Weekend Round Up 3rd 4th December
SUSSEX CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE – RACE 3
The third fixture in the Sussex Cross County league – this one was held in Stanmer Park. Whilst we have found it difficult to muster runners this year, we are grateful to the stalwarts who continue to compete which means both our ladies and gents teams remain well placed on the league table. Thanks to Juliette Reader, Esther Fair, Simon Thistlethwaite, Adrian Oliver and Craig Blackman. There was strong results from Kate Cooper & Natham BIlham representing their running clubs. We are grateful to Esther for reporting in:-
“I’ve joined the X-country party fairly late, and these league races are a new experience for me. Having missed the second race, I was keen (is that the right word?!) to do this one. The day was very cold and dull, but the rain had stayed away for most of the week which meant that although slippery leaves under foot, it wasn’t muddy. Phew!”
“My nutty boyfriend Craig who has not YET joined the club (I’m working on it) takes the mentality that if he’s coming to support me then he may as well run it as well. This gives me more incentive to get round as swiftly as I can to be back in time to take over childcare duties. We were bracing ourselves for this one as Adrian’s words were “It’s horrible!”
“The ladies line up first in what I know now to be the normal fashion. The young whippets at the front determined faces and poised to go. Then us slightly older ladies at the back keeping our jumpers on until the last minute and questioning why we are doing this again. But as soon as the race starts, we go charging off after the young’uns. Just as determined, albeit somewhat slower!”
“Lining up for the ladies, myself, and Juliette. Kate was there representing her running club. The start is in a flat field before veering left and starting a steady climb, it narrows out slightly and we’re moving in single file for a while. I’m thinking at this point, what was Adrian talking about, this is alright. I found out soon enough with what felt like a very LONG climb. I stopped to help up a young girl in front whose legs crumbled twice on the uphill. Her determination to keep going was impressive. Soon enough we reached what to me felt like a very steep downhill which took us to the finish. I run downhill the same way as a cycle downhill. Like a bit of a wuss!”
“This race wasn’t nearly as bad as I’d thought it might be and I was pleased to finish in 25.38, Juliette followed shortly after in 27.07. Having flown down the final hill and overtaken quite a few, she put in an amazing sprint finish holding off the whole group behind her. Kate followed quickly after with another seriously impressive sprint finish leading her over the line in 27.45.
30 minutes later the men were off. Adrian, Simon and Craig line up ready for the longer 5 mile course. A quick dash back to the Tuff flag to retrieve the phone to begin photo duty. Simon must have whizzed by on the first of the shorter laps as we missed him, but Adrian and Craig trotted by together looking quite happy. Two larger loops followed and this time us ladies in our role of club cheerleaders were able to shout some words of encouragement to all three who were looking strong and determined.”
“Simon was first of the group over the line in 35.47, Adrian followed next in 43.02 and then Craig shortly after in 44.26. Craig perhaps should invest in some off road shoes for the next one as he tells me it was pretty slippery at times!”
“All in all, good fun, although I don’t mind saying, I’m glad that mine was 5k and not 5 miles! Hopefully we can muster a few more Tuffs for the next league race”.
Esther
Click on the photo below for the flickr album
MINCE PIE 10 MILE RUN
Starting in Peacehaven, this festive 10 mile run is very popular and was sold out. The course is undulating, with a testing hill at around 6miles. Approximately 6miles is off road on farm tracks and bridleways, while the remaining 4miles are on reasonably quiet roads. With so much of the course off road in December runners were warned to expect some mud.
We had a trio of Tuffs with Ness Green running well as first Tuff home. Two further good performances followed from Sheila Bailey & Kate Evans. All three got into the festive spirit as the above photo testifies.
SOUTHAMPTON COMMON 10K
Staged by an event company that runs an end of season Worthing 10k – the Southampton Common 10k sees runners undertake laps of the common on pathways. We had two Tuffs race; Colin & Sue Simpson and Colin has reported in:_
Sunday saw us up early for the Southampton common 10k…this is a surprisingly hilly 3 lapper in a lovely wooded parklike area right in the middle of Southampton.Its quite low key ….made more so this year as the higher profile Southampton 10k has been moved to just a week later. This meant entries were down so less than a 100 finishers. Sue was fairly pleased with 65.49 after her prosecco fuelled salon xmas party Saturday. My race went well although the hamstrings didnt like the steep downhill bit!!! I managed 50.35…which is my best for a few years.
Colin
PARK RUN ROUND UP
At Worthing parkrun there was the following Tuff presence. Dave March was first Tuff home in 22:21. Next home was Les Pearce in 24:10 clocking up his 169th Worthing parkrun and 176th in total – impressive. Phil Turner was next on his 89th PR. Next good to see James Oram back on the parkrun trail, and next to finish was Nina Tully. Nina ran in her ambassador capacity and has reported in:-
“I ran with a couple of my West Sussex Mind group at Worthing, it was a special day for one as it was his 50th birthday today and he had promised his late father he would get back to Parkrun for his 50th. He was late to the start but still went ahead after checking with the Marshall that it was ok, we found him just after the halfway point and joined him to complete his 5k…no one gets left behind
We all had a good run walk followed by celebrations with hot chocolate and cake.
Nina
Littlehampton parkrun saw a fantastic result as Gareth Coombes finished fourth overall. This was Gareth’s first parkrun and he accomplished this in some style crossing in just 19:40. Steve Fryer was 12th overall in 20:42. Olivia Morey also ran well crossing as 3rd female overall in 22:52. Colin Simpson was our next runner across the line and he was pleased with his and Sue’s result stating they did their normal “seek out a parkrun Saturday. Littlehampton this week and both Sue and i managed pb’s for this year…Sue 29.27..Colin 24.09… Richard Budd finished just 6 seconds ahead of Steve Bridgeman. Good to see Wendy Frost back on the run circuit who finished next and then as stated Sue Simpson. Alistair Evans crossed to notch up his 107th PR. Nick Hartfield was on the organising team to round up an impressive 10 Tuffs in LA.
Maidenhead parkrun saw Trevor Harvey in action as he notched up a volunteer credit on the set-up team as well as running the event.
Lancing Green parkrun is action after a five week break because of the state of Lancing Green but no Tuffs present this time.
Bognor parkrun saw Jason Rae complete his 122th PR and well done to Claire Luckham achieving her 32nd PR
Vicky Cooper has completed 39 PR’s but ventured over to Havant parkrun where the run is staged in Staunton Country Park.
Well done to all 19
