Weekend Round Up 29th 30th October
Tuff action continues; the biggest event was the Tuff weekend trip to for open water swimming at Ross-On-Rye and then a visit to BikePark Wales. This expedition justifies a full article which will be released shortly, but for now; read on:-
The weekend saw the end of British Summertime, but does that curtail Tuff Fitty’s extensive training sessions? – not one bit. If anything Winter Tuff training proves to be even more relevant as knowing there will be other like minded individuals present is a great inducement to turn out in the cold and dark.
Tuff Fitty Swim sessions. Now that the multisport season is over the swim sessions will switch to base training. To help attendees get the most from each session please bring an old baggy t-shirt to pull on for part of the set. If you have short fins, bring these and a pull buoy (although Tuff Fitty do have pull buoys to use if you haven’t got your own). And if you refuse to accept summer is over, don’t forget the regular sea swim challenges off the beach at Littlehampton.
Tuff Fitty Track Sessions, Wednesdays at 7pm; whilst the coached session usually lasts for an hour if you are there early or wish to get a few more laps in afterwards, the track is available for Tuffs to use and we pay for usage of the floodlights so the session is applicable for all – have you tried it yet?. Sessions continue each week up until Christmas; the leisure centre closes early on Wed 28th Dec so no track that week.
Tuff Fitty Zwift sessions . Why head onto the dark, wet roads when Tuesday night Zwift sessions are going well; Tuesday’s from 6:30pm
Tuff Fitty Saturday and Monday Run sessions. Saturday morning runs from Arundel continue weekly at 7:30am, trail shoes are a good idea for this run. Monday evening runs are alternating weekly between a road based run (Littlehampton) and an offroad headtorch run (Fox Inn) . Monday 7th Nov is a headtorch run
TUFF FITTY’s AWARDS & SOCIAL EVENING
THE social event of the year is looming – Friday 11th November. Have you got your tickets yet? This weekend is the last opportunity as ticket sales close Monday 7th November at 11pm. Don’t forget the evening includes the Club Championship awards for each of Sprint, Standard, 70.3 triathlons & STRUN – it would be a shame to say ‘the winner is’…. and the recipient isn’t there. The very impressive array of raffle prizes continues to attract sales and these will continue up to 9pm on the evening of the Event. Tickets for the evening can be purchased HERE and raffle tickets can be purchased HERE
NEW FOREST 10 MILE TRAIL RACE
This year was the 35th anniversary of a 10 mile trail run in the New Forest starting from Brockenhurst. There were three Tuffs out on the course. Mark Walford did well finishing in 1:09min a great time around the forest gravel paths. Emily Vaz crossed the line as 7th female overall in 1:11m Colin Simpson ran finishing well in his age group as all three secured their anniversary horse brass. We had two roving reporters on the morning. First up, Mark and then Colin.
“I signed up to the New Forest 10miler back in 2019 after a lovely day out with the extended family, running with my brother and mum, my daughter completing her first ever race. All this before I was a Tuff. The race was due to take place in July 2020, now lots has happened between now and then with delays due to covid and a change to October, the day finally arrived. Again running with my mum and brother, my mum saying it was her last ever event. I planned to run with them both but my mum told me to race. Like any good boy I did as I’m told, set off and having not run quick in a while I wasn’t sure what I could manage, after 2-3km I settled into a pace and just kept going, loving the cooler weather I just settled in and enjoyed the scenery. One scary moment of wild horses bolting across the course causing me to take cover in a bush. Happy to finish but equally showed me I’m in winter mode. After getting bandanna and medal, I jogged back to find my mum and brother and ran their final 2 miles with them. Nice way to cap of the season even if I did struggle to walk the day after”.
Mark
Makeup removed from the previous day’s parkrun, we then went to the New Forest 10m trail run on Sunday.I ran and Sue supported…its a well established event but a first for me…lovely course if a little damp. Top tip from me as a very experienced runner…don’t enter 10m races if you have only run 7m in training!!! Suffice to say I struggled but plan a return next year much fitter to beat the other over 70’s 😉
Colin
HOVE PROM 10K – and – STEEPDOWN CHALLENGE
Sunday saw two other races. At 9am the gun started runners for the Hove Prom 10k – The course was two flat and fast laps along the promenade. There was a good performance from Rick Budd who finished in 47:01. With an 11am start there was also the Fun Run league fixture for the Steepdown Challenge staged by Elaine Rousseau’s running club. Just one Tuff present here as well – Simon Thistlethwaite who had a great race. The course is not for the faint-hearted as its an off-road course across undulating Downland, including a climb of 172 metres to Steepdown Trig point. Simon finished twelfth overall in just 33:19 – just 10 seconds outside the top 10.
PARKRUN ROUND UP
There wasn’t a parkrun at Littlehampton this week with the promenade getting ready for the evening’s Bonfire Night so there were more parkrun tourists than usual.
Bognor parkrun saw Colin & Sue Simpson in action which served as their annual Halloween witches outing – as above photo. What Colin did not mention was that it was also a cause for celebration for him as he reached his 200th parkrun, a great achievement. Sue chalked up her 163rd PR. Alistair Evans is another Tuff prolific parkrunner crossing for his 104th PR.
Lancing Green parkrun saw Rich Budd run crossing in 23:18
A strong run at Hove Prom parkrun by Dave March finishing in 21:46
Worthing parkrun saw Paul Martin finish as first Tuff home in 22:19, great running after last weekend’s marathon. Then Ed Lay crossed the line in 23:28 for his 103rd parkrun. Mark Sole continues his good form with a time of 24:26. Phil Turner was next home with Elaine Rousseau notching up her 143rd PR Les Pearce was on hand for the organising team.
To complete the round up down at Lymington Woodside parkrun Emily Vaz recorded another ‘first female home’ result completing the course in 21:33.
