What a great morning!
Today was the Ashmei Ambassadors day, i started by preparing the car; blacking out the windows, putting on the diplomatic plates and some small flags that sit on the bonnet above the headlamps. I didn't but i did make the drive to Tring, it was a beautiful morning, bright and sunny and very cold. It was a couple of hours drive and it pretty much flew by. Arriving at Ashmei HQ was quietly impressive, large automatic metal gates with a large banner. They opened automatically, very bond. On site it was very relaxed and understated. Old farm buildings converted or otherwise. The Ashmei HQ was easy to find not least of all because the large Airstream caravan parked outside.
It turned out that this was actually named Phoenix after the owner's son, Ashmei, incidentally, is an anagram of his daughters name. Simon met me at the entrance and showed me inside.
On walking into the HQ the energy was immediately apparent. To call it a buzz would be to do it an injustice. It was vibrant. Friendly and excited chatter, athletes all getting to know each other, drinking juice or water (where was the coffee?) and munching on fruit or croissants. There was also a large plate of Fererro Rocher (we were being quite spoiled).
Registration was at the back of the room, stickers for your name, a disclaimer and a 'fun fact' later and it was socialising and networking. My mind went totally blank when asked for a fun fact - quite embarrassing really. I started talking to Julie Kummer of Like the Wind magazine and Freestak, it had been her husband Simon that had shown me in when i arrived. After a short chat i went and had my photo taken, the last piece of advice being to make sure i didn't have any croissant in my beard!
There was then an introduction by Simon and then a presentation by the Ashmei founder, Stuart Brooke. This was an impressive talk by a man who is clearly passionate about what he makes and why he makes it. Had there been a rail with clothing to buy at that moment i think everyone in that room would have been getting their cash out. The ethos, effort and thought that goes into each piece of clothing was beautifully articulated and made perfect sense.
We were then all given a pair of the trail running Ashmei socks as a gift. Of course we all put them on, there's nothing quite like that fresh sock feeling and these didn't disappoint. Snug, supporting and soft all at once. Today's run wasn't really a session to test them properly but i am looking forward to wearing them on my next long run.
There was time for a few questions and then we got changed ready to head out on a run or ride. This was to be an hour or so. The weather had turned a bit while we were inside and so it was actually pretty cold when we headed out. Short sleeves were a bit of a mistake. The route we ran was beautiful. We were in the countryside and on the trails within 5 minutes of leaving the HQ. Up towards the Ridgeway along to a beacon and then back around. There were some excellent vista's and on a sunnier day the view would have gone for miles. On our return leg we coincided with a local race. Cheering on the runners and making way for them to run through our large group when we encountered them.
The run was great, views and terrain aside it was really great to be running with like minded people and getting to know them. I was running and chatting with a triathlete when i tumbled. Spectacularly. Crashing hard on my right shoulder. I was fine but it was embarrassing as the group stopped to help me and check i was ok. That would now be my fun fact "on an ambassadors selection day i face planted on the run".
Back at the Ashmei HQ there was more grazing at the buffet table. Some final conversations with the other athletes and then a farewell from Simon.
Nobody really wanted to leave or at least that was how it felt. This was a party that could have gone on and on. The environment was welcoming and familiar and the people there all shared the same passions. To be outdoors doing their sport whatever it might be.
As i walked to the car I felt so incredibly motivated and energized. Like i wanted to run again and maybe the whole 70 miles home. When you spend the whole morning in an environment built around running with people that feel the same then i don't see how you cannot be touched by that.
The reason we were all there was because we want to become brand ambassadors. If i were selected it would be truly awesome. To be associated with the people and Ashmei brand is exactly where i would want to be. There were, though 40-50 other people that all feel the same and who are all equally awesome, positive and motivated. I do not envy those making the choices and only hope that i feature in their thinking. If i don't then i genuinely wish whoever is selected well as hey were a great bunch of people and will do a fantastic job i am sure.
