Author: Chris
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The Lickey Hills – My Outdoors Inspiration Since The 1990s – Part One
It was the early 1990s… I was living in Moseley in south Birmingham, and in my last year of primary school. I was very good academically, but also loved exercise and the outdoors. I was the second fastest runner in my class, and naturally good at most sports that I tried. As a creative, independent-minded…
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Abbey Stadium Track Athletics Meet (Redditch)
I thought I’d offer you a glimpse into the competition experience of a Masters sprinter from Bromsgrove. Yes that’s sprinting as in very fast running! I’m conscious that you often hear about the sport of running as if it can only mean training for marathons, or at least a 5k. I was one of those…
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Lickey Hills Virtual Walks!
I’ve recorded many virtual walks for YouTube over the years. The six videos that I’ve shared below include trails at the Lickey Hills Country Park, as well as further afield at the Waseley Hills and Clent. You can use them to exercise while it’s wet/dark outside, whether on your treadmill, walking pad, exercise bike, or…
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Cofton Parkrun – Starting Soon?
*UPDATE: it’s finally confirmed! The first ever Cofton parkrun is tomorrow on Saturday 8th August 2026! https://bromsgrovestandard.co.uk/news/first-ever-cofton-park-parkrun-to-take-place-this-saturday/ *Update – June 3rd, 2026: the BBC website has an article on Cofton parkrun: New parkrun will ‘spread happiness and positivity’. *Note: I’m now offering discounted one-to-one running sessions for the rest of the summer, at £20 for…
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Kids’ Fitness – Playful Training For Strength & Confidence
I’ve done fitness training with a lot of kids over the years, and I thought I’d try to summarise some key points from my experience. From the outset, certain essentials must always be kept in mind. You need ongoing risk assessment of the location you are using, equipment used, and the particular characteristics or group…
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Waseley’s Best Kept Secret? An Epic Hill Race…
*Update (July 2026) – this year’s event will be on Sunday 20th September at 10:30am –https://runabc.co.uk/waseley-wobbler The Waseley Wobbler trail race is held every September, starting and finishing at Waseley Hills High School. It is around 8.5 miles in length, and includes total ascent of well over 1000 feet or 300 metres. This year (2025)…
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My Thoughts On Mixed Martial Arts & Grappling
Mixed martial arts, or MMA, means using a mix of fighting styles together in a single match. In particular, what makes it unique is the combination of strikes (punches, kicks etc) with grappling (throws, takedowns, ground work etc). This makes it especially realistic for self-defence, which is a leading motivation for the average person to…
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Trail Running At Clent Hills Today: From Winter Blues To Blue Skies!
After recent cloudy skies, the weather and scenery were just stunning for the trail running session I led today, on the southern slopes of the Clent Hills. The warm midday sunshine made it feel more like early spring than late winter, and I couldn’t help stopping to take photos. Starting from Shut Mill Lane, our…
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Rugby Speed Training For Kids
I’m writing this based on my experience of training kids for speed, as part of my PT work. I’ve worked with all ages, but the kids I’ve trained specifically for rugby have been 9-12 years old. So this article applies to that age range – give or take a couple of years depending on the…
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Summary of Video By ‘Jordan Teaches Jiu Jitsu’ On How To Beat Bigger Opponents
I thought I would summarise the key points of this recent video, which is a useful one for small beginners. In particular, the tips should help those who are already familiar with the basic details of grappling, but may be lacking an overview of certain concepts: 1. Avoid most submissions from the bottom/guard (especially triangles)…
Chris Gibbs Fitness 