For the typical hotel guest, a weekend away means indulging in long lie-ins, rich food and relaxing soaks in the bath.

But the owners of a new guest house are taking the concept of getting away from it all and turning it on its head.

Or more precisely on its feet - by offering a series of breaks for fitness freaks who love to run.

Fiona Bugler, coowner of The Running Inn in Hartington Place, Eastbourne, said: "When I go on holiday I still run every day - even on Christmas Day - and I am always looking for activities to do.

"There are all sorts of weekend breaks for people, from rock'n'roll to running, and while it is nice to be able to walk along the prom when you are on holiday some people want a bit more."

The tourists booking in to the The Running Inn can expect all the typical trappings of an English bed and breakfast including a sea view, a dawn chorus from seagulls and impeccable service.

But guests would do well to remember their leotard and trainers since the more unexpected highlights of their stay will include cross-country running, pilates and exercise workouts at the in-house studio.

It was their enthusiasm for fitness which prompted husband and wife team Fiona, 38, and Mike Ovens, 41, to leave London and head to Eastbourne to open the Running Inn last summer.

As a one-time fitness journalist, Fiona longed to leave her desk and run through the great outdoors while her husband, a former-Navy officer and sprinter, wanted a business where he could maintain his fitness levels.

Fiona said: "When I had my two children I realised I had to become a fitness teacher in order to keep fit and it developed from there.

"Both Mike and I are fully-qualified but we are not just here for athletes. The weekends are for anyone who wants to be fitter."

The pair held their first running weekend in November when eight guests tackled the highs and lows of Eastbourne seafront during an early-bird cross-country session.

Fitness tests were followed by healthy breakfasts, personalised body workshops, seafront work outs, nutritional advice, pilates sessions and an optional massage.

For 2006, Fiona and Mike are launching women-only weekends to prepare for Race For Life in aid of Cancer Research UK, a marathon-training package and cross-country running breaks.

Fiona said: "The weekends are not just about drinking a glass of carrot juice and early to bed.

"There is a social element, too, and after a run it is nice to go to the pub and have a glass of red wine.

"You can do both. It is just a case of everything in balance."

Thursday, January 5, 2006