CHRISTMAS traditions are common.
But Angus Brayshaw’s family routine is not.
For the past six years, the Brayshaw brothers have put themselves through some grueling running sessions before enjoying the festivities of Christmas day.
The session involves 100 repeated lots of 100-metre sprints, a brutal idea thought up by Mark Brayshaw, Angus’ father.
“It probably started because my old man used to make us do all these extra running things,” Brayshaw said.
“Then because no one was doing anything on Christmas day, he said we should do something like that.
“I don’t know where the 100-hundreds came from, but it’s got a nice ring to it and it just sort of took off.”
The sprints take up a fair chunk of Brayshaw’s day, but he explained that there is value in running them quickly.
“The way we do it is on the 35 seconds,” he said.
“So if you run it in 20 seconds you’ve got 15 to rest, before you turn around and go back.
“It takes about an hour and a bit.
“It’s a long time and it’s just running up and back, so it gets pretty boring but it’s good that we get a bit of banter going between us on the way, so time flies.”
The unusual tradition has gained some ascendancy and is embraced, rather than dreaded.
“I’ve got three brothers and we always try to do at least us four and we’ve got a few mates that jump on as well,” Brayshaw said.
“It’s a bit of fun, I mean it’s hard work, but we eat a lot of food on Christmas day as well, so I think it makes us feel a bit better about it all.”
With the sun often shining and fun to be had in the afternoon, Brayshaw often tries to get the taxing session out of the way in the morning.
“The earlier the better,” he said.
“It’s notoriously hot on Christmas in the smack bang middle of summer so usually we get up, do it before lunch at least and then have the rest of the day to hook into some food.”
While Brayshaw will be watching on from the sidelines this Christmas, he can’t wait to get back involved in 2019.
“I can’t do it this year unfortunately but it’s something to look forward to – I enjoy it,” he said.
