Round Up 1st – 31st May 2026
The multisport season has really kicked off with East Grinstead and Arundel triathlons, while the running action never stops. Thanks so much to everyone who has reported in this month and congratulations on some great performances!
Xterra Weston Park – Sunday 3rd May 2026
Firstly, many thanks – and congratulations – to Rob Wagner for reporting in on Xterra Weston Park, which comprises a 1.5km-ish lake swim, 31km-ish mountain bike ride, and a 10km-ish trail run:
I almost missed the start due to wetsuit zip issues but luckily was able to sort it. A manic deep-water start and an Australian exit kept me off a rhythm, but I was able to hold my desired swim pace and came in as expected fairly mid-pack.
I had expected my mountain bike skills would serve me well but due to fresh rain, poor tyre choice, and an apparent lack of the aforementioned skills, I ended the mountain bike ride about ten minutes slower than I had anticipated and I remained mid-pack throughout. At one point I was lapped by the lead group and was able to hold their pace for about ten metres before they disappeared into the distance! A crash due to clipping a wet root on the second lap also set me back.
My transitions were the most successful part of my race as I saved about ninety seconds compared to my plan. Unfortunately, I was spent by the run and limped across the line in 2h54, twelve minutes slower than my planned finish. Good enough for forty-fifth overall but somehow also age-group second and within 25% of first, allowing me to use this result to go to the age-group European championships in Calahorra 2027 by my understanding, so I will plan that in my schedule for next year.
The event is in a beautiful location and has a relaxed, welcoming vibe. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested, although I was surprised at the technicality of the MTB sections. I doubt I will have many podium photos in my triathlon career, so I am happy to come away from the event with a great experience and lots learned.
Worthing Run-Fest – Sunday 3rd May 2026
Worthing Run-Fest, with its half marathon and 10k options, has grown in popularity over recent years and there was a great atmosphere on and around the course with a number of Tuffs taking part. Here is Fraser Kidd’s account of the race:
I headed into the RUNFEST Worthing 10km on Sunday 3rd May looking to test my speed early in the month and was really pleased with how it played out. The course is flat and fast along the seafront, so the aim was to get into a good rhythm early and hold it.
I managed to settle quickly and felt in control through the early miles, keeping the pace honest without going out too hard. The middle section was all about staying consistent and sticking to the plan, and I was able to hold position well in a strong field.
In the final stretch, I pushed on to make sure I finished strongly, crossing the line in 38:44, which was enough for 12th overall. It was great to dip under 39 minutes and a positive run to build on.
Bracknell Half Marathon – Sunday 10th May 2026
Kudos (and thanks) to Fraser for back-to-back racing weekends and for reporting in on both:
A week later, I was back racing again at the Bracknell Half Marathon, shifting focus from speed to endurance. After the 10km effort the previous weekend, the goal was to run a controlled race and see how the legs held up over the longer distance.
I started well and felt strong through the first 10km, settling into a good rhythm and running comfortably at pace. From around 11km through to 19km, things became a bit more of a grind and the pace dropped off, showing there’s still work to do on maintaining effort through that middle section of the race.
That said, I was able to refocus towards the end and pick things up again for the closing stages, finishing in 1:27:43.
East Grinstead Triathlon – Sunday 10th May 2026
East Grinstead Triathlon is one of the Tuff Fitty championship events this year and there was a strong contingent of Tuffs competing. Thank you to Alex Webb for taking the time to send in this report:
I’d never done the East Grinstead Triathlon before, so was really looking forward to taking part in one of the oldest triathlons in the country, especially on its 40th anniversary. As the first club championship race of 2026, it was great to see a decent Tuffs turnout too: Christine Griffin, Paul Fielder, Paul Barnard, Les Pearce, Rhian Standley, Leah Simms and Tom Goddard all racing. A big shout out to Mark Sole who trekked all the way up to East Grinstead to cheer us all on.
It was a pretty chilly start, and I definitely regretted not bringing more layers for the bike. Thankfully Christine came to the rescue, somehow managing to fish a pair of gloves out of her bag during her T1 (impressive multi-tasking!).
The 400m pool swim helped to warm things up before heading out onto the bike. The course turned out to be more undulating than I’d expected, but it was an enjoyable route overall, even if there were a few busier sections with traffic.
The run was two laps through the centre of East Grinstead and around the surrounding streets – very much a “through the houses” kind of course.
All in all, a really nice event and very well organised.
Thanks also to Christine Griffin for summarising her race for us:
I was very glad I’d done the bike recce two weeks earlier, as their description of an “undulating” course was definitely accurate — some even described it as brutal!
The swim went well, the bike was tough, but I was happy to keep plodding on, and the run was two laps through the town… also hilly!
It was a cold day, but there was fantastic support throughout — especially from Mark Sole, whose voice could be heard from across the field!
AJ Bell Bristol Half Marathon – Sunday 10th May 2026
Thanks so much to Clive Harvey for reporting in on Bristol Half Marathon:
Some of our longer serving members may recall Andy Strong & Kirsty Keith, who met and married whilst Tuffs. Both prominent members until moving away. Now in Bristol, they invited Jon & Tiff Roper, Clive and Trevor Harvey to a weekend in Bristol seeing the city, enjoying local beverages, food; oh, and whilst there the suggestion was to participate in the Bristol Half Marathon, Adam Stringer had raced last year and, as his sister lives locally, it meant there were five Tuffs starting in amongst 23,000 other runners. In a change this year, competitors ran the route in reverse, running around the streets of Bristol before heading out under the Clifton Suspension bridge and back. Whilst rain had been expected, conditions on race day were perfect although perhaps the t-shirt design/colour were not the most inspiring. Nevertheless, a great weekend, and nice not to get up so early as staying locally.
Outlaw Nottingham – Saturday 16th May 2026
Adrian Oliver wins the dedication to racing prize this month for completing on both Saturday and Sunday. First up, his report of Nottingham Outlaw:
A Tale Of Two Cities
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”
That famous opening from Charles Dickens felt particularly appropriate after a weekend featuring two very different triathlons.
The Arundel Lido Standard Triathlon had automatically gone into the calendar as my season opener before I’d even checked any other events. It’s close to home, has a heated pool, friendly atmosphere, great T-shirts, and entering the standard distance means enjoying quieter roads.
My goal this year, however, was to focus more on Sprint triathlon. With that in mind, I discovered that the first Sprint qualifier was the Nottingham Outlaw Sprint Triathlon on 16 May — conveniently early in the season and… the day before Arundel. Oops.
A week out, the Outlaw organisers announced problems with toxic blue-green algae in the lake. No worries, they said — technology was being deployed to neutralise it, and they hoped the swim would go ahead.
Then the weather forecast arrived.
Camping on site suddenly seemed less attractive with overnight temperatures predicted at 4 °C. Then the wave starts were announced: 12:30 pm. Why suffer a lonely freezing night in a tent when I could enjoy a warm bed and simply drive up early for 10am registration?
Friday arrived. The algae was apparently under control and the swim was on. So, all set for a 4:30 am start.
The journey itself was mostly straightforward — apart from the M1 being closed halfway up. After parking, registering, meeting up with Sue and Colin Simpson, and setting up the split transition area (running shoes MUST go into T2!), it was finally wetsuit on, briefing done, and into the lake.
How warm was the water?
FREEZING.
My watch recorded 14 °C. Throughout the swim I repeatedly questioned my life choices.
Why?
As I stared into the freezing darkness, despairing:
WHY?
Where was that finishing arch?
WHY?!
Eventually I escaped the lake and reached T1. The bike course consisted of four laps on a perfect, straight, flat perimeter road around the lake, followed by a reverse lap for the 5 km run to the finish. Done! Oh, how I felt for those poor souls racing the 1.9 km half-distance Outlaw swim the following day.
With Jenny crunching the numbers back home, my time of 1:14:09 was within the required 20% of the age-group winner’s 1:03:43. Despite the deeply uncomfortable swim, I achieved the result I wanted and genuinely enjoyed the event overall.
Then it was a case of saying goodbye to Sue and Colin — “See you tomorrow morning at Arundel!” — before heading back south, motivated by thoughts of the gloriously warm Arundel Lido pool awaiting me.
And what a contrast that was.
Arundel Triathlon – Sunday 17th May 2026
A regular fixture in many Tuffs’ calendars, both helping run the event and competing, there was lots of Tuff action across the 4 events with 25 Tuffs competing: 15 opting for the sprint triathlon, 10 for the standard, 3 for the standard aquabike and 1 for the sprint aquabike. There were some superb performances with 3 Tuffs in the top 10 for the sprint, including a first place for Noah Stepney. In the standard, Jon Cassell was 4th overall and Isis Solato and Abi Clark were 2nd and 3rd lady. Congratulations to everyone who took part: Jon Cassell, Isis Solato, Abi Clark, Adrian Oliver, Olly Sampson, Brad Rees, Noah Stepney, Paul Barnard, Tom Goddard, Tom Frith, David Crawford, Lucy Goldsmith, Paul Fielder, Nikki Gatland, Dominique Noiret, Jo Baldwin, Trevor Deetlefs, Kate Cooper, Hazel Sheward, Paul Edmonds, Christine Griffin, Pete Littleboy, Lorraine Wilson, Chris Evans and Bob Rogers.
Here Adrian continues his account of his race weekend:
I could not wait to get into the Arundel Lido pool: a blissful 29 °C. Suddenly, the memory of the Nottingham lake vanished completely. Even twice cycling up Whiteways Hill or running (and walking) out-and-back to South Stoke was better than the Nottingham lake! As the second race of a back-to-back weekend, though, I was more than happy with how it went.
Congratulations to all those who participated in Sunday’s Arundel Triathlon.
Yes, it was a crazy weekend – but I did enjoy it!
Next, thank you again to Christine Griffin for reporting in on her race:
What a cracking day for the Arundel Triathlon. The weather was kind and the marshals were absolutely lovely all day, which really added to the atmosphere.
The swim was good in the beautiful outdoor lido — and at 29 degrees, it felt more like a holiday than the start of a race. A great way to begin the morning.
The bike course definitely had its moments, especially the brutal climb out of Arundel which made everyone earn their legs early on. Tough but rewarding once over the top.
The run brought its own entertainment too, with competitors having to dodge a swan nesting right on the path. Not your standard race obstacle!
Overall, it was a really lovely, happy event with loads of familiar Tuff Fitty Club faces around the course making for a brilliant atmosphere from start to finish.
parkrun Round Up
Saturday 2nd May 2026
| NAME OF PARKRUN | TUFF PARTICIPANTS | THINGS OF NOTE |
| Littlehampton | Fraser KIDD Steve FRYER Clive HARVEY Richard BUDD Janet SHEPHERD Chris EVANS Daniel BARNETT | |
| Worthing | Paul FIELDER Les PEARCE Nina TULLY Elaine ROUSSEAU | |
| Bognor Regis | Cameron COE Katie YOUNG Will KING Amanda DE RIDDER | |
| Maidenhead | Colin SIMPSON Sue SIMPSON | Touring |
| Thurso, Caithness | Al EVANS | Most northerly parkrun on the UK mainland |
| Penrith | Jez GARRATT |
Saturday 9th May 2026
| NAME OF PARKRUN | TUFF PARTICIPANTS | THINGS OF NOTE |
| Littlehampton | Jon ROO Adrian OLIVER Steve BRIDGEMAN Janet SHEPHERD Al EVANS | |
| Worthing | Paul HOWIE Paul FIELDER Edward LAY | |
| Downs Link | Emma HINTON | |
| Moors Valley | Chris EVANS | Touring – made it without a puncture en route this time! |
| Bath Skyline | Adam STRINGER | Touring |
| Sandringham | Stephen FEEST | Touring |
Saturday 16th May 2026
| NAME OF PARKRUN | TUFF PARTICIPANTS | THINGS OF NOTE |
| Littlehampton | Fraser KIDD Steve FRYER Peter LITTLEBOY Stephen EVANS Steve BRIDGEMAN Emma HINTON Clive HARVEY Benita FRYER Al EVANS Chris EVANS | |
| Worthing | Oliver THOMAS Les PEARCE Edward LAY | |
| Downs Link | Sue PINKY | |
| Frimley Lodge | Trevor HARVEY | Touring |
Saturday 23rd May 2026
| NAME OF PARKRUN | TUFF PARTICIPANTS | THINGS OF NOTE |
| Littlehampton | Simon GRUNDY Jon ROO Stephen EVANS Oliver THOMAS Emma HINTON Steve BRIDGEMAN Colin SIMPSON Kayleigh HUDSON | |
| Bognor Regis | Paul FIELDER | |
| Downs Link | Murray HODGE | Touring |
| Bevendean Down | Katie YOUNG Will KING | Touring |
| Keswick | Stephen FEEST | Touring |
| Broadwater parkrun Godalming | Clive HARVEY Trevor HARVEY | Touring |
| Hastings | Daniel BARNETT | Touring |
Saturday 30th May 2026
| NAME OF PARKRUN | TUFF PARTICIPANTS | THINGS OF NOTE |
| Littlehampton | Fraser KIDD Peter LITTLEBOY Stephen EVANS Emma HINTON Adrian OLIVER Steve BRIDGEMAN Sue SIMPSON Andrew ROSSITER Al EVANS | A PB for Sue Simpson – congratulations! |
| Worthing | Danny CUNNETT Les PEARCE Edward LAY | |
| Downs Link | Murray HODGE | |
| Maidenhead | Trevor HARVEY | |
| Killerton | Steve FRYER Benita FRYER | |
| Seaford Beach | Jez GARRATT Debbie BIRCH | |
| Queenswood Country Park, Herefordshire | Paul FIELDER | Touring |
| Caffarella parkrun Rome. Italy | Kayleigh HUDSON | Touring – Best location of the week! |
