Weekend Round Up 30th 31st March
As usual, Easter weekend is quiet in respect of races, so this is an opportune time to set out Tuff Fitty’s summer schedule. Whilst regular weekly training sessions are listed, we have club specials, club championship races, Lido events, and Summer Tuff Run series; many are already set in our calendar. More immediately the forthcoming weekend is the commencement of Marathon season where we have Tuffs lined up for this weekend’s Brighton Marathon with Manchester, London & Miltons Keynes following in quick succession – good luck to everyone..
TUFF FITTY SUMMER TRAINING NIGHTS
With British Summertime here, feel able to attend the following. Non-members reading this and fancy coming along; do please get in contact :-
MONDAY EVENING TRAIL RUNS
Meet outside the The Fox Pub, (Arundel Rd, Patching BN13 3UJ) ready to run at 6:30pm. Off road shoes are preferred but not essential as the route heads up into the woods at Angmering Park, often along the escarpment at Windy Ridge at the start of the South Downs. Race distance is discussed prior to the start, but all welcome.
TUESDAY RIDES
As the evenings become lighter there are two options. The Tuesday Zwift rides continue with the route published each week on the Spond event calendar. As the session is a club ride it means only our riders show on screen and significantly there is a ‘band’ in place which keeps all the riders together making it a great social ride which really is applicable for everyone.. Riders will need to join the ‘Tuff Fitty Triathlon Club'” ‘Zwift Club as set out on the event – please ask for help in getting signed up. Participants need to be signed on and in the saddle ready for a 6:30pm start.
Alternatively the lighter evenings may tempt you outside. There is a Tuesday evening Road bike ride, established by Dom Amey where riders are asked to congregate by Worthing Pier ready to pedal off at 6:45pm. All pace riders are welcome and a discussion will ensue as to how far the group wish to cycle. Please note that the session is an uncoached ride amongst like minded individuals and as we are still in April, do please ensure you have lights.
WEDNESDAY STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING AND TRACK SESSION
As you will see from this week’s banner shot, the arrival of British Summertime heralds the return of Tuff Fitty’s strength and conditioning session held on the Running track at Worthing Leisure Centre. Meet up to start the session at 6:30pm where Barry, Leah & Liane set us very useful stretchy things to do. Whilst some of the favourite exercises return from last year, this year you simply have to turn up to see what is in the “Tuff Trolley” Such is the level of new ‘toys’ to bring into play, Tuff Trolley is important to transport everything onto track.
Our regular Wednesday Running Track session remains one of our key weekly training sessions with a variety of coaches to ensure attendees have a range of sets to follow. Your club have agreed to maintain the cost of attendance at £2 payable on Spond. For those who havent attended we start we (usually) a four lap gentle warm up before a set of drills and then into the main set. 7pm start.
Whilst the Strength and Conditioning (no charge) 6:30pm leads nicely into the Track Session at 7pm, both can be viewed as standalone sessions with participants able to come for either session or both. Have you tried a session recently? you will be pleased you did.
THURSDAY EVENING COACHED SWIM
Our popular coached Thursday Swim continues at 8pm every Thursday. It is requested that participants meet in the cafe area at circa 7:45pm ready to get changed and be poolside ready for the warm up segment to commence on the 8pm hour.
SATURDAY MORNING RUN
The Saturday morning run is a great way to start off your weekend. Participants meet outside the lower castle gates in Mill Road Arundel. (BN18 9PA). Prior to cantering off at 7:30am the runners will discuss distances and there may be a couple of groups depending on the resulting course. Arundel is a great choice for varied terrain and can include that magic phrase amongst the running community – ‘Undulations’. Tending to be the club’s longer run of the week, it is very socialable and inclusive. Whilst not obligatory, attendees are encouraged to bring a dry top as the social aspect continues at a local cafe for coffee (perhaps even breakfast or cake – if the mileage justifies :))
SATURDAY LATE AFTERNOON SWIM
Our Weekend pool swim is Tuff Fitty’s longest established training session. Similar to our Thursday session, participants are asked to meet up in the Cafe area circa 15 minutes beforehand to enable enough time to get changed and ready to start at 5pm. Did you know that whilst most of the eight lanes are given over to coached swimming, there is usually one or two lanes classified as Uncoached. This aspect is ideal for those returning from injury or are returning to the water after a time away. Both coached and uncoached sessions are bookable on Spond. If you have your own pull buoy and fins it is recommended that you bring these along, (also to Thursday’s swim) plus a drinks bottle.
CYCLES
There are ongoing discussions about our Sunday club rides which have historically proved difficult to organise especially with ‘race season’ starting to pick up pace ruling many out due to a variety of runs/tri’s/ swims etc. Members do organise rides amongst themselves so do feel able to advertise your own rides on Spond although we do need to state such rides are uncoached. Our roads are busier than ever so whether you ride as a group or individually it is pertinent to raise Tuff Fitty’s cycle etiquette back into everyone’s consciousness. This can be read HERE
LEWES EASTER FUN RUN -10K
Part of the West Sussex Fun Run League, this was the one race identified with a Tuff runner this weekend. The route starts and finishes on the running track at Lewes Sports centre but in between follows a multi-terrain route, almost completely traffic-free using tracks and footpaths. Steve Feest was our representative here..
PARKRUN ROUND UP
Littlehampton parkrun was the choice of Steve Fryer who is successfully balancing quick parkrun times with marathon training- Steve completed in 20:03. Colin Simpson was our next runner gaining a 71% age grading. Fraser Kidd was back in action, this week acting as paceman for someone. Steve Bridgeman was followed home by Alistair Evans who notched up his 169th parkrun. 11 seconds later Bob Rogers also finished. Chris Evans was on the volunteer team to complete 7 Tuffs on the prom.
Worthing parkrun also saw somestrong Tuff running as Dave March finished in 20:44. Edward Lay keeps his strong Worthing tradition on his 134rd Worthing run (163 in total). Nina Tully was our third runner and finally kudos to Les Pearce who, whilst currently unable to run, volunteered again for his 36th volunteer credit.
Bognor parkrun was the choice of Clive Harvey, running four laps around Hotham Park.
In terms of parkrun tourism, the furthest location was run up at Hereford parkrun where the parkrun course is two laps around the racecourse. Katie Young ran here doing rather well as first home in her age group and sixth lady overall.
If you are looking for a quieter parkrun, how about Bevendean Down parkrun. This week there were 36 finishers and 7 volunteers. The venue is north of Brighton and was attended by Sheila Bailey and Kate Evans along with 13 others from their running club. Sheila has run here three times, and on this occasion knocked a thumping 9 minutes off her previous PB set at the beginning of January.
Poole parkrun is stated to be one of the UK’s popular courses as following a circuit of a cricket pitch the course takes in a lap of a lagoon. This week there was just under 1,100 finishers and in amongst these was James Mapley. James not only impressed with a swift 18:09 which was a PB for him at this venue but he used this as a parkrun sandwich running to and from the course.
Well done to all sixteen
