Here's a peak at The Beast Limited Edition Buffs which will be for sale on race day at Registration. They cost £14 with £1 being donated to our chosen charity, the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance. We only have a small number available so it's first come, first served, or why not send us a cheque payable to 'Pure Personal Training Ltd' to reserve your Buff and pick it up on the day?

Deep Heat, surely the brand/smell synonymous with the start line of races, is supporting The Beast this year! After you've 'tamed' The Beast you'll be able to soothe your weary limbs with a sample of Deep Heat in your Goody Bag! To find out more about their brilliant range of products including Deep Freeze have a look at www.mentholatum.co.uk

We're very happy that Buff will be supporting The Beast this year! Buff will be providing a brilliant Buff Goody Bag to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd male and female runners to complete one lap or Quit and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd male and female runners to complete 2 laps or Double. Also new for The Beast 2010, we will have a limited custom edition of The Beast Original Buffs! These will be priced at £14 with £1 from every Buff sold being donated to the DLRAA, our chosen charity. If you're new to the joys of the Buff check out www.buffwear.co.uk to find out more about this versatile piece of kit, and loads of ways to wear them!

Introducing the usual suspects involved 'behind the scenes' at Pure Outdoors Events...

Gaynor - Race Director, Course Planner and General Dogsbody. Runs ultra distance trail races and is currently training for the 'Scottish Treble' - The Highland Fling (53 miles in April), the West Highland Way (95 miles in June) and the Devil o' the Highlands (42 miles in August). Likes: Running stupidly long distances and shoes, oh and beer.

Rob - Senior Marshal and General Hairy One. Runs ultra distance races and stupidly fast marathons (PB 2:50). Currently training for 50 mile and then another 100 mile LDWA events, and is hoping to gain a place in the Spartathon 2010. Likes: Running and running and running very fast, oh and baking cakes and guinness.

Dave - Site Co Ordinator and Gaynor's Hubby. Runs ultra distance trail races and is our resident fell running fool. He's stupidly fast at running down scree, 'Just turn your brain off at the top and go!' Likes: Running in mountains and beer, oh and red wine, and is a rather good cook.

Albert - Security Chief and sometimes helps with the course planning. He would like to be the sweeper runner but is not allowed, due to the fact that he is bonkers. Likes: Running in mountains, chasing rabbits and snoozing, oh and his girlfriends.

Zoe - Senior Marshal and Second in Command. Runs marathons and ultra distance races and is currently training for the Edinburgh marathon in May and the Devil o' the Highlands (42 miles) in August. Likes: Cheese and running, oh and destroying her house (sorry I mean DIY).

Jason - Senior Marshal and Zoe's Hubby. Doesn't run at all, in fact he refuses! Likes: Beer and not running, oh and wearing his mankini in the hot tub.

Lesley - Senior Marshal and Support Crew for Gaynor during ultra races. Runs Half Marathons and hill walks. Likes: Driving fast and shoes, oh and shouting.

Belvoir Brewery will once again be supporting The Beast, providing the all important Beer Tent at the finish, including The Beast beer!  Belvoir Brewery, Sample Cellar and Exhibition Centre can be found on the outskirts of Old Dalby, Leicestershire. The Sample Cellar is a large, purpose built function room and shop catering for visitors, functions, conferences etc, where you can also view the working brewery through large windows. Check them out at www.belvoirbrewery.co.uk or why not pop along and go on a brewery tour?

The wholefood wonders who are Natural Balance Foods will be supporting The Beast in 2010. Natural Balance Foods are a young British company dedicated to promoting health, humour and helpfulness. That means they make really delicious, natural nibbles that taste good and do good! They make the gorgeous Trek and Nakd range of bars which are 100% natural, 100% vegan with nothing artificial whatsoever. Their products have no added sugar and are made raw with raw fruit and nuts, are high in protein, fibre, phyto-nutrients and antioxidants. According to Natural Balance, 'They taste kinda like a sweet, rich, homemade cookie or flapjack'. We think they taste fantastic and after you've tamed The Beast you'll be able to try them for yourselves! Check out their product range at www.naturalbalancefoods.co.uk

We're very happy that the team from Runner Photos will be the official photographers at The Beast 2010. They'll be at the Start, around the course and at the Finish, so smile nicely! You'll be able to view and buy any images at www.runner-photos.co.uk with Runner Photos very kindly donating £1 from every photo sold to our chosen charity, the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance.

Congratulations to everyone who took part in The Skeleton Run last night! We were amazed at how many of you dressed in your finest spooky stuff for the run; you all looked brilliant, although it did take us a bit longer than usual to clear up this morning with all the bits of wig, giant spiders and sparkly claws on the course! Makes a change from barrier tape!   The results can be found on the Pure Outdoors page.  

Emma Kingzett from Lucozade was meant to be on site handing out samples to you all, but unfortunately she didn't make it as she was stuck in a traffic jam coming out of Birmingham. She sent her apologises to you all.

Due to Rob from Up and Running being far too laid back for his own good and guestimating how many kit bags he'd given us, they did run out. If you missed out on one, you can contact Rob at the Nottingham store which is at 286-288 Huntingdon Street, NG1 3NA, Tel: 0115 9242242 or email nottingham@upandrunning.co.uk  and he's promised to sort you out with a bag and maybe a little extra something because he can't count!  

Finally, although we did approach quite a few sports photographers, not one was willing to photograph the race as it was at night. We wouldn't have had photographers on the course as the flashes would have been disorientating but next year we will set up a 'Finisher's Portrait Area' with a suitably spooky background. So if you have any photos of the night we'd love to see them!  

Gaynor and Pure Outdoors' marshals, Rob, John and Andy are running the 3 in 3 in 3 this weekend. That's 3 marathons in 3 days in 3 countries! Starting with Snowdonia on Saturday 24th, they then drive to Dorking in Surrey to run the Greensands marathon on Sunday (nice and hilly), then fly to Dublin for the marathon on Monday! Gaynor, Rob and John will be at The Skeleton Run the following Friday, 30th; we'll be the ones limping... 3 in 3 in 3 update - Gaynor and the boys completed all 3 marathons, placing 1st (Rob), 2nd (John), 5th (Gaynor) and 6th (Andy) out of the 19 running fools in the UK to complete the challenge in 2009, with Gaynor being 1st Lady!

We're very happy that those lovely chaps from British Military Fitness will be supporting The Beast in 2010! They'll be getting you in the swing of things with a warm up and providing a 'surprise obstacle'! As they're such kind hearted blokes we're sure it'll be something warm and fuzzy like kitten chasing or maybe a nice jigsaw... Check them out at www.britmilfit.com

Fancy something a bit spooky the night before Halloween? The Skeleton Run is a 5 mile night trail run on Friday 30th October 7.00pm, set within the grounds of The Beacon Hill Country Park, Woodhouse Eaves, LE12 8TA. The Skeleton Run is open to 200 runners and Nordic walkers, aged over 18 years on race day. All competitors must wear/carry a head/handheld torch; no torch, no entry! As it's the night before Halloween, fancy dress isn't compulsory but definitely encouraged! So break out the fake blood and come and join us! All race information and postal entry forms can be found on the Pure Outdoors page.

Emma Kingzett, one of Lucozade's Team of Sports Scientists will be providing a Sports Science Advice stand at the upcoming Skeleton Run on Friday 30th October at 7.00pm. The runners will be able to sample products from the Lucozade range and receive free advice about sports nutrition and also receive a free pace band!

The Running Bug is a great website devoted to getting the UK running. On it you'll find advice, race reports, beginner friendly forums and event listings (including all of Pure Outdoors' events!) to find your next race. Check out www.therunningbug.co.uk

Sweaty Betty - sweat yoga beach snow

If you like to look and feel fab whilst you workout then check out the new Sweaty Betty active women's wear store on Pelham Street, Nottingham. Each store in the Sweaty chain appoints their own 'ambassador', a personal trainer who 'test drives' their products. We're happy to announce that Gaynor Prior is Nottingham's ambassador! To find out more about Sweaty Betty's gorgeous range check out www.sweatybetty.com

Our team, Ignorance is Blisters started at 11.02pm on Friday 2nd March. The 42 mile route takes in some of the wildest parts of the Peak District including Win Hill, High Neb, Derwent Edge, Howden Edge, Bleaklow, past Kinder Downfall, Brown Knoll, Rushup Edge, Mam Tor and finally back into Edale again around 13 hours later! We ran through rain, sleet, snow, fog and 50 mph winds; not for the faint hearted but it was an amazing experience.

The High Peak Marathon is an over-night mountain marathon for teams of four, following a route based on the Derwent Watershed, the classic 42 mile bog-trot around the wildest part of the Peak District, first completed in 1918 by Eustace Thomas of Manchester’s Rucksack Club. Gaynor, husband Dave, and friends Alex Adgar and Robert Hall-McNair make up team 'Ignorance is Blisters'!

Gaynor and husband Dave completed the MOB in September finishing 18th and 19th out of 52, Gaynor being the 4th female. Just in case 175 miles wasn't far enough they also ran The Robin Hood Marathon one day later to make 201.2 miles run in 8 days!

The Barclaycard Marathon of Britain is the ‘world’s toughest multi-day footrace’ covering 175 miles in 6 stages in 6 days.  

Stage One: Malvern to Croome Landscape Park - 16 miles

Stage Two: Croome Landscape Park to Broadway - 29 miles

Stage Three: Broadway to Stratford-upon-Avon - 32 miles

Stage Four: Stratford-upon-Avon to Coombe Abbey - 33 miles

Stage Five: Coombe Abbey to Sawley Meadows - 54 miles

Stage Six: Sawley Meadows to Nottingham Castle - 10 miles

On Friday 4th August Gaynor went on a Marathon of Britain training weekend at Stratford-upon-Avon racecourse; The Day and Night Marathon. The first marathon started on Friday night, off road around the countryside, finishing at 1am!

After 4 hours sleep we were up to start the second marathon, on the same course but in reverse! Had a great time, met some mad people who've run The Marathon of Britain before, picked up some useful tips on ultra marathon running, ate ice cream and got covered in nettle stings!

ORBS stands for Oncoplastic Reconstructive Breast Surgery.  The pioneering ORBS work is led by Mr McCulley and Mr Macmillan at the Nottingham Breast Institute, and the developmnt of their innovative work relies on charitable donations.  This 10 mile walk over the Malvern Hills is being organised by client Sally White. 

Join her by registering online at www.orbswalk.com

After the great success of this year's event Sally is hoping to organise The Malvern Walk 2007, check out the website for details. A big congratulations to everyone who took part, especially clients Lesley Sisson and Alan and Barbara Woodcock!

The new Pure Personal Training T-shirts. Reserve yours today, just add how many you require to the comments box on the contact form.

The Grim Challenge is an 8 mile multi terrain event in Aldershot run over the army’s off road vehicle testing ground. Not so grim this year, just wet!

Leg 4 of The Bob Graham Round takes you from Wasdale to Honister Pass. This training session was hampered by fog on the peaks and my appalling map reading which navigated us over a scree cliff! Now this is what I call doing hill reps...

Leg 2 of The Bob Graham Round; 42 peaks in 24 hrs, approximately 74 miles, starting and finishing at Moot Hall in Keswick. The Round splits into 5 legs, Leg 2 being over the Helvellyn Ridge. It was minus 15 with the wind chill during this training day!

The Ironman is the longest distance competed at triathlon; 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run ( a marathon ). In 2005 it was held at Sherborne Castle in Dorset. My close friend Leanne Emery took part, I was part of her support crew providing sports massage and jaffa cakes! Here she is at the start of the swim.

‘Irongirl’ Leanne Emery just about to start the final leg; 26.2 mile run after swimming 2.4 miles and cycling 112 miles! ‘What do I have to run a marathon now?!’ Well done to all who took part, it was a fantastic event.

Dave Prior abseilling to the start of a climb on the sea cliffs at Portland, shortly before we discovered we were on a live military firing range!

Gaynor and clients Sue Hawker and David Templeman at the finish of The Grim Challenge, an 8 mile multi terrain race held on the military vechicle testing grounds in Aldershot.

Today sees the launch of the revised Pure Personal Training website. Codebrush.com have taken my old site and revamped it. The site now provides more compatability so you Mac and Firefox users should have no problems now. Codebrush are also instrumental in taking the Pure Personal brand forward with advertising and merchandise campaigns.