Round Up 1st – 30th November 2025
Welcome to the November edition of the round up! Well, the Tuff action has finally slowed down (although I can already foresee that December will be a busier month). Nonetheless, Tuffs have been doing their thing near and far. Thanks and well done, as ever, to all our contributors.
WSFRL Gunpowder Trot – Horsham – Sunday 2nd November 2025
Your editor, Kate Cooper, reports on the first events of the month.
The final run of this year’s West Sussex Fun Run League was the aptly named Gunpowder Trot in Horsham. It is always a bit of a tricky event logistically, as the parking is some way from the start and the start is a 5-minute walk from the meeting point. This year’s event was even trickier as the emergency response vehicle got stuck in mud which blocked the course and delayed the start! Luckily, in the end a number of runners helped push the vehicle out of the mud: there were no prizes for guessing who they were when they returned to the start line! Thankfully, the sun was out which made the wait bearable as we were a long way from our jumpers, but unfortunately the delay meant that some runners had to skip the event due to commitments later in the day.
When we finally set off, the hill at the start line was even more challenging than usual on rather cold legs, but I soon got going and enjoyed the well-marshalled course, complete with a few cows to avoid and the obligatory mud!
Sussex Athletics Cross Country League – Stanmer Pak, Brighton – Saturday 8th November 2025
And another report from your editor:
This was the 2nd of the 4 events which make up the annual Sussex Athletics cross country league and it was quite the warmest and sunniest cross-country event that I have ever taken part in! For women, it is a 5k 2-lap course which has been adapted over the last couple of years and now includes more zigzagging on grass and less running in the woods: personally, I preferred the woods despite a late and painful hill!
The support is always great at Stanmer and this was no exception. We had arrived a bit later than planned due to traffic and I paid for a scant warm up in the first couple of kilometres when I felt quite sick, but after that I settled into it and ‘enjoyed’ the rest of the race: the downhill finish is always fun!
The balmy conditions meant that I happily stayed to cheer on the men and even remembered to take photos of Paul Martin, the sole person running in a Tuff vest (no offence to Paul, I generally forget to take photos of anyone including my daughter!).
Barbados Open Water Swim – 8th November 2025
Many thanks to Glenn Parisi for sending in the following report of swimming in the Caribbean – we are not jealous much!
Whilst working onboard a cruise ship, I’m often on the lookout for local events that coincide with the ports we dock in. There usually isn’t anything. However, this swim festival coincided with our two-day stopover in Bridgetown Barbados, so I thought well, why not?!
Some of you may know that I’m not renowned for being ‘sensible’ with either training plans or injury rehabilitation. So, it won’t come as a shock to hear that entering this event was no different, and I wasn’t ‘sensible’!
A torn rotator cuff had stopped me from swimming for almost two years, but surgery a month or so ago meant that I was fixed and good to go…. Right? The post-surgery physio said that I could start swimming a couple of lengths and slowly build up from there. Well, what did he know, I didn’t bother with that and entered the 1500m sea swim instead!
So, having not swum a single stroke in almost two years I rocked up at the Barbados Yacht club at 8am to check in. Being the Caribbean, the check in process was pretty ‘chilled’ with reggae music blasting and the unmistakable aroma of ganja all around. I think the guy doing the body number marking must have had a spliff or two as he couldn’t seem to focus and ended up putting different numbers on my arms and legs!
Everyone was allowed to warm up in the water. No real need as the Caribbean Sea was like a bath, but everyone got in and splashed about a bit anyway. Then we were all told to get out so that we could be filmed getting back in again ‘for safety reasons’. A good 100 or so people totally ignored this instruction and stayed treading water on the start line. So, I’m sure the organisers had absolutely no idea who was racing, but nobody seemed to care!
Weirdly a little bit of sensibleness came over me at the start… I decided to hang back and set off at the back of the field. After all I was only aiming to finish in one piece, not to ‘race’ it! This worked well as I had open clear water ahead of me as the hooter sounded. I quickly caught up with some slower swimmers and started to feel smug, even cocky, after I’d overtaken 20-30 people! This cockiness proved to be short lived as by about halfway I started to run out of puff and got cramp in both legs! I realised that I wasn’t swim fit and my usual technique of just winging it was letting me down (again!!).
Still, I carried on, rounded the last buoy and then sprinted (waddled) up the beach to the finish line where I was presented with a nice Caribbean style colourful T-shirt and a decent medal.
Then my heart sank… the only refreshment on offer at the finish was Gatorade!! The last time I drank Gatorade I projectile vomited a blue fountain over a paramedic’s uniform during the Madrid marathon a few years back, so I tentatively took my bottle. I needn’t have worried, as I kept it down, and the sand on the beach remained a lovely golden yellow!! I found a sunbed and lay down for a while before heading back to the ship to start my late shift.
The Ship’s schedule looks like I might be there again for the 2026 version so, now that I’m fixed, I might put in some appearances at the TF swim sessions and try to do it properly next year.
A fun event which I’d thoroughly recommend if you ever find yourself out in that neck of the woods. As well as the 1500m there was also a 3k and a 10k on offer.
Brighton 10k – Sunday 16th November 2025
Thank you to Clive Harvey for reporting in on this popular local event, which saw Clive and his twin brother running identical times!
After tropical 18-degree warm weather on Saturday, Sunday saw a chilly 10 degrees with light drizzle as 3,000 competitors lined up on Hove Lawns. Once the start was underway the drizzle stopped to leave good running conditions for 1km up Hove Lawns and then a 9km out and back seafront route on the A259 and Madeira Drive. Les Pearce was prolific as top Tuff Cheerleader, having cycled over and our own Andy Rossiter was an encouraging marshal at the turn by Brighton Marina.
First Tuff home in a very swift 37.25 was Cameron Coe. Nathan Cooper was also running well to finish in 38.50. It is pleasing to report on Paul Edmonds who made an impressive Tuff debut as third Tuff home. Paul has only been a member for a month, but it was great to see him flying the Tuff colours – well done Paul. Lee Gulliver followed 6 seconds later. Trevor Harvey was next across the line, as he outsprinted me to the finish. It would transpire that he triggered an earlier gun time than me, so the chip time produced a dead heat right to the second – so honours even. Adam Stringer wore his new club captain vest; he was on pacing duty helping his partner to her first 10K, they did well, beating their target time. Good to see Nina Tully in action as well to complete the 8 Tuffs on the Prom.
International Running Challenge – Lanzarote – 23rd – 26th November 2025
Fraser Kidd was another Tuff in warmer climes in November, completing what sounds like a fun and aptly named series of events. Thank you to Fraser for reporting in and congratulations on a great result!
On 20th November I travelled solo to Lanzarote for the International Running Challenge, hosted by Club La Santa. This year’s event drew 1,120 competitors from 35 countries, creating a truly international feel.
Pre‑Challenge Events
Before the four‑day challenge began, there were two warm‑up runs:
• Breakfast Run (3km) – a lighthearted start followed, fittingly, by breakfast.
• Night Run (4km) – a unique experience, led to the start line by a local steel band and launched with fireworks. The race had its surreal moment when Ironman Lanzarote winner Anne Haug was tripped by someone dressed as a bunny. She quickly recovered and surged past, while I finished a proud 11th overall. The evening closed with a festival atmosphere and a Queen tribute band.
The Challenge Races
Across four consecutive days, runners faced:
• 10km Road Race
• 13km Ridge Run
• 5km Beach Run
• 21km Multi‑Terrain Run
I approached the event as a challenge rather than a race, pacing conservatively in the first half of each run before turning up the effort later. The ridge run and the final 21km proved the toughest, each with 550ft of elevation.
Results
• Overall placing: 30th
• Age group: 3rd
• Total time: 3:32:51
Reflections
Not knowing quite what to expect, I embraced the variety and tested my capabilities. The combination of road, ridge, beach, and multi‑terrain racing made this one of the most demanding but rewarding events I’ve ever taken on. It stands among my top sporting achievements, a testament to the hard training of the past nine months.
parkrun Round Up
Saturday 1st November 2025
On 1st November Littlehampton parkrun saw an impressive 9 Tuffs line up at the start line: Fraser Kidd (2nd overall), Steve Fryer, Colin Simpson, Stephen Evans, Ollie Thomas, Richard Budd, Benita Fryer, Sue Simpson and Chris Evans, with Sue, Chris, Tracey Goult and Hope Newcomer all picking up volunteering credits. Clive Harvey checked out the Downs Link parkrun, where Debbie Birch and Sue Pinky were volunteering. Alex Webb, Jay McCardle and Christine Griffin all ran at Worthing. Juliette Reader made short work of Bideford parkrun, while Paul Fielder, Al Evans and Daniel Barnett were all on tour, at Chichester, Portsmouth Lakeside and Seaford respectively.
Saturday 8th November 2025
Tuffs were out in force at our local parkruns, with 10 Tuffs at Littlehampton, namely Fraser Kidd, Jon Roobottom, Kev Pearson, Adrian Oliver, Steve Bridgeman, Stephen Evans, Katie Yates-Hill (who ran a PB), Al Evans, Janet Shepherd and Chris Evans, who picked up his 50th volunteering credit. 6 Tuffs ran at Worthing with Steve and Benita Fryer choosing to run a little further east than normal. Also running were Mark Dinsdale, Jay McCardle, Ed Lay and Nina Tully. Trevor Harvey was on home turf at Maidenhead while Shelia Bailey ran the Downs Link course, where Debbie Birch was also volunteering. Paul Fielder ran at Bognor for the first time while Nathan Bilham ran at Rushmoor.
Saturday 15th November 2025
Littlehampton once again topped the rankings on 15th November with a consistent 10 Tuffs running: Fraser Kidd, Steve Fryer, Jon Roobottom, Ollie Thomas, Benita Fryer (with a course PB), Al Evans (who put in a great performance for his 250th parkrun), Adrian Oliver, Sue Simpson, Colin Simpson and Chris Evans. Just Danny Cunnett, Paul Fielder and Les Pearce ran at Worthing, while Sue Pinky both took part and volunteered at the Downs Link parkrun, where Ed Lay was also volunteering. Clive and Trevor Harvey ran at Bevendean Down and Shelia Bailey ran at Uckfield.
Saturday 22nd November 2025
Worthing numbers were up on 22nd November with Ed Lay, Paul Field, Les Pearce, Katie Goddard and Elaine Rousseau all running. Littlehampton maintained its top spot where Steve Fryer, Adrian Oliver, Stephen Evans, Katie Yates-Hill (with another course PB), Benita Fryer, Chris Evans and Emma Hinton all taking part, with Emma volunteering along with Hope Newcomer. Al Evans both ran and volunteered at Brockenhurst parkrun. Clive Harvey ran at Bognor while Trevor Harvey was on tour at Henley-on-Thames. Also on tour was Daniel Barnett at Ifield Mill Pond, while Sue and Colin Simpson ran at Malling Rec. Finally, Debbie Birch was on volunteering duty at the Downs Link parkrun.
Saturday 29th November 2025
There were lots of solo Tuff participants for the 5th Saturday of the month: Fraser Kidd at Moors Valley, Amanda De Ridder at Whitstable, Debbie Birch at Queen Elizabeth, Clive Harvey at Bognor, Trevor Harvey at Maidenhead and Les Pearce at Worthing. Littlehampton had a modest 6 Tuffs taking part: Steve Fryer, Jon Roobottom, Stephen Evans, Benita Fryer, Al Evans and Emma Hinton, with Emma and Chris Evans on the volunteering team. Ed Lay and Daniel Barnett were both in action at Downs Link, while Colin and Sue Simpson were at the Meon Valley Trail parkrun.
