Weekend Round Up 2nd 3rd July
Another week, yet there is still no let up in the fantastic race achievements from members.
LONG COURSE WEEKEND – WALES
The weekend saw a great performance at Long Course Weekend Wales. The format is each of the three Iron distance disciplines are staged on consecutive days – Swim Friday, Bike Saturday and Run Sunday. Participants can elect to do shorter distances on each but to do the full Iron distance sees competitors called up for their fourth medal of the weekend. Our very own Geordie Paul Atkinson was on the start line; others had entered prior to lockdown but cancellation saw a loss of goodwill (and money), so Paul ‘flew solo’. Always known as a very tough course with the hills in Pembrokeshire, the sea compounded the position, with strong currents and lumpy conditions. Paul completed ‘long course’ in each of the swim (4k), bike (112m) and run (26.4), but some had been caught out because of the swim time cut off, meaning he was one of just 340 out of 1,000 who managed to complete the triple and get his fourth medal. Congratulations Paul. He is currently on a well deserved break where a report can be added in a later Round Up.
BEAT THE TIDE
Beat The Tide is a great local race staged by the gents at Sussex Trail Events including our very own Danny Cunnett & Jay McCardle. To help entries, the race was selected for one of the designated runs in our Summer Tuff Run Series (STRUN). As the start time approached it was gratifying to see more and more Tuff vests assemble. Particular thanks to Sue Pinky for her photographic skills which she used to great affect, acting as sweeper and pausing to snap as yet another Tuff was coming in the opposite direction on the out and back route. There is definitely a fine art in getting a team shot. Trying to gather Tuffs before a race is worse than herding cats as ‘oh, X has gone for a warm up’ or ‘ Y is in the toilet queue’. So against this backdrop it is a great banner shot this week – thanks Sue – her extensive album is shown below.
The Retreating tide had very kindly left a considerable amount of seaweed, but as a race, the best course of action was straight through that, the rockpools and outflow pipe before an ascent up the shingle to Lancing Yacht club and along Widewater to the turn and encouragement from Jay. The return leg was the same except it came complete with a particularly strong headwind.
The first Tuff across the line was Simon Thistlethwaite, 12th overall in 42:40, a cracking result in the conditions. Just behind in 13th was Alex Webb in 43:08. Phil Scales (45:07) -18th made it three in the top 20. Well done to Jake Melvin (46:44) as the flow of Tuffs at the finish increased. Dom Amey (46:51) then a tuft of Fitties, Jon Babbage, Iris Bennett (who was fourth female overall & Adrian Oliver. Les Pearce, Malcolm Brown, Kate Cooper, Mark Sole, Emma Hinton, Spencer Scott, Jo Baldwin, Clare Worgan, Colin Simpson, Clive Harvey, Katie Goddard, Vanessa Green, Claire Moyle, Sheila Bailey, Bob Thomas, Kate Evans, Nina Tully, Jenny Oliver, & our intrepid sweeper – Sue Pinky. The group of Tuffs at the edge of the shingle grew as they congregated to cheer fellow Tuffs home. Well done to Jay & Danny & Grant Smalley who was helping to distribute the very swish medals. So that was 30 Tuffs on Worthing seafront and that still left a further 11continuing at Track night, including one who attended both!
STRUN RESULTS
Thanks to Captain Adrian, the updated Summer Tuff Run table has been updated following Beat The Tide. As a reminder we still have Dawn on the Downs 10K course 24th July, Worthing parkrun 13th August, & Arundel 10k – 28th August. Your best three results from the age graded/gender based scores go towards the final table. After two events well done to the trio at the top – Les Pearce, Janet Shepherd & Emma Hinton. The table can be viewed HERE
TABARCA TO SANTA POLA SWIM
Tarbaca Island is off the coast of Alicante in the Costa Blanca, Spain and was the venue for a swim by James Brock who has kindly reported in:-
“My fondest childhood memories are holidays in Spain. Growing up and swimming in the Mediterranean Sea is the one real thing I associate with being on holiday.
In my 20’s & 30’s I would visit a very small island called Tabarca with my family & my mother/father in law. I would often comment how one day I would love to swim the distance. More as a fantasy than a reality.
After joining Tuff Fitty & learning to swim (always thankful to Lardy) the swim became a real possibility. I soon learned that there was an organised swim held every year by a local club: this extract from their website:
The Tabarca to Santa Pola swim is among the World’s top 100 and in the swimmers’ opinion themselves, one of the best in Spain.
The Tabarca to Santa Pola crossing is a popular medium distance swim in open sea, a distance of 5900 metres measured in a straight line, and enjoying its 22nd event.
The first swim was in 1996, and four years later the Alone Swim Club was founded, this overseeing organisation up to the current one.
This attracts the highest number of swimmers in open water events in Spain, being a swim from an offshore island to the mainland. There is a safety maximum limit of 1400, albeit with no less than 3000 applicants!
Without hesitation I entered! Along came Covid and it was all cancelled! Having given up on the swim I was surprised to receive an email confirming my place for 2022 was complete. Mrs B & I flew out late Friday, On the Saturday morning there was a three hour race briefing on the history of the race . As my Spanish isn’t great we didn’t hang around for too long but the photo gallery spoke volumes of what a special race this is.
A 04:50 alarm was set. I woke feeling really good. The registration at the harbour was seamless. We were given a small bag, a tow float and a swim hat. I boarded the ferry and made the 40 minute crossing. The chatter amongst all of the varying swim and tri clubs made me miss Tuffs. You really do feed off friends energy. I made the short walk to the start and joined 1400 other swimmers.
Bon Jovi was paying from the sound system, I made my way to the back of the starting field not wanting to get caught up in too much trouble at the start. The klaxon sounded and the race was underway.
As I dove into the water I was surprised at how warm the sea was, crystal clear and calm. I reached out with my right arm to start my first phase of the catch and was amazed how light the water felt. Dare I say but it seemed so easy. I shared on my Facebook that the swim was a privilege. I felt so lucky to be swimming in the Mediterranean sea with such little effort, the sun started to rise as I hit the first KM.
Serenity, peace and calm is what I felt. At no point did I feel fatigued or panicked. It was simply beautiful. I finished in 2:14.
At the finish line there was a crazy band playing drums, families cheering and so much food! Clive would have appreciated all the cake! The finishers goody bag included a T shirt, large beach towel and randomly 1kg of sea salt!
This was the first time I had raced abroad. I absolutely cant wait to do it again. Maybe next year with some Tuffs??”
Jimbo
GOODWOOD DUATHLON
Run Through Events regularly organise running races around London and the SouthEast often popping up at Goodwood Motor circuit. Different this time was the introduction of Duathlon. There were two distances – both at a civilised 1pm start time; Standard where Mike Barrett was on the start line & thanks to Mike we have his report below:-.
There was also a sprint raced across 3.8k run, 19km bike and another 3.8km run. In this race we had Steve Woodbridge and he did well finishing 2nd in his age group in 1 hour 18 min.
“1hr 38 minutes, that is the time for first place in the Goodwood Duathlon Standard Race. 2 run laps as just over 7k, followed by 10 laps at 38k and then simple, a single lap at 3.7k”.
“Now, I came 12th which I’d say wasn’t too… however it was some 20 minutes behind first place. Moreso, the guy who came second was 5 minutes, yes 5 minutes behind first place”.
“I turned into the long back straight at Goodwood and depressingly disappearing into the distance was first place”.
“So… just putting it out there, Duathlons are harder than Triathlons. Day 2 of recovery and calves are still sore”.
“The event team got a few things spot on, lots of drinks and food and lots of people helping. They just lacked a little direction. The track was scorchio out of the wind, the wind just blowing in the wrong direction which made it a tuff ride and a hot run. Look out for a team discount for the Duathlon in September.”
Mike
THE SALOMON SERPENT 50k ULTRA MARATHON
Held on the Saturday, the organisers of the Serpent try to make it inclusive and permit camping on the Friday & Saturday with food and a licensed bar. Distances include 100k. 50k 20k and 10k. Transport to the start which then sees entrants complete the course across what is billed as quintessentially English Countryside starting from just outside Petworth and finishing in Petersfield. The highest point of the 50k is within the first 3 miles of the race, with a long downhill to follow, so is an ideal introduction to this distance. Pleasing to report we had a Tuff presence in the form of Linda Wright who has reported as follows:-
‘It was my 50th back in April so one of my presents was an entry to The Serpent Trail 50k on Saturday 2nd July. Lucky me! You start in a field near Petworth and finish in Petersfield. It was a fantastic event and it’s one of my favourite trails to run on. Might even go back next year!?’
Linda
BROCKWELL PARK AQUATHLON
Oliver Thomas travelled up to Brixton to take part in Windrush Tri Club’s Aquathlon in Brockwell Park, encouraged by a friend who belongs to the tri club. The event comprised a 500m swim followed by a 5k run. There was a very high standard with London Tri clubs out in forces as it was part of the London League series. Posting a cracking 7:31 for the swim and 22min 3 seconds for the run, this was a great performance crossing the line 14th overall and 2nd in his age category.
PADDLE ROUND THE PIER
Held on just one day this year, but still a wide range of events with paddle boards and swim races. The swims included Brighton Tri’s 2.5k, Swimtrek 1.5k and the Swim Lanes 3.8k swim. Or if you were Paul Howie & Andy Tester you could race for the Triple Crown – enter all three events. The longer Swim Lanes 3.8k saw Paul Howie exit the water in 3rd position, just ahead of Andy Tester in 4th position overall. Onto Bri Tri’s 2.5k and the order was reversed with Andy Tester stroking home in 3rd & Paul Howie 4th overall. That position remained the same for the 1.5k event with Andy out the water in 3rd & Paul in 4th. Whilst there was a good field, just 24 swimmers made the consolidated honours board for the Triple crown, with Andy 3rd overall & Paul 4th. After all that they were separated by just 41 seconds after 7.8k of swimming. Thanks gents for placing the Tuff Fitty name at the top of all the results sheets.
ST WILFRED’S HOSPICE SPORTIVE
Congratulations to James Mapley who was on the organising team setting up a 50 mile sportive from Bosham across to Arundel and back to raise money for St Wilfred’s Hospice. Of course with his cycle prowess James was also one of the ride leaders out on the course. The event was staged during a period where any monies raised through entry fees and donations were doubled, so pleasing to report James and his team raised over £2,000
JLL TRIATHLON – DORNEY LAKE
Dorney lake was the setting for the construction industry Triathlon on the Friday. It is great to be able to give a huge shout out to Nick Francis on his wedding last month – congratulations from everyone at Tuff Fitty. Moving onto the 1st July, through his work as an architect, Nick was eligible for the construction industry tri and he entered. A 750m swim followed by 13.5 mile bike and a 5k run. So this is a cause for a double dose of congratulations to Nick as he completed his first ever Triathlon.
PARKRUN ROUND UP
More parkrun locations ticked off this week; perhaps we should plot a map of which ones our club have conquered!
Across at Ross-On-Wye parkrun, the course is entirely on grass around the perimeter of a sports field and alongside the River Wye. Jay McCardle ran after Sussex Trail’s successful Beat The Tide notching his 49th parkrun – his 50th T-shirt isn’t far away.
The second different parkrun this week saw Sheila Bailey run at Itchen Valley Country Park parkrun. In Southampton the course is a mix of trail and grass paths. A one lap course with plenty of technical turns with hills at the end! Well done to Sheila notching up her 37th parkrun.
Lymington Woodside parkrun on the coastal edge of the New Forest saw Emily Moore run. Reaching 130 PRs Emily maintained her excellent form crossing as 3rd female overall in just 20:16
At Worthing parkrun Dave March was first Tuff home in 22:00. Ed Lay was next for his 94th parkrun in 23:22. Elaine Rousseau, a very regular parkrunner clocked up her 132nd parkrun.
Littlehampton parkrun saw Rich Budd home in 24:40 as he trains for his marathons. Alistair Evans was next on his 90th parkrun, and then Jenny Oliver. Nick Hartfield was on the organising team.
Bognor Regis parkrun was another venue with a Tuff venue as Sue & Colin Simpson ran for their 149th and 186th parkruns respectively.
