Weekend Round Up 5th 6th October – Part Two.
With so much to report on from the weekend, the Round Up has been divided into two. Part One was released previously and most of the rest of the action follows below. We hope to report on Paul Atkinson’s epic three day Atlantic Coast Challenge later, which comprised three marathons on consecutive days.
THRUXTON MASS ATTACK DUATHLON
Based at the Thruxton Race Circuit near Andover, the course was the setting for a sprint and standard duathlon, with the sprint comprising Run 1 = 3.8 km (1 lap), Bike = 19 km (5 laps) finishing with a further Run 2 = 3.8 km (1 lap). As a World Championship qualifier, the Sprint attracted Maisie Johnston, Niki Treacy & Stephen O’Donnell. Our first report is from Niki who is shown in the above photo and then Stephen
Maisie and I popped up to Thruxton race circuit to do the duathlon world champs qualifier event on Sunday. Here’s a few words’.
‘Great to be on another road trip with training buddy Maisie. This time to the duathlon world champ qualifier event at Thruxton race circuit. The weather was threatening to make the event wet and cold but we were very lucky to get away with the lightest dusting of drizzle. The commentator was rattling off lots of mega star duathletes and we realised it was a pretty stacked field! ‘
‘The mass ladies run start was a bit alarming, as I watched the young gazelles hurtle off at about 3:30m per k pace, making my 4:00m pace seem very pedestrian. I still managed to get into T1 not too far down the field. The bike was ‘technically’ draft legal and I love drafting races cause pack riding is great fun. Unfortunately, I was little way behind a sizeable pack leaving T1 and spent the whole of the bike route on my own, picking off people who were dropping back. Note to self – bury yourself on run 1 to make sure you are in a pack. Run 2 started with really heavy legs and didn’t improve much from there. Run 2 was gutty and I lost a couple of places,.. annoying !!! Our mission though was to get a Q and I’m delighted we both succeeded 🙂 . I finished 1st Qualifier in my 2025 age group and 17th lady.
Niki
Stephen
‘ I was 21 mins quicker than Hever Castle last week. So my fastest ever duathlon. Whilst clearly conditions were different this week, my time of 1 hour 1 minute was sufficient to secure 2nd my age group missing out in the 10 year age group first position by only 14 seconds and almost three minutes ahead of third.
Stephen.
SWIM THE ISLAND – SPOTORNO ITALY
One of our epic swimmers has been in action again. Susan Douglas travelled to the Italian riviera and sending in the following report:-
‘This was one of the first foreign swims I wanted to do, but for various reasons I’d never got around to it, until now’.
‘Spotorno is near Genoa it has a lovely sandy beach with calm seas and the small island of Bergeggi as a major feature’.
‘I’d entered two races, 1.8k on Saturday, as a bit of a warm up and then 3.5k on Sunday’.
‘Swim the Island is quite a big event with several hundred swimmers. The 1.8k race had around 600 competitors. We started off in waves, but still it was a bit of a bun fight and not just at the beginning, but nearly all of the swim! We swam out to the island and completed a loop back to the beach, heading into bright sunshine that made it impossible to see the marker buoy. I just followed the people in front, which was the best option. I completed it in 38 minutes, which I was happy enough with. No prizes as the age group was over 50 and no skins category’.
‘Sunday wasn’t such a nice day, quite cloudy and a bit breezy. Fortunately due to the location the sea was largely unaffected and still relatively calm’.
‘The 3.5k had around 800 swimmers. Again we started off in waves, so I was a little more prepared for argy-bargy. The course took us along the coast, though a gap in some rocks, then headed towards and around the island. All was going well enough, apart from a few rude swimmers from the wave after mine, barging past! As I swam along I spotted a jellyfish, uh oh, then there were a few more, not on the scale of the Scilly Isles, but enough to give me a few stings. The perils of wearing a bikini I suppose. I finished the swim in 1hr:13 mins, there was no hanging about, although I did try and take in some of the beautiful scenery’.
‘I enjoy my little adventures to Italy, but I probably won’t do this swim again due to the numbers competing’
Susan.
l to r Trevor, Glenn & Murray
GENERALI KOLN HALF MARATHON
A half and full marathon around the centre of Cologne which is situated on the banks of the Rhine. Glenn Parisi, Murray Hodge and Trevor Harvey were amongst the 20,400 runners that completed the different distances. Glenn reports on the chilly morning starting on the banks on the river.
Trev and Clive Harvey, Muz Hodge and I flew out to Cologne, not only to do the half marathon but also to tick off a foreign Parkrun!
Unfortunately Clive’s Garmin had broken the week before so, not wanting to risk the humiliation of the dreaded “If it’s not on Strava it didn’t happen” syndrome he bought a new one at Heathrow duty free!
I’m sure he hasn’t told Mrs Harvey and is just hoping that she doesn’t notice. So let’s hope she doesn’t read the weekly write ups!!
Anyway, Parkrun was done with a mild to moderate hangover, as seems to be the norm lately!
A nice route thru the local park adjacent to the Rhein river.
All went well except for Clive who developed a bad case of man-flu and struggled with his breathing.
Obviously manflu is a very serious ailment, but that didn’t stop us from laying into him for being a wimp and running so slowly that even the tail-walkers were getting frustrated with him!!
The following day was the half marathon….
Clive had sensibly decided to pull out (waste of time buying that Garmin!!).
However, being sensible is never a sufficient reason not to take the p@ss, so we all laid into him and gave him absolutely zero sympathy!
The other, more manly three set off together.
I think we stayed together for all of ten meters and then didn’t see each other again until the finish!
A good race, nice course, very flat, well organised and loads of goodies and foods at the finish line.
However, bit of a naff wooden medal and it was quite chaotic at the finish line (probably because everyone wanted to hang around for the food!).
We all met up with the sickly Harvey back at the hotel afterwards, had a quick change and then it was back out for more beers.
Btw… it turns out beer is a great cure for man-flu… who knew!!
By the end of the night Muz had “invented” a game of drunken walking along the cracks in the pavement.
If you see him…. Don’t mention it. You have been warned!!
Glenn
Katie in the 10 Mile race
CHICHESTER HALF MARATHON
The annual Chichester Half Marathon Ten Miler & six miler is usually a good place for some Tuff spotting and this year was no exception.
The morning got off to a brilliant start as the sixth person to finish in the 10 mile race was Katie Young. Katie was the first Lady to cross the line, an impressive 1 minute 20 seconds ahead of 2nd place and 2 minutes ahead of third lady – excellent running as Katie summed it up with “Love a good hill”.
Olly & Andy
In the half Marathon well done to Pete Littleboy who was our fastest runner in 1hr 48. Next home was Karl Halom, then Andy Ward, Olly Sampson and Kelly Johnson. First up, Karl provides his thoughts on his race, then Andy & Kelly – read on:-.
‘Running the Chichester half marathon, this was my first time running at this event. I was told it was half road and half trail with a massive hill in the middle, Which there certainly was. I really enjoyed the run and the weather held out until the end. It was amazing to have other Tuffs there as I was running this one on my own’. Finish time 1:15.
Karl
‘I cannot remember the last time I ran a half marathon. It could well be 10+ years ago but with my focus recently changed and with a dream of completing an Ultra I needed to start somewhere’.
‘Every time I ran it felt easier and before I knew it I was enjoying it again. I know that may sound odd but running really had become something that I loathed to do so when I finally hit the 10 mile mark I was ready to take part! This was never going to be a race and Olly and I decided it was a “training run with a medal” tricky for me in practice as although now a super-vet I still feel 30 on the inside and running without chasing people was hard to manage’.
‘Fair to say it’s not flat and The Trundle was a challenging climb, as was the downhill. It has relit my inner flame for wanting to compete again and with a great training partner in Olly Sampson I am excited for 2025 and beyond’.
Andy
I did Chichester Half Marathon on Sunday I managed to keep a steady pace throughout (unlike last year when I went too quick then struggled with the last few miles) I finished in a time of 2:24 and managed to get back before the rain. I will be entering again next year and trying to improve my time.
Kelly
Jenny
LEJOG (LANDS END JOHN O’GROATS
Next up a very descriptive report from Jenny Oliver on her amazing LEJOG cycle ride; truly a bucket list thing to do.
‘After over a year of anticipation, planning and training, the time finally arrived for us to embark on our 1,000 mile ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats’.
‘Friends Carol Boreham and Soo Smith and myself would be riding supported by Claire Moyle and her vehicle, a Peugot Rifter nicknamed ‘Wolf’.’
‘Our itinerary was 1 day drive to Land’s End, 10 days riding, 1 day rest, 10 days riding and 2 days drive back’.
‘We stayed in various accommodation, mainly AirBnBs, some Hotels, a Hostel and notably the Wee Hoose Glamping pod’.
‘It was like a military regime each day to prepare for the ride, vacate and then at the end of the day to move in, shower, eat, edit videos, write blog, call home, recover and sleep’.
‘Some varied weather, rain, headwinds, cold, but mainly dry and quite a bit of sun. We seemed to dodge some unfavourable forecasts making the experience a lot more enjoyable’.
‘But the focus has to be on the riding, an incredible rural route from end to end of Britain. A changing landscape that delivered fresh perspectives every day from challenging climbs in the West Country, to mountain ski resorts in the Scottish Highland. Impressive architecture in bridges. Historic towns, narrow winding lanes, beautiful parks. Wildlife from antlered stags to Highland Coos. Sea views from the Cornish Atlantic coast to the Scottish North Sea. Being immersed in breathtaking open vistas. Numerous closed roads resulting in detours on foot through forests and farms. 1,037 miles (1,669 km) travelled, 73,202′ (22,312m) climbed, £2,365 raised for Cancer United’.
Finally a massive shout out to Claire Moyle who properly supported us, ferrying our gear each day, often carrying it to and from the car, making a hot drink when arrived at the end of the day, bobbing up at the side of the road to mark our coffee or lunch stop, always a welcome sight, buying us a sweet memento and giving us an encouraging card as we neared the finish. She still managed to organise and complete a mini triathlon every day including the rest day! I’ve learnt that this Tuff is really an incognito softie on the inside!
I kept a blog each day www.ajoliver.org/category/lejog24 including videos taken on the GoPro if anyone is interested in more detail or perhaps considering taking on LEJOG yourself. I loved everyday of this incredible journey and would recommend to anyone!
Jenny’s Last day of cycling to John O’Groats is below.
Jenny
editors note: if you feel inspired to contribute to Jenny’s fund raised the link is here
Claire
LEJOG TRIATHLON CHALLENGE
Claire Moyle undertakes some amazing adventures, and only modestly refers to her recent time as gamesmaker at the Olympic/Paralympics. Now she has just returned from supporting Jenny’s team above whilst packing in her own challenge:
‘Having spent 5 weeks in Paris for the Olympics and Paralympics i knew I would need to keep fit while supporting the Lejog cycling ladies so I decided I would do a mini triathlon for everyday they were cycling’.
‘In my head I thought this would be easy as they would be cycling all day and I would have lots of time but in reality it was actually quite hard to fit it in around loading and unloading the car, shopping, meeting them at their stops and finding the accommodation at the end of each day. I aimed to do between 400m -1200m swims, 10-15 mile bike and 5k run each day’.
‘The swims proved the most difficult as getting safe wild swims was really hard although i managed some lovely swims on the Cornwall and Devon beaches, after that i had to find swimming pools which i managed to do for most days. The best pool was the Royal Commonwealth 50 mtr pool in Edinburgh’.
The runs varied but often were the start of each day running round the village we had stayed at, although I managed to incorporate a couple of park runs too. The cycling was generally the easiest as i would drive to the lunch stop and ride a loop or ride back to them and show then the way. It was a great way to see different parts of the country and i got to cycle up Glenshee and Lietch ski resorts again. I was very lucky with the weather and managed not to get rained on although there were some very cold days.
Claire
TUFF FITTY SOCIAL – AND AGM
Don’t forget next Friday 18th October is Tuff FItty’s Social up at The Fox Pub, Patching. Meet in the bar for drinks – food optional at 6:30pm with the AGM in the marquee at 7:30pm before returning to the bar – all welcome.
