Round Up 1st – 31st December 2025
Welcome to the December edition of the round up! It is absolute proof that the Tuff Fitty action never stops and of late seems to be happening across the world not just the UK! Make sure that you read to the end for news of a different and very special kind.
Winter Downs 50km – East Dean – Saturday 6th December 2025
Many thanks to Mark Walford for sending in this brutally honest account of the equally brutal Winter Downs 50km. What Mark neglects to say, is that he was 25th overall and 5th in his age category!
Humbled by the hills!
I like a challenge as you may know and a few years ago I decided to do a winter marathon to encourage training during the cold dark nights. But this year I decided to take it up a notch and go for an ultra, but not just any ultra: a very hilly ultra.
Looking at the weather forecast it changed from thunderstorms with lots of rain, to some rain but increased winds.
UK Ultra was well-organised and the mandatory kit list and GPS tracker made me feel like they were taking safety seriously but also made me wonder what I had let myself in for!
The start location in East Dean in the valley by Beachy Head meant that the start was always going to be uphill, and it was steep up and then the weather hit at the top of the cliff, running forward I was being pushed back feeling like I was on a treadmill, but I pushed on.
The field was getting separated and then my other fear kicked in, getting lost. I couldn’t see anyone when we got into a village, but marshals told me I was right running through a field of horses!
When it opened up, I saw 3 people ahead so decided to push just a bit to catch up with them.
Trail runners are a nice bunch, and we chatted a lot whilst going up and down hills. Then at 12km we started going up a hill and it did not stop for 5km with wind in the face and I really wondered what I was doing with my life.
Once it eventually started going downhill, it was a welcome relief and a little group of us formed again, it was nice to have company. The halfway aid station was definitely needed. A few wrong turns but nothing major was adding some distance.
Then after much swapping and changing positions I started running with one of the lead females who turns out is a newly turned pro triathlete, so we had plenty to chat about and the next 10km went fine. All was good until the steepest hill at 39km. We were definitely walking hills now, but this was a climb up a mountain not a walk.
We started running and then it happened: cramp in left hamstring, like I had been shot! Proper not able to move, after a few minutes I was back to moving but at a much slower pace, then at 42km going down a hill the right hamstring went, making the previous cramp feel like a twinge.
Now I was 500m away from aid station, but I couldn’t walk to get there for a good 5 mins and once I started moving I was seriously considering pulling out. But I thought I might be able to move a bit even if it’s just walking: the final 8km I was walking 80% and the wind and rain were crazy. Heart break when 50km came on my watch but the finish line was still 1.5km away. I got to the end but a broken man.
Lying on the floor taking my shoes off, I wondered if I would ever be able to stand up again. Very slowly I got myself sorted, a can of coke and flapjack and I was thinking better and was proud of my effort and grit not to quit.
It’s easy to write a report on good days but tough days are the ones you learn the most from, maybe the wind and hills made me not measure my effort correctly, I thought I was OK on nutrition but definitely need more salt and maybe I burn though carbs.
But I will be back and once I start walking properly and then start running: I will be better for it.
T100 Worlds – Qatar – Saturday 13th December 2025
Congratulations to Clare Worgan for qualifying for and taking part in the T100 age group world championships in Qatar. Thanks, Clare, for the following report:
I’ve been following the pro series ever since seeing them in action at the Olympics, so when I qualified for the T100 Worlds in Qatar, I couldn’t not go and what an adventure it was!
The pro race was the day before mine, watching the strength and grit of those professional women totally inspired me to give it my all.
It was hot, so no wetsuits were allowed. That made the swim hard work and slower than it felt, but it was a beautiful location with near-perfect conditions.
The bike route was the best I’ve ever ridden. Smooth, wide roads meant I felt brave enough to stay down on the tri bars (which is a first for me) and I finished the bike leg very happy with a PB.
I was extremely grateful for the ice buckets at the aid stations on the run, I needed a couple of those before I could find my running legs and settle in. The run course has some fantastic views which helped distract from the pain and the finish line is very impressive. There weren’t a huge number of spectators but there were plenty of Brits out there cheering which gave me a boost.
Overall a fantastic event, I’ve brought home some wonderful memories and fancy swag. I’m a fan of T100, I like what they’re trying to do for our sport, so it was fantastic to be part of it. I really liked Qatar too and I would definitely go back… maybe with a group of Tuffs next time.
Tuff Fitty Christmas Breakfast Run – Arundel – Saturday 13th December 2025
Thank you to Mark Sole for reporting in on some of Tuff Fitty’s Christmas antics!
The morning of Saturday 13th December saw Tuff Fitty members turn out in great spirits for our annual Christmas Breakfast Run, with plenty of festive cheer on display. The dress code was well and truly embraced, with Christmas jumpers, festive hats, and full-on fancy dress adding colour (and a few laughs!) to the run.
The session itself was a relaxed, sociable run — very much about enjoying the company rather than chasing pace — and it was great to see members chatting away and soaking up the Christmas atmosphere. Exactly what a December club run should be.
Afterwards, everyone headed off for a well-earned breakfast, where the festive mood continued over coffee, food, and plenty of good conversation. It was a lovely chance to catch up, reflect on the year’s training and racing, and enjoy some downtime together before the busy Christmas period.
A big thank you to Trevor for organising the morning and making sure everything ran so smoothly — it wouldn’t have happened without you.
A huge thanks as well to everyone who came along and made it such a fun, friendly morning. Events like this really sum up what is all about — community, camaraderie, and enjoying sport together.
Portsmouth Festive Half Marathon – Sunday 21st December 2025
Next up, Claire Moyle with her report on an event closer to home. Sadly, she didn’t send a photo with the Christmas pudding! Well done, Claire – it is a tough event!
I signed up for this event as I wanted to motivate my son to keep his running going. We had run Kew Half marathon in March which was great fun so thought this would be a good one to end the season. We were lucky with the weather, dry and not too windy, and took along our trusty support team of Hannah Ava and Rex. My training was a bit behind schedule and I had only run 8 miles in the lead up to this event and wasn’t feeling it on the start line, but bumped into a few Tuffs so I knew I had to try my best to finish.
It’s a nice course with a mix of tarmac, beach grass and gravel, although there were some pinch points along the way. I settled into a good rhythm and realised I was running with a Christmas pudding hot on my heals. We challenged each other all the way, with the pudding taking the lead on occasions but I was determined not to be beaten by a Christmas pudding(!) so when it ran past me in the last mile I had to dig deep to take it on the line. We formally introduced ourselves at the end and discussed how brutal the race was.
Looking forward to next year’s challenges.
Darklink 10k – Shoreham – Monday 29th December 2025
Thanks, as ever, to Clive Harvey for sending in this report of this year’s Darklink 10k.
The Darklink 10k is a great way to fightback against Christmas overindulgence. Starting at 6pm by the Toll Bridge at Shoreham, 230 runners disappeared into the night with head torches lighting up the Downslink. Runners crossed the Adur at Botolphs for a circuit up towards Bramber then back over the footbridge to return home. Staged by Sussex Trail Events with two of their race directors being our very own Jay McCardle and Danny Cunnett. Conditions were cold under the clear night sky.
Jon Babbage had been playing down his chances but finished as first Tuff home and he was pleased to report it was his second quickest time at the event. Glenn Parisi was next home and then in the space of four minutes, all comfortably under the hour saw Dan Barnett, Zeina Clare, Trevor Harvey, Clive Harvey, Kayleigh Hudson and Ness Green all finish to receive their chunky medal.
The flow of Tuffs across the line continued with Adam Stringer improving his time from last year, then Vicki Hedger, & Nina Tully. Emily Robinson finished next. Emily deserves a mention as she had just asked for the link to become a Tuff – excellent. More Tuff runners crossed the line as Shelley Babbage and then Sheila Bailey brought the total to 16 Tuffs – a highly recommended event; always oversubscribed.
Tiff and Jon’s Wedding News
Finally, news of a different and absolutely brilliant kind! Huge congratulations to Tiff and Jon and thanks again to Clive Harvey for the words and great photo!
We are absolutely delighted to report on the wedding of two of our longest serving members – Tiffany Orton and Jon Roper.
It was back in January 2004 when Jon became a Tuff who would go on to complete many full Ironman events at home and abroad. Jon has served extensively on the Tuff committee – twice, and served as club captain, but probably one of his significant most decisions was to suggest to a work colleague to join a Saturday run. They were to bring a friend but pulled out, but that didn’t deter Tiff Orton from attending on her own, becoming a Tuff shortly after in 2008.
Tiff has also accumulated an impressive Tuff record all the way up to Ironman distance, being at the forefront of the club including her own term on committee; and not forgetting her contribution as one of our coaches.
Tiff and Jon flew out to the US prior to Christmas to stay with relatives at their home on the banks of Lake Kane, with their wedding day on New Year’s Eve.
We are so pleased to report on the marriage of Mr & Mrs Roper and on behalf of everyone at Tuff Fitty we wish them both every health and happiness for their future together.
