Weekend Round Up 18th 19th December
From everyone in Tuff Fitty, thank you for your support during 2021, particularly with all the Covid restrictions. Have a great Christmas & we look forward to helping you meet your 2022 goals.
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The Portsmouth Coastal Marathon, Ultra, Half Marathons & 10k are a great way to do some Tuff spotting. A well organised race; is it the lure of the chance to burn some calories off before Christmas or the well stocked goodie bag! Either way these are popular races with almost 1200 finishers this year despite Covid. Last held at Christmas 2019 when there were three Tuffs running the marathon and six the half marathon. This year’s event was poignant as last time Joe Pascoe ran the half. He was late getting to the start line, but then proceeded to tear through the field finishing 14th overall. This was just before his first operation for cancer and the start of an incredibly sad 2 years since.
2021 saw two intrepid Tuffs running the marathon, Tiff Orton and Vicky Cooper and thanks to Tiff for her comments which are shown below. Half an hour later the half competitors set off along Southsea promenade. The route went around Langstone Harbour with the half competitors turning just before the M27. The marathon runners continued around the harbour down the Billy Line to Hayling Island before turning and repeating the route home. There is always a dilemma, is this a course for road shoes or trails shoes. It transpired that work on the harbour defences kept the route on paths, although the traditional section running on the muddy beach remained so those with pristine road shoes were disappointed. The tide was coming in on the way back necessitating a move inland to avoid further wet feet.
PORTSMOUTH COASTAL MARATHON
“Weather was perfect with no wind or rain”.
“Scenery was not the best and quite boring until running around Langstone harbour, the water looked lovely”.
“An out and back route, nice to see people running the other way but psychologically not great as you knew exactly what was coming at the turn point!”
“Myself and Vicky Cooper the only brave Tuffs to take on the full but a strong Tuff contingent in the half marathon with Pete Littleboy, Simon Thistlethwaite, Jon and Shelly Babbage, Jon Roper, Clive and Trevor Harvey and Debbie Boxall. A great goodie bag with t-shirt, medal, beer, water, crisps and chocolate, food considering cheap to enter 👍”
Tiff
PORTSMOUTH COASTAL HALF MARATHON
Pete Littleboy has submitted his thoughts on the Half. As you will read Pete had a great race and pacing around with Simon Thistlethwaite he also did well finishing just behind in 1 hr 30. Jon Babbage having suffered a cycle fall on a oil stricken roundabout the week before vowed to take it easy due to sore ribs. It was only subsequently that Jon found out he suffered a crack rib – ouch! Despite this, he still completed in style. Jon Roper, Clive Harvey, Trevor Harvey, Debbie Boxall and Shelley Babbage ensured it was a good morning’s work from the Tuff squad.
“I signed up to this race back in the summer and booked an hotel for a nice romantic getaway. I have taken part many times before, albeit many years ago and it being so close to Christmas it’s a great way to party on guilt free”.
“We arrived Friday thus enabling us to pick up my race number up on the Saturday. We also took in the delights of Portsmouth in the afternoon and the Christmas market in the evening, and so I wearily stumbled down to the start line to see the marathoners set off and meet and greet fellow Tuffs before we set off for the half marathon”.
“However this is where I learned the course was different from previous years and trail shoes wouldn’t really be required and so I wasn’t as confident as we set off along the seafront. Along the towpaths of the coast and as the miles ticked by the chat flowed with fellow Tuff Simon T as we were stride for stride. I knew all would be ok, but with 2miles to go I found myself in a position to go sub 90! I pushed on and in doing so and crossed the line to be greeted with a finish time of 1 hr 29 min for 16th position overall. There was a friendly atmosphere at the finish as I got my medal and t shirt and a goody bag that included a milkybar and a pint of beer! Cheers and a Happy Christmas & a Merry New Year “
Pete
TUFF BREAKFAST RUN
The Tuff Saturday runners often stop for coffee afterwards and if suitable mileage has been covered sometimes cake is well deserved. However once a year it has become a long standing tradition to hold the Breakfast run; a full as much as you an eat brekkie at Crossbush
Unfortunately with the latest Covid variant unleashed the week before several decided, understandably, to adopt a cautious approach, so what was set to be a record turnout did not materialise, although there were still participants who don’t normally attend the Saturday run which was nice. Despite this, there was still a good turnout with just some shown in the above photo. Most ran for around 14 km with another group undertaking a 6k route as a limber up for the next morning’s Pompey run.
It was nice that the Tuff Breakfasteers were given a separate room with well spread tables, to be Covid aware, and as it was in full sight of the buffet table, the groups mileage continued to grow as regular trips back to get more coffee and food ensued. Thanks to Trevor Harvey for organising.
PARKRUN
Littlehampton parkrun saw some fantastic running with Emily Moore, first female and 4th overall in 19:49. Next was Kev Pearson 11th overall in 21:43. Alistair Evans was our third Tuff running with Alistair also on the organising team.
Worthing parkrun saw James Oram complete his 120th parkrun crossing as first Tuff in 21:59. Les Pearce was next on his 139th race. Amanda de Ridder on her 132nd. Paul Martin took part pacing a friend. Karly Martin was also present and whilst just her fourth parkrun, it was a PB by 40 seconds. Kate Evans completed her 22nd run with Sheila Bailey completing her 27th. Elaine Rousseau ran her 110th
Lancing Green parkrun saw Nikki Gatland in attendance as she also paced a friend round.
Well done to all 12 Tuff parkrunners.
