Brrrr, I’ve been out for a paddle this morning and I have to say that whilst the stream is looking stunning with the daffodils in full flower and the sun shining, I was not expecting snow yesterday nor the temperature to have plummeted so much!

But you are not to worry about me, I luckily have not put away my winter wardrobe yet and I was able to fluff up my feathers and get in the water for a final last push to get my time up to the P/B I am aiming for on race day.

On that note, have you bought your ducks yet?? Far be it for me to tell anyone what to do, but buying your ducks ahead of the day means you can enjoy all the “fun of the fair” without needing to queue to place your bets.

Keep an eye out for our helpers rattling tins and waving clip-boards, you will spot them in the village and they would love to see you.

But before I go, I have been onto the Met Office as the snow yesterday worried me.

It is hard to believe that last week saw the warmest day of the year so far when Porthmadog in Wales reached 20.3 celsius but by the end of the week we had snow showers across the north of the UK and sleet and hail showers elsewhere!
As for the snow in Storrington, apparently it is more likely to snow in spring than at Christmas so we shouldn’t have been so surprised.

Statistically, it has snowed on average for more days in March than it has in December, according to the Met Office.

Snow or sleet falls on average for 3.9 days in December, compared to 4.2 days in March.

And while April is a bit of a different story, with only 2.3 days of snowfall on average, it’s not entirely unheard of.
Have you ever heard the old saying: ‘Ne’er cast a clout, until May is out’?

It basically means, don’t throw away your winter clothes until June, because May has always been a bit of a weather free-for-all.

So don’t worry – only two more months and then all this confusion will be over.

As for Sunday, I would keep your options open as the BBC long term weather forecast leading up to Sunday says:

There is a change afoot?
The pressure pattern looks set to change and this will lead to a subtle shift in wind direction. Weather systems will have more of an Atlantic influence, rather than a straight northerly influence, and this will mean that by day temperatures will slowly become less cold and eastern areas will at times see temperatures creep above normal. However, on balance the UK average temperature is likely to fall below average for this time of year. We are expecting to see weather systems to affect the whole of the UK with everyone at some point seeing outbreaks of rain pushing through with the continued risk of Scotland seeing some snow over the mountains so I pity anyone North of the Border.

Sam the Duck

Quack quack!!! Sam here. Well what a week it’s been and its only Wednesday!

The other day saw the fab Ben Smith of the 401 Challenge run a marathon in Storrington, I didn’t know there were that many miles in the village, the Duck Race course certainly isn’t that long, thankfully!

Ben is aiming to run 401 marathons on 401 consecutive days all around the UK in order to not only break a record but also to raise £250,000 for charities Kidscape and Stonewall. By the time he got to Storrington on Tuesday he was on marathon number 232, having started last September.

And he had such a hot day for it!

As he pounded the pavements he managed to speak to BBC Sussex twice. He visited our lovely primary school Storrington First where he got the chance to run round the school fields with loads of the school kids! And I hear that they had great fun.

He did a two lap course through some beautiful towns in Sussex with some amazing people! Lots of new PBs and lunch stops.

Ben says “Thanks to everyone who took part, was such a lovely day!”

So, well done Ben, you have set the bar high for our race day on 8th May which is coming around very fast.

So fast in fact that it’s time to start placing your bets ladies and gents!

Yes DUCKS GO ON SALE THIS WEEKEND!!

So, keep an eye and a beak out for our lovely supporters selling ducks all over the place in the coming weeks. Feel free to approach them, they don’t bite, and they will be only to happy to sell you a duck for the big day….

So if you’d like to make a duck very happy (while helping the school too!) please come along to the Henry Adams car park this Saturday 23rd or next between 10am & 12 noon to buy some of my little friends!!

In the spirit of fair competition, I won’t be telling you which race I am in or what my number is as I would hate to be accused of race fixing but trust me, there are some real contenders in the pack this year and any of us stand a good chance of making it to the last, all important, cash prize race but you’ve GOT TO BE IN IT TO WIN IN so buy as many ducks as you can……

£1 a duck, a bargain if I say so myself.

And good luck!

Gosh it’s harder than I thought all this getting into shape but without the encouragement of a good trainer I wouldn’t have made it this far, proof that having the right team is half the battle.

This is what we have been doing this week, please feel free to follow my regime at home if you like and let me know how you get on….

So, for week 3, I need to push myself, one mile more.

Michelle says “when you’re training for an event be sure not to push yourself too hard too fast. A good training plan will ensure that you can achieve your goal without injury or burn out. As a general rule increase your efforts by no more than 10% per week.

“So Sam, the goal is a river of approximately 100m and with 4 weeks to go you want to be adding a little bit each week so by the end of April you can comfortably paddle about 90m. Try and combine your paddling with some waddling to get the added benefit of cross training. Simple body weight exercises like lunges and squats will help to increase your strength. With your feet hip width apart, spread your webbed toes for balance, bend your knees whilst sticking your bottom out behind you, wings out in front to steady you.

“I know it’s a very busy time for you in the run up to the big day. Rest should also be an important part of your training. Schedule a rest day every week when you can just curl up in the nest and let your body recover and become stronger.”

So, I am going to keep on pushing through the pain barrier and aim for the 90m paddle on 8th May.

How are you all getting on with your training for the big day?

Sam

After the sun comes the storm and I don’t know about you, but now the clocks have changed it really feels like Spring is around the corner and that can only mean one thing, that Duck Race day is fast approaching so best get on with the training regime….

Michelle has been pushing me hard this week in my quest to throw off the winter weight and get fit for 8th May.

This is what we have been doing this week, please feel free to follow my regime at home if you like and let me know how you get on….

So, for week 2, its all about style over substance and how the right gait supports you.

Now that my training is well under way, it’s time to consider my form as well as my effort. Poor form can not only slow you down but also leave you susceptible to injuries. Move well before you move often!

There are several ways you can check if you’re moving well. If you can, get an expert to help you. A qualified duck trainer will be able to encourage and advise you through your training. Maybe train with a buddy, get them to video you. I know this may feel uncomfortable at first but you’ll be surprised what you can see when you look at yourself from different angles. Just check the feathers are all in place first!

Some tips to help you out; when you’re paddling it should look effortless, neck held high, wings back flat to the body and a long smooth glide. When you’re waddling try to put the middle part of your foot on the ground first and make sure your knee bends over your toes not in to the centre. Use your wings to drive yourself forwards.

Michelle says “You’re doing really well Sam, the flock and I are proud of you!”