Featured

Don Ritchie – The Stubborn Scotsman

July 24, 2018 Rahil Sachak-Patwa

If searching for the longest standing world records in athletics, you will most likely be pointed to Jarmila Kratochvílová’s 800m at the 1983 World Championships. If you dig further still, you may come across Donald ‘Don’ Ritchie, who, on 28th October 1978, ran 100 kilometres around the Crystal Palace track in 6 hours,10 minutes and 20 seconds. To put that into perspective, he averaged a pace of quicker than 6 minutes per mile, or just under 1m29s per lap for 250 of them. This record stood for just short of […]

Inspire

Personal Best

May 16, 2017 Dan Richards

Not only did you do it, you did it better than ever before! You jumped further, you ran faster, or you threw further than EVER before! A personal best, a lifetime best, a personal record, however you phrase it those two words make it all worthwhile. Even if this was the first time, it’s official now! You were nervous during the warm up when they told you to “do your best”, but you did exactly that! Maybe that start was perfect, your form was better or you nailed the take-off […]

Advice

High-tech running

February 15, 2017 Dan Richards

My first mass participation race was in 2005, the British 10k race in central London. I didn’t know much about running back then and I certainly didn’t have any tech, just a pair of Nike Free Run’s and bags of enthusiasm! My senses were on high alert with the various sounds and wafts of deep heat spray. People had bottles of homemade energy drinks and gels, and were talking about the route and expected completion times. I remember the shuffling sounds of people and the excited conversations taking place all […]

Advice

Off the beaten track

February 3, 2017 Dan Richards

I am a keen sprinter and will probably always claim to be. Roughly 3 years ago though, I was accidentally exposed to ‘trail running’ and since then I have become hooked! Trail running gives you a variety of terrain, scenery, people and awesome locations. Most importantly, the pain and monotony of training is replaced by feelings of freedom and euphoria, assuming you’re doing it right! True trail running can be found worldwide in large mountain ranges such as the Alps, but there are a few entry level routes in easy […]

News

New volunteering opportunities available in London

November 1, 2016 Emma Butcher

Have you ever wanted to combine your love of running with your want to help others? The below opportunities could be perfect for you; offering both short and long term opportunities to help others get into running. Further information will be posted on LUCA soon; but in the meantime please contact sarah.murphy.14@ucl.ac.uk who will direct you to further appropriate contacts. Coaching opportunities: Long term opportunity from Wednesday 9th November 2016 to April 2017: Paddington Recreation ground, Wednesdays 4-5pm: coaching disability children on the fundamentals of athletics. This post doesn’t require qualifications, […]

Inspire

Laviai Nielsen ‘inspired’ by Jessica Ennis-Hill

October 28, 2016 James Findon

London 2012 was a pivotal moment for GB heptathlete, Jessica Ennis-Hill. The poster girl for the games had a chance to win Gold in front of a home crowd. It was a chance that she seized and the rest, as they say, is history. But Jess’ victory had a profound and lasting effect. Standing behind her on the track, was a young Laviai Nielsen – a kit carrier volunteer. Nielsen, 20, is now the European Junior 400m champion and BUCS 200m champion. My inspiration always ❤️ #JessicaEnnisgoodnight 😢 A photo […]

Inspire

Calling all girls – ‘This Girl Can’ neon rave run

October 27, 2016 Lucy Patchett

Are you ready to get your running shoes on and be part of something huge?! As part of the nationwide ‘This Girl Can’ Campaign, LUCA are inviting all you lovely ladies to show London what you are capable of by joining us on our Neon Rave Run on the 10th November. Let’s celebrate active women who are doing their thing, no matter how well they do it, how they look or how red their face gets – or in our case, how much neon paint is on it. The last […]

Advice

Run to Explore

September 30, 2016 Rahil Sachak-Patwa

When people ask me why I run, I can list many reasons; it keeps you fit, I like competing, it’s sociable and the list goes on and on. But perhaps the most appealing aspect of the sport for me is that whilst running I can explore. The word ‘explore’ is defined as travelling through an unfamiliar area to learn about it and that is exactly what running enables you to do. I tried to start running on a number of occasions before I joined my university’s running club, and I […]