Weekend Round Up 8th 9th June
It proved another busy weekend for Tuff Fitty. With several participating at Windsor Triathlon there is a separate article for that, but there’s room for the following action:-
TUFF’S CHICHESTER LAKE SWIM
Following the success of last year’s club swim at Chichester Westhamptnett Lake, Saturday morning saw the return trip and thanks to our events Mike (Maestro) Barrett who organised the event, Mike has kindly submitted his thoughts on the morning
‘After the success of last year we rolled out another open water swim at Chichester Water Sport. I was feeling uncharacteristically pessimistic as we rolled into the Monday ahead of Saturday with only 18 Tuff’s signed up but I need not of as 35 of you braved the slightly less than mild conditions and a water temperature of 16 1/2 degrees.
As before we had our two courses a long 800m and a shorter 400m in front of the clubhouse. New! This year was the introduction of a chaperone service. This is where our more experienced swimmers would swim next to a swimmer to help them build confidence and pass on first hand experience. How lucky are we to have in our ranks Wardy, Amy Kidd and Jimbo, I think some of our more confident swimmers were head turning at the thought of being chaperoned by one of them! (A big thank you). Also New for 2024 was a shorter square just 20m sq. the purpose of this was to allow anyone competing in Open Water this year to practice turning at buoys. Note to all including Mark W to make sure practice turning left and right! If you get a chance watch the video of Mark turning to show how slick and fast buoy turns should be.
I’ve had a busy year this year and am gutted to have not chased up HuuB who I was talking with in March about coming down with their wetsuits and frustratingly from FORM who have the digital goggles! FORM have literally emailed me back this evening saying they could’ve sent us some goggles to try! Watch this space for next year!
Comments received on the day and on Spond prove it was another successful Tuff Event.
These events are tough and challenging at the best of times to organise, but this year proved particularly stressful with many pushbacks, so it is gratifying that after everything, it proved to be successful and worthwhile.
Mike
The flickr album follows, together with two short videos – thanks Mike & Baz
SWIM THE LAKE ARDINGLY
The Round Up started earlier this week from Wednesday 5th up at Ardingly reservoir where we have two very comprehensive reports from Jenny & Adrian Oliver:-
“Disappointed to miss the Tuff Chichester Lake swim due to attending another cycling sportif, and keen to get in some wetsuit open water practice, I decided to enter the Hedgehog Tri Ardingly Swim the Lake event. Adrian signed up for the swim run. I delayed entry to on the day.
We parked and walked up to the registration. ‘Up’ being the operative word. I was feeling breathless already and so decided that a hilly run wasn’t for me, and instead entered just the 750m swim. The swim run was 750m swim and 5k run. There were also 1500m and 3000m swim distances.
Katie Young, Will King and Ben Abbott were also there. Katie was doing the swim run, Ben the 1500m swim, and Will was supporting and took some nice photos.
Our 750m group of red hats was all ladies and we were the last to be set off.
My plan was to focus on technique and enjoy the evening swim. I started off steadily, controlling my breathing and drafting on the hip of the swimmer next to me. Quite quickly I settled into a steady ‘CSS’ pace and realised that I had moved ahead of my drafting partner. Perhaps they were now drafting me?! As I favour breathing to the right, and the yellow course buoys were to also to the right as we swam clockwise, I couldn’t see any of the other red hats.
I focused on keeping streamlined, maintaining the pace and sighting regularly. Each time I checked the position of the yellow buoy ahead I stayed on course and never once had to correct my direction.
As we progressed I was very curious about where the other red hats were? The amusing thought crossed my mind, ‘could I be at the front?’. This almost put me off making me want to laugh, so I put that thought aside and continued to focus on my swim.
As we neared the end, more swimmers with different coloured hats started to amass so although I didn’t spot any reds I it was quite difficult to tell. “Just keep swimming”. About to turn towards the exit ramp I noticed someone with a reddish hat ahead. On exit from the water I was asked to return the swim cap into a bucket. The swimmer who had exited before was a man, and the top hat in the bucket was a reddy orange, but not red.
I waited by the ramp and sampled a banana from the table. Two more red hats exited and one pointed out that their friend and fellow red hat was already changing. Ah, they must have flown around. I went to get changed and overheard Paul Hedger (the race director) request that a certain number be recorded as a DNF. Katie and Adrian came in from their swim run and Ben from his 1500m. Adrian wanted to whizz off home but someone suggested that the presentation would be soon so we could wait.
We took a customary Tuff photo which Katie had brought along a Tuff vest especially for. Then we sat to watch the awards. You could have knocked us on the bench when I was called up as the winner of the 750m distance. I got lucky because all the speedies did the swim run and the stronger swimmers did the longer distances, but a win is a win and for someone who in their own words is always “passed and last” it was a big encouragement.
Bottom line, I was pleased with the way I executed my swim, putting into practice what I’ve been taught by our amazing coaches supplemented by the Effortless Swimming and GTN channels which I would strongly recommend for those wanting to learn more. I did my best within my ability and limitations and I enjoyed it!
On the way home I managed to see my swim on Strava and was pleased to note a close to CSS pace and the lovely straight lines of my course route. In the past the lines have been rather wiggly and once nearly went out to sea!
I would recommend the Swim the Lake series, a well run, low-key, great opportunity to practice open water swimming.
Jenny
Hedgehog Tri: Ardingly Swim the Lake – My Favourite Event Ever!
Most members would not have heard of Paul Hedger unless you race the Frosty and watched the event video from the last 2 years, as it was Paul branding his GoPro on a very long stick around the race – it was through his YouTube channel I came across the Swim Lake Festival at Ardingly – but Ardingly brings back memories of muddy and hilly Sussex County Cross-Country League racing.
This event was opposite to those cross-country races; instead, it was very much like our Tuff summer Arundel Lido BBQ in the beautiful Ardingly Reservoir grounds – low-key, relaxed, participating in a supportive environment.
I loved it so much that I signed up for the next Ardingly Swim the Lake on Wednesday, 17th July. I highly recommend everyone to consider paying £25 to participate. Sign up https://www.hedgehogtri.co.uk/ardswim.php
With a choice of 750m, 1500m, and 3000m lake swim or 750m swim/5km run aquathlon on Wednesday evening, I chose to sign up for the aquathlon, while Jenny signed up for the 750m swim.
On arriving, we meet up with Katie Young (aquathlon), Ben Abbott (1500m swim), and Will King (club photographer and cheerleader).
After a comprehensive and efficient race briefing, setup of transition, wetsuits on, a quick dip in the lake to remember how to swim in a wetsuit and acclimatisation, the 18 aquathlon swimmers were lined up and set off into the sunset. With such a small field, there was minimal contact while we each established our own pace and rhythm, although while sighting the 1st massive turn buoy, it was evident that someone was in a completely different league to the rest of us as they powered ahead of us.
Once through transition (entertaining for spectators…), it was not long before this “other” athlete could be heard lapping everyone on the 3 ¼ lap undulating run course.
Despite my good swim (4th out of the water), it was only on the last lap that I felt I could actually run, finishing 6th men, 9th overall in 39:54 (13:28/26:26), with Pip Bennett (this “other” athlete…) finishing in 29:48 (10:32/19:16), and Katie in 2nd ladies, 4th overall in 37:06 (12:07/24:59).
Meanwhile, Jenny (18:13 for 750m) and Ben (27:47 for 1500m) finished their respective swims and were enjoying their post-race snacks.
While driving up to Ardingly, Jenny was commiserating that she had never won any events, even in her age group, especially since her thyroid cancer three years ago, which affects her breathing… it turns out Jenny only went and won the 750m swim overall in 18:13, giving her the privilege of being the only Tuff to receive an award at the event!
Adrian
Will’s Photo album:-
OMM LITE MOUNTAIN MARATHON
Always keen on multiple day events our very own Geordie, Paul Atkinson headed to the Lake District for the latest OMM event. The organisers place checkpoints all around the Grasmere area. The challenge is to find as many checkpoints as possible yet still get back to the HQ before your time runs out. We are pleased to receive a report on Geordie’s adventure.
‘The first weekend of June saw the annual pilgrimage to Grasmere in the Lake District for the OMM Lite Mountain Marathon. Usual format – 12 hours of self-navigation over 2 days on the mountain trails, collecting points at controls, and using a map which you only see for the first time when crossing the start line. So route choice and navigation skill are equally as important as running ability. Oh, and massive penalties for every minute over the time limit to add a little additional pressure.
‘I was running in a pair, with my Geordie mate Bazzer. Neither of us had trained properly, so expectations were low. And we lived up to those expectations with an averagely mediocre Day 1, finishing 53rd out of 160. However, after a cracking evening in the bar, and bacon sandwich for breakfast, Day 2 went strangely better.
‘Massive improvement on the navigation, and if I say so myself, a bloody good route, which we cleared with seconds to spare. Finished 23rd on Day 2, moved up to 26th overall, and just outside the top 3 vets. Why OMM “Lite”. So unlike normal mountain marathons that have a wild camp overnight, we return to the event centre, with fully stocked bar and food.
Geordie Paul
Mr Motivator – Chris Robinson with James Brock
WORTHING 10K
The Worthing 10k starts and finishes on the promenade with the route extending out westward towards Ferring. We had six Tuffs running. This is a fantastic opportunity to welcome another of our newer members, who was first Tuff home. Cameron Coe only joined this month attending swim sessions. He took part with his running club and crossed the line in a sublime 38:23 – what a further worthy addition as a Tuff. Steve Fryer ran well in 42.18 and then a third member making our top three all participating under their running club’s banner was Steve Feest. Juliette Reader was our first lady, running a swift race as she always does James Brock was next and Nina Tully completed our Tuff six. Thanks to Jimbo for reporting in and sending the above photo.
‘I wasn’t planning on going for a time when I agreed to step in and run this race for my colleague whom couldn’t make it. However, having had some better form at park run, I settled into a good pace and kept the 50 minute pacer behind me. The start was busy, I heard the commentators say there were 2300 runners! It was a headwind on the way out & as I turned looking forward to the push home my foot landed slightly funny & I felt that familiar pain rush up my calve. Damn! I decided to run/walk for the second half and just got passed by 50, then 55 & then 60 minute pacer. Chris Robinson spied me from the crowd and ran with me keeping spirits high & I crossed the line in 1 hour & 1 minute’. It was good to see Pinky Sue cheering the Tuffs.
Still, a nice bit of bling & another race in the bag… Now, where’s my ice bath!
Jimbo
VELO NEW FOREST SPORTIVE
Held on the Saturday, this Sportive started from just outside Fawley with a choice of routes covering short (66km) Medium (116km) and Long (162Km). Jenny Oliver was back in action again tackling the medium route with 2,635ft of ascent. Also taking part in the medium distance was Grant Smalley. Well done to them both. Jenny reports:-
‘In an attempt to get in some longer rides, I entered the Velo New Forest Sportive. I did sign up for the 100 mile but realised that the car park might be locked by the time we got back! So we changed to the 75 mile loop. I rode with Soo who will be part of our LEJOG trip in September.’
‘The day started cool and overcast but the sun managed to peep out just as we were set off in our wave’.
‘It was lovely ride through the New Forest and see the ponies and different scenery. The route was well sign posted with a couple of feed stations and not too hilly so it felt easier than the previous week’s effort’.
‘It didn’t rain and though mostly cloudy the sun did reappear at the end.’
‘I celebrated with a hot chocolate with all the trimmings, and Soo with a chai tea – and a medal!’
Jenny
PARKRUN ROUND UP
Whilst we had a large number of Tuffs over at Chichester Lake and travelling to Windsor, there were still a few parkrunners out as follows:-
Littlehampton parkrun just saw one club member – Alistair Evans take part. It was a ‘special’ this week on the prom as it was pacer week. Alistair knew all about this as he ran as a pacer – doing a great job almost bang on his allotted hour.
Worthing parkrun also saw some Tuff participation. Edward Lay ran home as first Tuff back into Beach House Park. Dave March was next as he continues to use parkrun for gentler threshold training.
Well done to all three.
