Weekend Round Up 12th 13th November
Friday night saw the Tuff Fitty Social event of the year and awards ceremony with 35 trophies and a great time was had by all. This still left the following Tuff action to report on.
LONDON MARATHON 10Km SWIM
Congratulations to Helen Bull who attended the London Aquatic Centre for the Marathon Swim. Helen’s report is self explanatory but the editor has inserted a You Tube clip from 2017. This not only illustrates the format but at circa 1:44 into the clip you will see Helen; thank you Helen for flying the Tuff name in the results.
“Some of you will know that I have taken part in the London 10km Marathon Swims multiple times before. However, this year was extra special as it’s the first time the event has taken place since Covid.
Some of you will also know that I like to plan things with in an inch of its life! As per usual, this was my strategy for this years event – I planned to train hard!
Life has a funny way of throwing curve balls at us & this was a perfect example. In the last six months our local pools close to Bognor, Chichester and Littlehampton have all been closed for various technical reasons. There was one week where all 4 of my local pools were closed for different technical reasons.
So my training certainly hadn’t gone to plan.. but sometimes you just have to get on with it!
I rocked up to the London Aquatics Centre last Saturday on race day – a pool that means so much to me. The reality hit that I now had to swim 10km!
I started – and nearly got back out again after the first length! Distance swimming is as much about mental strength as it is physical. I wobbled hard on that first length. But I also love the lure of the bling. After all, I’m the only person to ever have completed all previous London 10km Marathon Swims. Quitting wasn’t an option.
I found my rhythm and ploughed through the first 5km. It was getting harder. The 7th & 8th Kms were hell. My arms & lungs burning. But by now I was on the home stretch. 9th km done. Just one more to go. The 10th and final km was the hardest. I paid the price for my lack of fitness. But eventually after 4hrs and 28 mins, I finished the swim.
Would I do it again – 100% (hopefully with a bit more training!)
Would I recommend this event to others – 100% yes. The atmosphere was electric and the bling is awesome! Do it! “
Helen
SUSSEX CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE – RACE 2 – ARDINGLY
A big thank you to our intrepid four who ensured Tuff Fitty remain scoring in the league table. Kudos to Tuffs Kate Cooper and Nathan Bilham who ran well representing their running clubs. The entry link for Fixture 3 is now open here ; it would be nice to field greater numbers at Stanmer. Whilst the Tuff album is shown below on flickr Sussex SportsPhotography were present if participants wish to purchase photos here.
Captain Adrian Oliver has collated the article below including a report from Vanessa Green as follows:-
“Normal expectation for Cross Country is wet, windy and muddy. Saturday’s Ardingly Cross Country was far from that – dry, no wind and dry.
Despite amazing conditions, only 6 Tuffs were sufficiently recovered from Friday night’s Tuff Award’s Ceremony. 2 Tuffs were needing to run for other teams, which left 4 courageous Tuffs, 2 ladies and 2 mens to fly the flag. This also meant that we maintained our team statuses in the league.
As usual, off first were the ladies – Tuffs represented by Vanessa Green and Vicki Hedger who achieved amazing 30 minutes each for the hilly 5km race.
Thank you Vanessa for the following race report:
So after the Tuff’s annual dinner dance a few of us headed off to Ardingly to take part in the x Country league… The weather was perfect… Vicki and I set off on one of the toughest 5k runs I have done..(might have been the beer)… it wasn’t too bad under foot…we completed the run and we were not last, earning ourselves a chocolate from the bag! I could be tempted to do the next one!
Next off were the mens represented by Simon Thistlewaite and Adrian Oliver. As usual Simon flew off to finish the 8km race in 34:17 – “only” 7 minutes down on the winner who finished in 26:56. Interestingly a lady was spotted in the mens race who thrashed most men in 29:45 finishing 17th – Simon finished in 92nd, and Adrian in 173rd in a leisurely 42:32.
For team results:
- Ladies were 26th in Division 2-3, and 21st in Vets
- Mens were 23rd in Division 2, and 24th in Vets
Next Cross Country League Race: Saturday 3rd December at Stanmer Park, Brighton, BN1 9SE
Vanessa & Adrian
CLUB CAPTAIN’S FOR 2023
As everyone will be aware the committee appoint two Club Captains to help our club to progress and offer support. Adrian Oliver and Nicole Patterson-Lett have been very proactive as Captains, supporting members and organising Tuff special events. Adrian has a further time in office but Nicole has served her full term, and as her and Clive are in the planning stages of a move out of the area, a new ladies Captain is required.
Nicole has had a great tenure as captain and able to call on CPL for assistance made a formidable team. This has been particularly so on the swimming side with the popular Power Hour and swims and events from The Beach Cafe; thank you Nic. A move date has yet to be set so no doubt Nic will still be encouraging everyone to dip into the sea as part of the Pengiun Challenge for some time.
Your committee approached Verity-Jane Lacey to serve as Ladies Captain for her two year period of office, and we are delighted to announce she has accepted. Verity has nothing to prove as an athlete as illustrated in her Ironman adventure this year, but more importantly she has been highlighting her qualities by leading on club bike rides so she will make an excellent captain. We know Verity will be a popular choice and together with Adrian the captaincy’s continue to be in good hands – Thank you Verity & Adrian.
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS
The beginning of November is the start of a new Tuff year and members are requested to renew their subscription for 2023. (Those who joined towards the end of this recent Tuff financial year do not need to take any action). Conscious of the financial climate the membership fee is being frozen again, remaining at £40 for new members since 2018. We are also retaining the existing member renewal discount as a thank you to all Tuffs who contributed to another successful year. If members renew before the 31st December 2022, renewal will cost £35.
To help make things easier, this year we are raising renewal requests direct to members via Spond. Whilst this would ordinarily accrue a handling charge, also to assist, Tuff Fitty will absorb the handling charge. It is accepted that some members view Spond more sporadically than others, so do please encourage your club mates to view Spond and renew to take advantage of the renewal discount before the end of December. Your committee are planning ahead for a full year of activities and events and we very much hope that you would wish to continue as a Tuff. Thank you, and particular thanks to the considerable number who have already followed their Spond link and paid.
PARK RUN ROUND UP
Worthing parkrun Tuffs had Maisie Johnston as first Tuff home crossing the line as 7th female overall in 22:48. Steve Feest followed in 23:30 and just behind in 23:42 was Edward Lay. Tony Pearce was next on his 36th PR. Then Les Pearce completed his 174th run – Elaine Rousseau completed the Tuffs on parade.
Littlehampton parkrun saw Nick Hartfield on the organising team. Our racing Tuffs were Rick Budd in 21:40, then Steve Bridgeman
No Lancing Green Parkrun this week due to a muddy course.
At Seaford Beach parkrun it was good to see Jez Garratt in action again
Across at Bedgebury Pinetum parkrun Sheila Bailey was a parkrun tourist around Goudhurst, near Tunbridge Wells. a great result notching up her 15th different parkrun location.
Hove Prom parkrun was where Dave March ran this week finishing in a swift 22:28
Across at Bognor parkrun Nathan BIlham was on the organising team whilst Trevor and Clive Harvey ran to complete the 15 Tuff runners this weekend
