Sponsorship Update

As you will be aware we are incredibly proud to be supporting elite runner Richard through our NICE1 sponsorship programme. Over the past 6 months, we've had a front-row seat to Richard's training, races, triumphs and learning experiences. His journey so far has been one of determination, and an unwavering commitment to growth.  So, what’s the story so far.

Our partnership kicked off with an exciting call mapping out Richard's goals for the year and how this sponsorship could provide vital support. We agreed to monthly check-ins reviewing his training, race results, accomplishments, and areas to focus on for the upcoming month. Richard has committed to diligently tracking all his training and races so we could reflect on progress over the months.

Richard has entered many events so far and this is a summary of his performances.

While battling a cold leading up to the Liverpool race, Richard demonstrated his first big learning experience - managing expectations when not at 100%. Though his 70th place finish fell short of his original top 30 aim, he used this to adjust his mindset for the next race, the Ribble Valley Road Race on December 31st, where a podium top 3 finish became the new goal.

All the hard work paid off at Ribble Valley as Richard pushed himself to a strong 4th place - just narrowly missing the podium but still a fantastic result! This coincided with the exciting news that he had earned an additional sponsorship from adidas, complementing the NICE1 sponsorship. Motivated, we continued to plan and review his up-and-coming race schedule.

The typical winter cross-country races brought new challenges in the form of harsh, muddy conditions. However, Richard took these obstacles as opportunities to critically analyse his race strategies and pre-race routines, working closely with his coach to optimise his training approach.

Revitalised from an invaluable warm-weather weeks training camp in Portugal, Richard returned hitting new highs - consistently clocking 70+ mile weeks and rediscovering his peak performance mindset. This renewed drive and fitness translated to some impressive results at events as he began rounding into ideal shape.

Richard's hard work has seamlessly carried into the last month as he put together a string of confidence-boosting performances, including a 4th place finish in a relay event and was pipped to the post at his recent 5k in Cardiff to achieve second place. With more upcoming races on the horizon, he’s remained committed to sustaining his high training volumes of 70 miles per week, aiming to capture more major podium placings and PB times. 

The first half of Richard's season with NICE1 has been a study in perseverance, courage, and a never-ending desire to reach new heights. We have no doubt his capabilities will continue to shine through in the months ahead.