Weekend Round Up 25th 26th February
It was a cold weekend so running was a great way to warm up. parkrun, 10k’s half and full marathons plus an overseas underground trip. Our band of Tuffs out racing covered 450 miles in races this weekend – read on:-
KINGLEY VALE HALF MARATHON & 10K
Back for its second year and billed as the ‘ultimate trail run with views from Goodwood race course over the South Downs, Chichester & The Isle of Wight – So that will be undulating then. Indeed the up bits were steep. Clearly that wasn’t going to deter a ‘Terrific Tuff Team’ with 16 in the squad. The long course 22k distance set off at 9am with 10k runners 15 minutes later.
It is pleasing to report it was a case of quantity & quality with some terrific results returned. First Tuff home over the long course was Tom Goddard, 3rd in his age group and 21st overall – well inside the top 10% of finishers completing in 1hr 53. Our next Tuff home saw a scintillating performance from Liane Davids who was 8th female overall and 1st in her age group. Dom Amey continues his strong run of form before Captain Adrian Oliver completed. Catharine Western and Clare Worgan both produced strong runs followed by Katie Goddard and then Wendy Frost who submitted her report below.
“After a 3 ½ years of not running, I decided that my first race back would be this event! I had hip surgery in 2019 and associated SI joint dysfunction which made running impossible for a long time. A combination of coping with the pain and a diagnosis of generalised anxiety disorder, along with other life events resulted in my slow return”.
“My return to running started in the summer with some gentle running on the treadmill. I then started couch to 5k, but got bored, so decided to just go to parkrun. I then returned to the Tuff Saturday runs after Christmas. I felt like I was 3 years behind everyone else in training but was welcomed back into the Saturday gang once again! Running this event was always going to be a tall order, but I embraced the challenge”.
“A knee injury the week before left me thinking that dropping down to the 10k run was probably the sensible option. A ‘fell running’ friend told me to just walk the ups and run the flats and downs, so with the knee taped for support I decided to start the long one and if pain was too much swap to the 10k at the first water station”.
“Adrenaline kicked in at the start, and some mismatched insulin to carbs, so I took a shot of insulin at the start. Legs were feeling very heavy with blood glucose levels above range. I went off slowly and kept to my strategy of walking up and running down. There was an awful lot of up, 469 ft of elevation in the event, but this gave me the energy to run the flats and downs with more strength”.
“At the ‘point of no return’, I brushed off the opportunity to do the 10k and carried on the 22k route. Stunning scenery and the banter of other runners around me made the challenge more enjoyable. Around the 12k point I met ‘Steve’. He appeared to be struggling and told me that this was his first ever running event. An amateur boxer having a ‘midlife crisis’ he decided this was his next challenge. We decided we were probably as mad as each other and continued running the event mostly together. I used the opportunity to tell him about Tuffs and the benefits of running with others. Encouraging him helped me forget how I was feeling”.
“Around halfway I met Tania Pascoe and her sister Paula. Similarly paced we ran together cheering on Steve with his blistered feet. The event was chip timed, I wondered in the final stages whether a sundial might have been more appropriate! If I wasn’t last and made in back in time for lunch, I’d be happy. Closely monitoring my blood glucose levels was key in making sure the muscles kept working throughout the event. Unfortunately, my glucose sensor lost Bluetooth connection, so I was running ‘glucose’ blind in the latter part of the run. Rather than risk a hypo I kept on with the jellybeans. I ended with sky high levels but happy to have finished in my goal time. It was a joy to see Adrian and Jenny at the end cheering me on and informing me I hadn’t missed lunch!
She’s back!
Wendy
The 10k race also delivered some brilliant Tuff results starting off with Mark Walford who crossed the line 2nd overall in just 43:50, impressive for such a hilly course. Barry Davids was 11th overall and he was cheering on the long course as they crossed the line. It really was a family affair because Barry was 1st in his age group to match Liane’s 1st age group in the 22k – what a team. Mark Sole was our next Tuff across the line with Michael Redgrave just 28 seconds behind. Janet Shepherd was another to clinch an age group category – 2nd for her and then Jenny Oliver who ran well to complete the Tuff six.
Pleasing to report Tuff representation in the 10k cani-cross with Susan Douglas and Sue Pinky running with Stig & Kylo respectively. Click on the photo below for the album.
BRIGHTON HALF MARATHON
Brrr, it was freezing cold on Madeira Drive as competitors arrived for the Brighton Half where there would be 7,116 finishers. Also a wheelchair race where six people took part – total respect to them especially with the climb up around the top of Madeira Drive.
Thankfully the sun came out as everyone headed for the start pens, and no repeat of strong winds from a couple of years ago. Set for some good times then? it was fantastic to see Alex Webb cross the line in 1hr 27, a new PB for him. The good news continued as Nathan Bilham also attained a PB in 1hr 32.
Alex & Nathan were the prelude to a surge of Tuff finishers, Jon Babbage then Iris Bennett, Glenn Parisi, Tiff Orton, Edward Lay, Tony Pearce and Clive Harvey with just 15 minutes between them.
Next home a courageous run from Ness Green who unfortunately took a tumble before the halfway mark. Despite this she picked herself up and still ran home in a strong time. Tony Morgan and Charlotte Pryer ran together. Murray Hodge was next home followed by Danny Bruce to complete the Tuff fourteen.
To all the other Tuff’s shouting encouragement out on the course – Thank you on behalf of the Tuff runners.
KRISTALLMARATHON – SALT MINE – GERMANY
Danny Cunnett & Jay McCardle organised a trip to the Kristallmarathon with some of their Sussex Trail Events friends. This is a German salt mine 500 metres below the Surface. The elevator takes competitors to a depth of 550m at breakneck speed before getting into trucks to weave around narrow passageways and congregating in a bunker – a huge hall containing 750 runners. A laser show and music was the prelude to the run in a constant 21 degree temperature. With salt absorbing all the moisture, humidity was at circa 25%, so it was important to stay hydrated. The surfaces were hard and slippery in places. Danny & Jay keep seeking out different adventures and this has to be up there with the best. Thanks to Jay for reporting in:-
“A lift half way down then in the back of dumper truck to the start. The whole race has to be run with a helmet and Headtorch. A lazer show to start it off as well”.
“A great weekend with Danny Cunnett“
“It was very different indeed. Found this race a few years ago but was cancelled due to corona. Not many races have a helmet as compulsory kit so it was one we had to do. It is 550 metres below the surface so you take a lift half way and then driven in big dumper trucks to start. Only a month since I had my operation so stepped down from the full to the half marathon and very happy to get around. A long drive down but a great road trip if anyone wants to mix it up.. Training full on for Western states now !!!!”
Jay
BIG FEAT EVENTS BIGMUD MARATHON
Starting at the Queen Elizabeth Country Park, the BigMud took competitors around the Meon Valley and up the highest point on the South Downs – Butser Hill 518ft -twice. There was a choice of 16 miler or marathon and our two intrepid Tuffs racing were Jason Rae & Will King. Jason ran the full marathon and Will completed the tough 16 miler. Thanks to Jase for reporting in:-
“This event company are fairly new although you would not tell this from how well organised this race was.
“I got the entry via Adam Steel – a Tuff who had to pull out due to work overload.
“He had entered the 16 miler but when I went to collect the number I decided to upgrade to the Marathon then wished I hadn’t. I looked at the race route then noticed the first bit was part of an out and back Up Butser Hill !!! A friend and fellow Tuff, Will King was there in his leggings so I had somebody to chat to and admire all the dry robes whilst in the 25 min loo queue”.
“The race got under way and it was hill after hill after hill. We passed fields with llamas, young cattle, sheep etc and when it was sunny it really felt like spring is almost here”.
“Its amazing how your brain remembers having been somewhere before even if it was just once whilst passing through trails on a race with a different company years ago”.
“At 15 miles I kicked a tree root hard then cramped at 18.5 miles but made it to the end even though the RD had set the route right over the top of Butser hill again in the last mile and a bit”.
“A very well organised event, good aid stations, great scenic but tough route and the option to swap my medal for a tree being planted which I did”
Jason
PARKRUN ROUND UP
At Littlehampton parkrun it was pacer week to help people around. Amongst the runners we had Alistair Evans on his 117th run. Sue & Colin Simpson ran together this week. Next home was Nathan Bilham who viewed the run as a warm up canter for Brighton Half the next day. It was great to see Claire Moyle back on the parkrun scene to complete the LA five Tuffs running.
We have another overseas parkrun ticked off by Tuffs; this time at Volksgarten parkrun. Held in Düsseldorf’s Südpark Germany. Our intrepid duo here were Danny Cunnett & Jay McCardle. This would be an achievement at any time, but they were in Germany for their epic salt mine adventure – see above –
Further up the country, Whinlatter Forest parkrun in Keswick is the setting for what is billed as the third toughest parkrun in the UK with plenty of climbing to take in views across Derwentwater and the surrounding mountains. So kudos to Trevor Harvey for completing this one.
Worthing parkrun saw the ever present Les Pearce running well to complete his 186th parkrun – 178 of those have been at Worthing. Next respect to Edward Lay running to complete his 95th Worthing run included in a grand total of 117 – Ed also used this as a warm up ahead of Brighton Half.
Bognor parkrun saw Jason Rae take part ahead of his marathon the next day.
Well done to all eleven.
