Haywards Heath Handbook

WE RECEIVED A request from the Haywards Heath Handbook to write an article on Haywards Heath Harriers, which was an opportunity to promote the club and also network with the publication for future articles.   I have written a few stories in the local newspaper, the Mid Sussex Times, so took this request on. 

After a discussion with the publishers it turned out they were after an article on running in Mid Sussex, which seemed a lot wider than the original brief and gave a lot more to talk about.

I discussed with them working from grass roots up, with all of the different aspects linked through Haywards Heath Harriers.   Writing from Clair and Walkhurst parkrun, through J&M Running, and ending with Haywards Heath Harriers.

As a special request they asked if I could do a second article on Wakehurst parkrun for their East Grinstead Handbook.   We agreed a word count on the articles and a deadline for the story to be submitted on.

On the last parts of the article I added points around volunteering to help with parkrun, if readers didn't want to run it and the England Athletics "lift the curfew" campaign aimed at women being able to get out running in the darker months feeling and keeping safe.

I hit the deadline for the article perfectly and received a very complimentary call from the publishers about the article and when it came out they printed both in the Haywards Heath edition.   I have not seen the East Grinstead one, so not sure if both articles was printed in there as well.

I will keep their details as I have two ideas for the future that I will need help publicising, but that will have to be saved for another article!