. especially those that bought 'Geoff Fest' products and of course Janes' G2 Squad tee's or hoodies etc. It's always great to see people wearing them at Geoff's events. All the tee shirts, hoodies or vests are always available in my online shop afterward as well on my website (link at the bottom of this blog post).
It was great to hear people through the weekend and at the final lunch together, talking of their initial worries as a first timer to the events, and in particular those who came along on their own. But every one I'd heard mention it, said they were keen to come again and the weekend had allayed their fears.
I've found that the little trips to the pub as little groups, the chats over coffee that we all end up having totally unarranged are great little friend makers, trust makers and worry relievers, and are a great testament to Geoff's events and their success.
As always the events would not be the same without the support team of fantastic run leaders that Geoff has that give up their time to look after us all so well. In this weekends case it was Jane 'G2 Squad' Webster (Fan club tee-shirts available ;)) and Heather 'G2's lets take the rip out of Geoff's back up squad' Marfleet. Not forgetting another great chef of Geoff's, who is learning fast what we need as runners as I think this was only his second or third event .
All of them have their their own lovable character traits, there are lots of others at other events equally as good and all can give or take a good joke, and equally all can wind Geoff up with impunity when it's needed too.
On that note I had the impending journey home with Geoff and Jane to get ready for, so packing was next, but only after saying goodbye to new and old friends, of which there were now many. It's so great to meet such lovable people at these events, I've done eight now, and every one has been great so far, and those people that haven't I've not been around so not suffered them lol.
I now have new friends to give me something to look forward too in the future, and regular event friends to see at other future FP events too. They keep me going and having lost both my parents over the last five years I can honestly say Geoff's events and you the guests have saved me from myself, and as I know other guests have said to Geoff, helped me find 'my real self' again.
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