Weekend Round Up 19th 20th March

HAMPTON COURT HALF MARATHON

Three separate groups had booked up to race at Hampton Court Half Marathon. Unfortunately Jon Babbage’s party reduced in the week before the event, although, it was a quality car load with Jon and Ollie Thomas. Karly & Paul Martin were also in attendance and they both produced good performances. Karly had entered the race after a period of injury but she was delighted to smash her previous PB – brilliant. The third group decided to make a trip of it ,as you will read, with Tiff Orton, Jon Roper, Glenn Parisi & Clive Harvey staying at Trevor Harvey’s.

First Tuff home was Oliver Thomas in 1:45:11, but it was a close run thing as Paul Martin crossed in 1:45:44, but at the time there were many staggered waves so the finishing order was not immediately apparent. Glenn Parisi, Jon Babbage & Tiff Orton followed. It was a strong Tuff field as Clive Harvey, Trev Harvey, Jon Roper and Karly Martin rounded up the Tuff nine. It was good to see Andy Strong (Strongie) run, who had been a Tuff for almost 10 years before moving up to London. Pleasing to have three different race perspectives as follows:-

“As per usual it was Glenn who persuaded a few Tuffs to enter. We didn’t realise the contingent was larger so it was great to see more Tuffs there on the day including Strongie 🙂

After a perfect Saturday night with chums, lasagne and beer, we awoke on the Sunday and prepped for the event ahead. Weather was perfect, course was pretty along the river and through the gardens of Hampton Court Palace.

Medal was big and cheesy with Henry VIII on it and the goodie bag at the end was brill. Would definitely recommend to other Tuffs! Pleased with my chip time of 1.56.02 (getting back to it!) I think we all had a lovely time.

Tiff

“Hampton Court half marathon, a good excuse to go and visit Trev in Windsor, not that an excuse is really needed.  Up early to miss the traffic on M25, Into Windsor to watch the changing of the guard at the castle, coffee & cake.

Back to Trevs for lunch and then a walk round Dorney Lake Olympic rowing venue thanks for the hot chocolate with all the bells and whistles Glenn. Saturday evening at the Windsor and Eton brewery for a couple of jugs of their finest, then back to Trevs for his world famous lasagna and grand prix qualifying.

Sunday run, one foot in front of the other up and down the river, good Tuff turn out and nice to catch up with Strongie, it’s a home race so he knows the best cafe for post race refreshments.  Run time was not the best but had a good time”

Jon

So normally when I send a write up in, it’s pretty long winded and gives an overview of the entire day and whole race mile by mile. I often include how I was feeling and what went right / wrong etc etc.. blah blah.

But on this occasion let’s just cut to the chase, forget the first 12 and a half miles, and concentrate on the last half a mile…. Coming in towards the finish I saw Jon Babbage up ahead of me. I was closing in on him!!

Now I’m no runner, and I’m nowhere near the elite, ‘proper runner’ status of said Babbage – so to see him in sight was a shock to say the least!

I’m gonna have him I said (almost aloud!) to myself. And I did. I caught him and overtook him in the last couple of hundred meters!!

I tried to control the smug look on my face as I drew level with him but I don’t think I succeeded as he looked up at me with some soppy sad look on his face and made some lame excuse about having pulled a muscle or something in the first mile!

I chose to ignore that completely and basked in my victory letting him have it both barrels when he eventually crossed the finish line!! 😉

But seriously… this event and whole weekend was brilliant. A great day out with fellow tuffs.  I’d thoroughly recommend this race to everyone for next year (except Jon!). 

Glenn 

PORTSMOUTH DUATHLON SERIES

The second in the Portsmouth Duathlon series with much of the route known to Tuffs from the regular half and full marathons along Southsea esplanade. This week we had a Tuff presence from James Mapley. James is rather modest, so it falls to the editor to highlight he had a great race finishing 13th overall and less than 1 minute off a top ten finish – congratulations. Thanks to James for reporting in as follows:_

The Southsea Duathlon comprised a 7.5km run, 18km bike and 5km run. Both the runs and bike routes headed out due east into a pretty string headwind before heading due west along the seafront. The bike leg spread the field out with those brave enough to use their TT bikes making good ground up on the road bikes. Once we entered transition for the final time, positions were largely set and it was simply a case of finishing strongly with the tailwind. All in all a great event. Looking forward to the last event in this series on 10th April.

James

WEST WORTHING 10K /5k

Whilst called the West Worthing 10k, ( not to be confused with The Worthing 10k being held 9th October) this year the start was moved away from Sea Lane Cafe to avoid running on the greensward. Race HQ was now opposite Marine Gardens, then out to the end of the Prom on the A259 Brighton Road, and back past the start before a turnaround at Sea Lane Cafe, finishing back at Marine Gardens. Tuff Fitty have a good record in this event winning the team award previously..

However this year there was no team prize but there were still 5 Tuffs in attendance. Phil Scales continued his strong form with 12th overall in 41:28, Les Pearce was 32nd in 47:31 Emma Hinton 49:53 Kate Evans 66:01 Sheila Bailey 68:11

In the 5k there was a terrific result from Mark Walford who finished as first competitor overall in just 18:45 and to highlight his achievement, the second runner home was 1 minute and 41 seconds further back – most impressive.

RHINO MAN MARATHON & MOYLEMAN MARATHON

One of our mega, (very frequent) ultra runners was in action for two consecutive weekends, who? why none other than Jay McCardle of course.

Last weekend Jay took part in ‘Chris’s 100th Marathon Rhino Marathon‘ The man in question, Chris, has run all over with his Rhino suit and to mark his 100th marathon the race was in his honour complete with a bespoke Rhino Run Medal. It was a great performance from Jay who ran around the marathon route in just 4 hours 8 minutes which was 6th overall

Fast forward to this weekend and here Jay was again!. This time he was attending, Moyleman, whilst a full marathon, because this is Jay we are talking about, the description is a very challenging event, over challenging terrain, through remote areas, so runners needed to be self sufficient in terms of hydration etc. Whilst performing pacing duties were undertaken Jay still recorded a strong 5 hour time. A commemorative beer glass and beer tokens from Harvey’s brewery helped to make it a good race.!

PARKRUN ROUND UP

At Littlehampton parkrun, Emily Moore continues her strong parkrun record as she was first female home (again) and sixth overall in just 20:14. Vicky Cooper also ran notching up her 34th parkrun. Richard Budd was present, on pacing duty as he reached his 166th pr. Nick Hartfield was on the organising team.

Worthing parkrun saw Danny Cunnett in action crossing as first Tuff home in 21:32 Juliette Reader was next home in 22:29, Ed Lay finished in 23:36 for his 81st PR. Next Tuff, it was good to see Maisie Johnston on the parkrun trail. Just two seconds later Les Pearce notched up his landmark 150th parkrun ahead of the next day’s 10k run. Sue Pinky 117 parkruns, and Elaine Rousseau (119) completed the Worthing seven.

Chichester parkrun saw a busy weekend for Kate Evans and Sheila Bailey who both ran around Oakland Park ahead of also racing at West Worthing 10k the next day.

Lancing parkrun also had a Tuff presence as Tony Pearce ran completing his 32nd PR. well done to all 14 Tuff parkrunners