Surrey and Sussex Wellbeing Weekend 2023

THE FIRST thing I need to do is thank the amazing Karl for organising and hosting this event from Hay and Jo for organising it from the Surrey/Sussex end to bring it all together.   Without them the entire weekend wouldn't have been possible, so a great big heart felt thank you to both of them.

At the end of a long shift I found the lastest copy of the S&SP Wellbeing Magazine online.   In it was an article from Jo about the weekend last year with new dates for this year.   It came at the perfect time for me, I emailed Jo asking if there were spaces and to sign me up!

All I needed to do was get to Woking and transport was arranged from there.   Straight through to Hay-on-Wye in Herefordshire on the border with England and Wales, where the weekend kicks off.   I was really looking forward to this break and couldn't wait to hit the road with Jo and Andy.

Day 1

Somehow we got around the M25 and up the M4 making perfect time for our arrival in Hay.   Greeted by Karl and dumping our gear into the bedrooms we had fruit loaf and tea before taking off for wild swimming at Bredwardine.   The location was amazing below a large bridge that goes across the river, the water was refreshingly cold, but great fun, swimming against the current as it came around the bridge legs.

Once we dried off and changed we walked across to Brobury House for coffee and a walk around the gardens situated between the Cathedral city of Hereford and the book-lovers paradise of Hay-on-Wye.   The gardens are cared for throughout the year by a small team of dedicated gardeners and make the perfect place to visit all year round.   They do not close the gates to the public, so you are able to go and enjoy what the gardens anytime.   In the centre of the grounds is Brobury House, a charming turreted Victorian building which in spring has the most magnificent bloom of purple wisteria.

Karl turned out to be an amazing chef and knocked up a risotto in the evening, after which we walked around the area and into Hay for drinks at the Blue Boar.   After this we made our way back to the house and closed day 1.

Day 2

This was the big day with Gorge walking arranged.   I had my well worn wet suit at the ready and was excited about the day with the challenges that lay ahead.   We headed for the activity centre to get our wetsuits and buoyance aids on before heading for Dinas Rock in South Wales.   We disembarked the mini bus and walked the trails to the start point where we jumped into a deep pool of icy water before floating down stream where the adventure really started.

If you want to see what this looks like then click here.   This will show you a group of adventurers walking highlighted parts of the course from two years ago.   Well worth having a look at.

This is something that you have to try, walking up stream, though deep water, across rapids and climbing waterfalls was amazing, refreshing and I walked away thinking that I had achieved a lot, I want to go back and do more, so looking forward to next year already.

In the evening we went back to Hay and had pizza, spending the evening at The Globe.   This is a community centre where they put on variety, with authors reading their work, plays, open mic nights and DJ sets.   A few more beers were acquired and we made our way back to the house for the end of day 2.

Day 3

This was the chill out day before heading back to reality.   We spent the morning on a walk across the fields to Hay and had a slow look around the book and curisoity shops.   It was a great morning, ending with a village fete on the local fields before heading back to the house and packing up.

This was a great weekend, full of friendship and camoraderie.   It was relaxing and fun to do, especially after the week that I had.   Thank you Karl and Jo for a great weekend.

Run Reigate Trails 10km

RUN SERIES have two successful half marathons on their books with Run Reigate and Run Gatwick.   Last year saw the introduction of Run Reigate Trails a 10km run between Reigate and Redhill.

The inaugral spring run took place last year at The Royal Alessandra and Albert Private School at Gatton Park, Gatton Point at the northern end
of Redhill.   This was quickly followed with a second event on the same course as the summer 10km trails run.   To add another branch on their portfolio Run Series added a Canicross/dog fit run for runners to bring their dogs along.

Sunday 19th February 2023 was the second Spring 10km run on the same course held just below the North Downs taking in a beautiful run around the lake, through the school grounds and around the horse fields making it a standout run.  This is a run with effort as there are three hills that require effort and because it's a 5km course you have to run it twice.

A welcome change on the route was on the hill as you finish the lake leg of the course.   It's a long steep run to the school farm yard that take a lot of effort.   This year there was a detour on the hill that goes flat, loops round and then goes up again.   It doesn't sound like a lot, but it gives that recovery opportunity that will get you to the top (on both occassions).

Outdoor Military Fitness

A COUPLE OF weeks ago I went out for a training run.   The plan was to head to Victoria Park and do some hill loops, using the lamposts as marker points and then run across to Paddockhall Road for more hill loops.   I completed the Victoria Park segment and then everything changed!

Outdoor Military Fitness were running their Saturday morning session in the park and I decided to watch them for a couple of minutes before moving on to Paddockhall Road.   Being a amazing friendly group I was invited to join the session, free of charge and give it a go.

This is one of the hardest workouts I have completed in a long time, it really tests your fitness levels in a fun, safe enviroment with a great trainer who takes your needs into considerion.   After an hour of the OMF workout I ran home.   When I walked through the door my wife thought that I had been run over by a car as my clothing was covered in mud from the session!

Since my free session I have returned twice for further sessions.   Since taking on the training I have found that my core has improved and there is an improvement in terms of my stability and endurance in running.  The basic athletics fitness level has improved, not significantly, but I have only completed three sessions so far.

OMF is run by current military trainers who are engaging and friendly, the groups are amazing as they are welcoming and help you with the sessions as you grow in confidence and build your fitness levels.   I have put this down to the way that the trainers approach and develop both the individual and the teams to work together.   Which is exactly what the military do.

If you are looking for a really good workout to improve your fitness levels then it's worth dropping down to Victoria Park and have a chat, maybe come prepared for a free session to see how it goes for you.   OMF also operate in Crawley and Horsham as well as Haywards Heath.   If interested or you want further information then click here.

Sussex Athletics Cross Country Masters

WEST SUSSEX Athletics held their 8km Masters Cross Country race on the 21st January 2023 at Coombe Farm, Lancing.   Held in a natural bowl on the South Downs it hosts a run with a lot of effort but an amazing pay off at the end.

I always approach this run with a feeling of anticipation, because I know what's coming, but once I get moving I feel a lot better but it takes quite a while to settle into the effort that's required for this particular run with it's amazing views of the South Downs.

To run the course you have to start with a short run on the flat, you then run up the lowest but steepest side of the bowl, this turns right and you have to run a long distance up the ridge of the bowl towards some open fields.    You then start a long loop downhill before turning right along a flat part of the field then head up again.   Once you complete the long loop you end up back on the ridge of the bowl and have a long sweeping downhill section before you either head out for the second loop, and final loop, or cross the finish line.

This is the second time that I have run this course and absolutely love taking part, even though it saps your strength very quick with the run up the bowl, but the sweeping downhill run towards the finish line is so magnificent that you have to love it, expecially as you tear downt he hill and cross the finish line.

WSFRL: Crawley Run Crew @ Tilgate

WEST SUSSEX Fun Run League suffered disappointment on their first run of the season with Goring Road Runners Hangover 5 cancelled on the 1st January 2023 due to severe flooding on the course.

The second run of the season hosted by Crawley Run Crew with their 5 mile run through Tilgate Forest and Park brought the magic back and set the league up nicely for the coming year.

The athletic standards were raised at the K2 race track with runners completing a lap of the track before heading into the forest and past Tilgate Zoo before heading round into the park, up towards the Smith and Western restaruant and down around the lake.   On the return the race turns back to the forest before heading for the final lap of the athletics track and crossing the finish line at the K2.

There was some excellent running from Haywards Heath Harriers with Andy Hind first across the finish line followed by Jack Chivers and Abigail Redd.   Both Carys Hind and Sarah Hamilton ran a steadily paced race.   Last year was Caroline Gumm's debut run in the league and this year she pulled a magnificent sprint finish out of the bag.

This is a beautiful run of two arranged at Tilgate, with the second being hosted by Saints and Sinners Run Club later in the year.   This was the start of the WSFRL season that we were all looking forward to.

 

Run Reigate Half Marathon Training

IF YOU have read my blog then you know that I love the Run Series, both Run Reigate and Run Gatwick having participated in them for a number of years now.   What I really want to do is train for the event and see if I can improve my time.

I am a member of Haywards Heath Harriers and run regularly, so I just need to tailor slightly for the distance required.   With five weeks to go I settled on my strategy, to test it out and see what happens.

Week one: 5km

The training is to hit 5km over the week in a number of planned runs.   This can be either as a straight run or as part of training, either way each run must reach a minimum of 5km.   I have temporarily moved to South Wales for this week, not deliberatley for training, I just had a week off work and was having a break.

Run 1: Ynysangharad Parkrun.   I love this parkrun in Pontypridd, it's a beautiful park and well worth a visit.   The day was beautiful but very hot and sunny, all of the communications for run was around warnings for dehydration.   I completed the run in 28:36 and 3rd in my age group.

Run 2: The Dark Loop.   I found this run on plotaroute for the Hirwaun area, it goes through the high street and then sets off onto the Brecon Beacons bringing you back across county to the Heads of the Valleys Road and into the village from the other side.   With my run to the start point and home it made the distance 6.84km.   Easily fitting in with my plan.

Run 3: Hill loops.   Opposite where I live is Devonshire Place which is quite a severe hill, a little bit further up the road is Richmond Place which is the same.   Both are cul-de-sacs and have a roundabout at the bottom.   The plan was to run down Fairview and come back on the opposite side of the road, down Devonshire and back up the hill.   Run further down the road and do the same with Richmond.   Run down Garth Grove to the round about and come back to the start.   One loop was just over 1km, four loops gave me 5.49km.

Run 4: Ynysangharad Parkrun.   Finishing the week as I started.   I finished just over one minute less that the previous run.   Completed in 27:35 and once again came 3rd in my age group!   Who are the two people in front of me!!

Week two: 10km

Run one: Brecon Beacons.   Starting the week I decided to finish in South Wales with a run starting from the Brecon Resevouir on the A470, running back across the Brecon Becons on the A4059 to Penderyn and then into Hirwaun and home.   This is a long road with some long sweeping hills, so difficulty is quite high.

Run two: Haywards Heath Harriers:   Leading a trails run around Cuckfield with a total distance of 6.91km, one of the things you learn when you complete the LiRF course to lead run groups is you have give up your training and give your time to the "group".   It's a selfless but great role to help people evolve.

Run three: Redhill and Reigate:   This was a run from my Dad's house into Redhill, down to the town and up through Raffles Bridge, Shaws Corner, past the police station and down and round into Reigate Priory Park, then running to Meadvale and across past Earlswood Lakes to East Surrey Hospital and following the Brighton Road back to my Dad's.   Total distance 10.39km.

Run four: Lewes after work:   Quick run around Lewes after I had completed a day at work.   Felt good to get out for a while before going home.   Distance 10.14km.

Week three: 10 miles
This week didn't go as well as I would have liked, with personal issues getting in the way.   Out of the week I only managed two 10 mile runs and then it turns out 16km isn't actually 10 miles, it's a fraction below!

Run one: Haywards Heath:   I had the route in mind and knew that it should reach 10 miles.   Setting off from Haywards Heath I headed down to Lindfield, going past the Bent Arms and down Hickmans Lane and round to the railway station.   From there it was up Harlands Road, through Blunts Wood to Cuckfield.

Past the church and back through the town to Whitemans Green and then cross country back towards Haywards Heath, through the town and home.   Distance 16.22km.

Run two: Redhill and Regate:   This is very similar to the run above but with two extended parts.   At Earlswood Lakes instead of taking the turning to the East Surrey Hospital I continued to Salfords and then turned down the A23 towards.   Also, I took a different turn running across Earlswood Common and around Sandpit lane (which divides the bottom and middle of Redhill Common), before rejoing the Brighton Road.

This led into the Run Series Run Reigate Half Marathon and the following part of the blog is my write up for the Mid Sussex Times.

THE DAY BEFORE the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Reigate respectfully opened it’s doors to the 9^th Run Reigate event making up a children’s race, 5km, 10km and half marathon.

Run Series also manage the Run Gatwick half marathon as well as successfully starting a 10km trails race at Gatton Point this year with a winter and summer run.

Reigate is a market town in Surrey and sits just below the North Downs with spectacular views. The race starts and finishes in The Prior a beautiful park just off the High Street, packed with coffee shops.

This is the 6th time that I have completed this fun, although only the 5th time I have run the half marathon.   The first time I did the run I entered for the 10km, having only just started to run.   In addition to this I have completed the Run Gatwick half marathons four time and competed in both of the Run Reigate 10km Trains Runs at Gaton Point.

Run Series have kept me busy over the last few years and I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of their journey.

 

 

#RunandTalk

IT'S BEEN A difficult year and I have not managed to organise a #RunandTalk event over the summer.   England Athletics put out a post for their Mental Health Champions declaring the w/c 19th September as their Mental Health Awareness week.

This was the perfect opportunity to arrange two runs taking place Lewes and Haywards Heath.   The aim was to run at least one mile to support good mental and physical health at a conversational pace.   This gives participants to the opportunity to talk with the option of coffee and a chat at the end of the event.

Lewes saw a 5km run which was set up for emergency services and took place along the banks of the river Ouse.   There were a number of people that attended and this was followed by a #WalkandTalk for those who wanted to attend, but didn’t want to run.

Haywards Heath was a 5km run from Beechurst to Cuckfield and back. There was also a #WalkandTalk opportunity for anybody who also didn’t want to run.

#RunandTalk is an event by England Athletics to promote good mental health by encouraging people to run one mile, it is sponsored by Mind, the mental health charity.