Weekend Round Up 24th 25th August
It may have been bank holiday weekend, but that doesn’t stop more amazing Tuff action from home and abroad including fantastic podiums:-
Katie Young
ITU WORLD AQUATHLON CHAMPIONSHIPS TOWNSVILLE AUSTRALIA
The Aquathlon was part of the World Triathlon, Multisport Championships – a series of 23 different ITU races across 14 days. The Aquathlon was centred on Townsville, a city on the north-eastern coast of Queensland, Australia.
Katie Young was our representative here with the Aquathlon held on Friday 21st August. Whilst traditionally viewed as a swim run; World Triathlon also defines an Aquathlon in warmer weather as ‘Multisport which combines swim and run in three segments: the first segment is run, followed by swimming and finishing with running’ Whilst still in Australia, Katie has kindly reported in on her awesome podium and adventure; (She is too modest to mention she was19 seconds away from the silver medal, but her strength is underlined how she finished over 1 minute 40 seconds ahead of fourth position) :-
‘Katie’s adventure down under’
‘After the longest journey ever, 6 hours to Dubai, (3 hour stop over) 16 hours to Brisbane, 2 and 1/2 hours to Cairns. Rested for 2 days. Then 6 hour bus trip to Townsville. Team briefing and photo Wednesday, catching up with familiar faces. We had swim familiarisation on Thursday, sea was warm but water was very cloudy. Organisers promised no crocs or sharks in the water although one was spotted last week and the wildlife team were in the process of catching a 4m croc in neighbouring river! ‘
‘This was going to be a Run Swim Run event unless wetsuits, but would not be confirmed until 1 hour before event, even though no provision for alternative Swim Run event in briefing. Race Day Early start was banned from using electric scooters all week before Race so 4km walk to event village and transition. Lots of Australian and Team USA athletes, 600 plus in Aquathlon in total. With transition prepped and clear, the Elites went first, followed every 3 minutes by next age group male then female. The course was a flat 2.5 km out and back along the promenade main road with a 180 turn. The swim was a 1 km rectangle back into transition for the final 2.5 km run which was the other side up a hill with 2 loops back down to the finish line’.
‘My Race; I’m not used to the Run Swim Run format as normally we have wetsuit events. I did not go off too fast, holding position near the front of the pack coming back into transition in about 5th or 6th place. Hat on, goggles on. Nearly left socks on but Will was shouting to remind me to take them off. Run out of transition down the warm sand and diving into the sea for swim leg. Loved the swim, gained a few places and overtook other category athletes. Coming out of the water a little groggy and it was again about 70 meters on the sand which just tough back in to transition. Was almost sick, new socks on and off I went. Straight up the hill, legs felt good but it was hard to work out place as course was bus. Back down the hill, round the roundabout and repeat. Was beginning to feel comfortable if that is ever the word to use, then it was down the hill back to the roundabout then this time a sharp right to sprint onto the blue carpet and the finish’.
‘Bronze in my age group at the worlds’.
Katie
Sarah Jouault
IRONMAN 70.3 TALLINN – EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Ironman 70.3 Tallinn saw athletes swim their 1.9km one lap swim from the sandy beach at Stroomi. The bike course is stated to one of the fastest in the world, with a mix of city and countryside. The two-loop course starts at Stroomi taking riders to the southern villages, before heading back to Tallinn a route of 91.4km. Equally the 21.1 run course around Tallinn Bay is stated to be one of the fastest in the world.
Sarah Jouault was our representative which doubled up as the European Championships. As this is Sarah, she also used the event to continue her impressive fundraising career. Sarah has reported in from her terrific result of first in her age group:-
‘The swim was so different ,we had to run out 150m before it was deep enough to swim , and run back to the shore. Although it was in the sea , not salty at all , but full of jelly fish. I did 43mins so was really pleased . Bike was crazy windy with gusts of very strong winds. The run was hard as I have not been running for eight weeks, only walking. I was very pleased to finish 10mins in front of my opponent . Nearly gave up , but that’s not my motto , Never Give Up/’
Sarah
ARUNDEL 10K
After Saturday’s poor weather, Arundel Park was bathed in sunshine for the annual 10k. We had seventeen Tuffs on the start line to traverse much of the terrain on our usual Saturday morning training runs. There were some strong times recorded with Mark Walford our first runner home in 14th position overall and 2nd in his age group. Mark improved his PB over 2023 by 11 seconds. Our second runner was Marc Flinders, who also scored a PB of 42:04 – improving by 1m 21 seconds. Cameron Coe did well flying his Tone Zone Colours in 42:25. Gareth Coombes was next in 43:17 and then Steve Fryer.
Our first four of Mark, Marc, Gareth & Steve also comprised our first four home in 2023. Having won the team event in 2022, Tuff Fitty were second team last year and were just pipped to second team again this year behind Seaford Striders with Tone Zone in third.
Our next Tuff was Stuart Harvey , another one achieving a PB taking 1min 42 off last year’s time, placing six Tuffs in the top 50. 52 seconds later Dom Amey sprinted across the line beating his 2023 time for a PB improving by 1:18. Dan Lawrence was our next Tuff and then Kevin Pearson having raced the Arundel 10k since its early days as part of Arundel Festival last century. Despite this longevity Kev also improved his time. Amy Flinders was our first Tuff lady with Clare Worgan and Rhian Standley following. Adrian Oliver did well to get round without mishap as he was constantly filming as he ran taking the impressive video shown below.
Paul Martin, was next to sprint up toward the Hiorne Tower, then Janet Shepherd. Susan Douglas and Sue PInky completing the Tuff contingent. The photo album is accessed by clicking on the picture below. Olivia Morey was Tuff Fitty’s chief cheerleader with Clive Harvey as the morning’s Race Director. Tuff Fitty had the joint largest contingent – strong running everyone.
Also counting as a fixture for our Summer Tuff Run Series, the age grading saw Mark Walford and Steve Fryer tie with same age grading leading the way. Mark, Colin Simpson & Marc Flinders are our top three, but with one fixture left to complete; there are still some who could leap up the table.
COWDRAY PARK MAIZE MAZE RUN
The Mazie Maze carved out on the Cowdray Estate has proved popular this year with over 7,500 people visiting it. So with Raw Energy Pursuits close link with the Estate a run of both 10k & 5k was organised with part of the route in the maze (with direction signs!) to provide a different challenge.
In its first year numbers were encouraging and we had Alice Gatland run in the 10K event. Alice stated she would take it steady as she hadn’t entered a running event for almost 3 years. However you wouldn’t have known as she finished 2nd female overall, almost two minutes ahead of 3rd place.
In the 5K race Kate Evans took part stating ‘ It was so much fun! Maybe not for the “serious” runners, but so fun to do something different!!
FUN RUN LEAGUE – THAKEHAM
Originally scheduled for March, the unseasonal weather led to a cancellation of the Fittleworth Flyers run to reappear this Sunday. The 5.3 mile route was on a new course comprising a figure of eight course from Fittleworth Village Hall which included ‘undulations’. There were three Tuffs wearing their running club colours; well done to Steve Feest, Kate Cooper and Debbie Birch
PARKRUN ROUND UP
PARKRUN 1,000
As you will see from the above picture – 2024 celebrates the twentieth anniversary of parkrun – an initiative that has now spread around the world. It all began in Bushy Park London, a venue that has become the mecca for parkrun tourists. Why this is being covered is that Saturday 31st August will see Bushy Park’s 1,000th parkrun, and the organisers are predicting an attendance in excess of 5,000 people – impressive. Highlighting what a phenomenal idea parkrun has become, the statistics from the weekend of 17th August worldwide there were 2,014 parkruns plus 461 junior parkruns, 335,000 parkrunners plus 25,000 junior parkrunners, and 42,000 volunteers in total.
Tuffs continue to play a part in these statistics with our members in action as follows:-
Aplin’s Weir parkrun in Australia was the choice of Will King and Katie Young travelling to the event by E-Scooter. Will reports that ‘there were Saltwater crocs one side, fresh water the other side. Kangaroos in the woods. Although none of the afore mentioned were seen’. It was Aplin Weir’s largest ever turnout, no doubt in part due to the Brits in town for the World Champs (see above). Katie finished 1st in her age group by over 3 minutes and Will ran strongly to have yet more Tuffs in the Australian parkrun record books.
The tropical weather could not be matched back in the UK as heavy rain lashed the South East, but that didn’t deter the following:-
Littlehampton parkrun saw Simon Grundy as first Tuff home, 9th overall in just 19:28. Steve Fryer was our next runner and despite facing the Arundel 10k the next morning he pushed himself round the course in just 20:16. Fraser Kidd is regaining his quick form as he finished just 32 seconds behind. It was a good morning all round for Fraser as he reached his 50th parkrun milestone – congratulations. Emma Hinton was also running achieving a strong age grading. Alistair Evans moves inexorably closer to his 200th milestone as Al has reached number 190. Chris Evans set another personal best shaving 58 seconds of his previous best set in July.
We had more Tuffs on tour as follows:-
Osterley parkrun was the choice of Colin and Sue Simpson. Whilst just off the M4 near Heathrow, the course is a very scenic 2 lap course around Osterley Park finishing in front of the Mansion House. This was their first visit adding to their 82 different parkrun locations. Colin was first in his age grade by a considerable margin.
Fareham parkrun is an out and back run along Fareham Creek Trail and was the location where Clive & Trevor Harvey took part in heavy rain.
The furthest UK parkrun tourism for the second week goes to Paul Fielder. Last week he completed the Darlington parkrun and this week he completed the Durham parkrun – This course starts on a running track and follows the River Wear into Durham centre
Well done to the Tuff Thirteen.
TUFF’S TRACK TEN KM
With Arundel 10k completed, we now have one race left in our Summer Tuff Run Series (STRUN) – a Track Ten 10k on Wednesday 4th September.
The venue is Worthing Leisure Centre’s running track, an event which replaces our usual Strength & Conditioning and track training for that week. The above photo of the track was taken on Wednesday 28th by Stu Harvey. If participants wish to undertake their usual pre-race warm up please arrive earlier ready to start at 7pm.
Perhaps you have completed a 10k race in a good time previously and wondered “what PB could I achieve if the race course was totally flat, or didn’t come with lots of tight turns”. Unfortunately, Tuff Fitty cannot control the weather, but we can ensure you have a smooth, flat 10 kilometre course to run round.
It was back in 1912 when the International Amateur Athletic Federation was formed to agree on the standard distance on a running track – 400m. So you need to run 25 laps for the 10k if you stay in Lane one. Whilst Worthing’s track is eight lanes wide on the straights, it is just 6 lanes on the bends. It is worth remembering lane 1 is the shortest distance and each lane further out increases the distance covered exponentially. Lane two increases the distance to 407.67. If you ran in the outside lane – lane 6 you would accrue an extra 38.33 metres a lap.
A handy drinks station for hydration will be set up as you fly round. Enter by accepting the Spond event. It is worth stating that whilst your 10k time can count towards the STRUN championship; if you haven’t taken part in the STRUN and simply wish to come along and see what time you can get, you are still most welcome to attend.
