WSFRL: Run Your Heart Out - Run 2 2026

I DON'T NORMALLY blog on races unless I run in them.   The 15th February I was booked into the Cancer Research 10km London Winter Run at the same time the West Sussex Fun Run League's second event of the season was taking place in Tilgate forest/park.   This is an important time for Haywards Heath Harriers walking away with the leagues first place over the last two years.

I am covering the run due to it's importance and I am writing reviews for the local paper, the Mid Sussex Times, as we go through the season.

SUNDAY 15th February saw Crawley Run Crew host their "Run Your Heart Out" 8km endurance race.   This is the second run of the season in the West Sussex Fun Run League calendar taking place in Tilgate forest/park over a multi terrain course. 

 

The League is comprised of 16 athletics clubs over Sussex with each club hosting one event over the year.   This equates to a massive 16 races of 80 miles.   Having won the league twice in the last two years Haywards Heath Harriers were joint second after the first race with Worthing Harriers.

There was a great turn out from the Harriers with 27 athletes on the starting line, aiming for as many points as [possible to ensure a good chance of victory at the end of the season.   Despite challenging wet and rainy conditions, which was boggy and winding around Tilgate Park, started and finished at K2 athletics track, taking in much of the local parkrun route along with tricky sections in Tilgate Forest.

 

Race two of the season saw Haywards Heath Harriers cement their position in econd place just 8 points behind the leaders Horsham Joggers, Worthing Harriers dropping to seventh place.   Horsham Joggers 125, Haywards Heath Harriers 117; Lancing Eagles 115; Chichester Runners 116. 

 

London Winter 10km Run 2026

 

SUNDAY 15th FEBRUARY 2026 I my did first run in Central London as part of the Cancer Research 10km London Winter Run.   All the roads closed, lots of entertainment on the course, and something that would be unbelievable.   I thought, "I'm in".   Unfortunately after signing up the dates for the West Sussex Fun Run League came out and one of the races clashed, so I had to miss out on a run around Tilgate park/forest in Crawley (there is a separate blog on this club run).

The run was due to start from Trafalgar Square, with Lord Admiral Nelson overseeing events.   The route going past such highlights as St. Paul's Cathedral, The Gherkin, and The Strand.   Other highlights include Somerset House, Covent Garden, and offers views of the London Eye and The Shard.   There was also entertainment zones such as "Penguin Party", "Husky High-Five" stations and live music.   The finish line is heading down to the War Rooms and just before Big Ben.   There was plenty to look forward to! 

I had everything ready the night before for the run and on the morning I was up early and heading for the railway station.   Due to engineering works there were no trains directly into Victoria and I had to divert to London Bridge, which was probably the best option anyway.   From there it was another train journey across to Charring Cross, if you know London then you know that Trafalgar Square is just around the corner from the station. 

As I walked from the railway station there was quite a strong wind, lots of rain, and freezing temperatures.   I had dressed the best way I could for the run (long sleeve top with padding at the front, leggings, and woolen finger less gloves with small hand warmers in them, I really appreciated those waiting for the run to start.

I got my act together  and headed for the start line, just outside the National Art Gallery and around the corner from the National Portrait Gallery.   There I was joined by Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards who was starting everybody off and managed a quick chat as the Winter Olympics are currently taking place in Italy.   It was so cold I had a hoodie with me, so tied it around my waist and ran with it (literally).   I was so pleased to have that at the finish line!

This is a 10km run around Central London, all closed roads, I saw an opportunity here and managed to run 20 red lights in honor of the event!   Completed the run in one hour and 12 minutes.   I picked up my medal and headed to an Asian street food vendor and got some hot food and then found coffee.   Once full and feeling warmer I set off for Charring Cross feeling elated that I had completed the run, freezing cold, and very damp.

I was pleased when the train pulled into Haywards Heath railway station and I could see Sainsbury's through the window.   I walked to Clair Park where I had left my car and set my sights on home, looking forward to putting the heating on, stripping off the damp clothes, getting a hot shower and then just sitting back on the sofa with a large mug of tea and some cheese on toast.   It's the little things in life that mean the most.

 

Green Space Action Team - Lindfield Common

 IT HAS BEEN very cold recently with a light dusting of snow and lot of ice.   I woke up this morning and could see the shapes of the trees and branches behind the houses opposite, the rest was hidden in the mist.   Today was my fifth outing with the Green Space Team and the first session of 2026, and I was looking forward to it.

Lindfield Common isn't too far from where I live which means I can walk there for a change, getting some exercise and fresh air on the way.   I was looking forward to seeing who turns up for the first session of the year, the team never fails to deliver and there was a great turn out.   Glendale have managed to achieve a really good level of community engagement with some really positive ambassadors.

At the far end of the common there was a patch of self seeded silver birches that needed to cutting down, they had been left for some time.   To the side of those beyond the pail were some trees with broken branch's that had dropped down and hanging from the trees, they were surrounded by a lot of brambles that all needed cutting back and generally tidied up. 

The first objectives for the day were to remove the silver birch saplings, tie them up and shift them behind the bus shelter.   At a later date they would be collected and taken to East Grinstead to build dead hedges (nothing gets wasted here).   The second objective was to cut back the brambles and remove the broken branches.

Just under one hour into the job and all of the silver birch saplings had been removed and tied into bunches.   They were then moved to behind the bus shelter for collection.   Part of the group had already moved onto the brambles and the rest of the team then joined them to start removing the branches and using a saw to cut them into manageable chunks.

The rotting wood and parts of the tree branches were used for building wildlife habitats and the cut brambles piled up out of the way to break down naturally.   It appears that a similar scheme will be starting up soon in East Grinstead, the community engagement has work really well in Mid Sussex and no reason why it shouldn't be as successful on the other side of the county.   They will shortly have the materials for dead hedging to start them off.

Another very successful activity with the team, where we can really make a difference around the area, in a reasonably short period of time, for everybody to enjoy.   Looking at the upcoming activities, I think there is going to be plenty of opportunities to lean some new skills.

If you are interested in volunteering to help the Green Space Team, it's once a week on a Thursday between 10:00 and 12:00 (two hours).   You can email them direct for more information and they will send out dates, times, and locations.   You only need to attend the ones you can, there is no pressure.

Email:  rangers.midsussex@glendale-services.co.uk

 

J&M Ditchling Beacon 4th January

JUST BEFORE the Hangover 5 at Worthing I was invited to join J&M Runners on their annual New Years run on the South Downs.   They have run routes all over Mid Sussex taking people out regularly and this is their big once a year run, on a spectacular landscape.

The plan was to meet at the Jack and Jill windmill on Clayton Hill.   From there it is a straight run up hill to Ditchling Car Park.    This was the turning point, and the start of the return journey back to the windmills.   The second option was to run for 30 minutes, this could put you beyond the car park, but you turned at that point.    All runners should then be back at the windmill at about the same time.

I got up in the morning and it was cold as I got ready for the run, by the time I got to the South Downs, up high and in the open it was colder.   Knowing it was going to be cold I dressed for the weather, knowing that although cold, once we started moving I was going to warm up.

 There is something good for the soul in being up high and looking out over a large part of Sussex.   Running up hill, soon warmed you up and the cows had moved close to the path as the farmers were working with them.   Their hot breath forming a veil of steam as we ran past, going on to the frozen pond a bit further up the track.   I was glad when we got to a point where their was sunshine as I had lost feeling in my fingers!

This time of year is strange, the sun comes out, but it doesn't really warm you up, it's low in the sky pushing shadows across the landscape and blinding you in others.

This was a great run out, meeting some familiar people and new ones.   We went back via the Garden Centre just before Stone Pound Cross Roads for a deserved coffee and breakfast.

A lot of running is about the community, the people you meet along the way, you have that common ground that you start taking about and using.   I will look out for this run next year. 

Green Space Action Team - Return to Blunts Wood

THIS WAS MY fourth outing with the Green Space Team returning to Blunts Wood to continue the work from my first visit.   The posts around the pond had been removed and thrown in allowing the local dog population the chance for a swim!   The aim was build a dead hedge and protect the great crested newts.   The hedge is made of cut back branches, placed between two posts, the branches are no longer living, hence "dead hedge".

The newts are not local to this area, a housing estate was being built just outside of Haywards Heath and the newts were discovered stopping the building in it's tracts.   The decision was made to move the newts for their protection and allowing the building work to continue and this is where they were relocated to.   Which is good for the newts and also the local environment being enriched with pond life, just need to keep the dogs out!

The plan was exactly the same as the first project, to start cutting back the blackthorne freeing the path that was becoming overgrown and use the branches to build the dead hedge on the opposite side of the pond to the side we did on the first visit.

 

 

Green Space Action Team - Victoria Park

THIRD OUTING with the Green Space Action Team, this time the destination was Victoria Park.   Situated just off the High Street and opposite St. Wilfreds Church.   The park has a children's and keep fit area and hosts local events as well as children's parkrun every Sunday.   Victoria Park is beautiful and the perfect place to drink coffee at Troys cafe in the park or on the go.

Haywards Heath used to have the largest population of hebes in the Nation and recognised for that, but their beds have been taken over by saplings and brambles impacting on their numbers and needed to be cleared.   Time for operation free the Hebes.

For the gardners: Hebe shrubs are a popular evergreen plant known for colourful foliage and flowers, thriving 

in sunny spots with well-drained soil, and offering great value for gardens.   They are low maintenance, pollinator-friendly, and provide year-round interest in borders and rockeries or containers.   You will find them at local garden centers or online.

The site had already been working on by a previous group, which meant picking up where they left off, clearing the brambles which were prolific and the saplings, was well as fallen branches from the trees and a large amount of rubbish casually thrown into the bushes.

This is a great team of volunteers to work with, it's always the team ethos that brings it all together and achieves so much.   I think we may be in the running for some awards, which would be amazing.   By the end of the day we share coffee, biscuits and a chat.   You walk away knowing that you have achieved something that others will enjoy, which makes it all so worthwhile.   It's a great start to the day and knowing that you are coming to the end of the week.

 If you are interested in volunteering to help the Green Space Team, it's once a week on a Thursday between 10:00 and 12:00 (two hours).   You can email them direct for more information and they will send out dates, times, and locations.   You only need to attend the ones you can, there is no pressure.

Email:  rangers.midsussex@glendale-services.co.uk

Rediscovering Trails: Whiskey from Hirwaun to Penderyn

MY LAST BLOG for Hirwaun, South Wales was "The Dark Run", during the run I spotted a gate before the ascent up Dark Lane that appeared to be a trails run to Penderyn.   I wanted to check this out and have now completed the run.

Normally when I run to Penderyn I run up the main road, which is pretty boring, so finding a trails run was pretty exciting.   Running the first part of The Dark Run I crossed the disused rail track and turned left heading for the gates that opened up the trails.

I was expecting a poor path up to the village and was surprised by how beautiful the path was, nice and wide which opened into the countryside at the foot of the Brecon Beacons.   I couldn't have hoped for a better path than this and the landscape was beautiful.

It was one of the Autumn mornings where it's cold, but perfect for running, trees bare arms reach across the trails, and brown and gold leaves line the paths.   This is one of the most beautiful parts of trails running, getting out into nature and just letting go.   This is not just about physical running, it's about your physical and mental health, breathing in that fresh air and being in the moment.   Anybody who does this knows exactly what I'm talking about.

There were a few people I passed on the trails, walking into Hirwaun or just out walking their dog, acknowledgement nods and exchanging, "Hello" or "beautiful morning", just makes the day as you continue towards Penderyn.

I took a very small detour as I got to the ford, it had been raining quite a bit and the ford was pretty high, I could have taken a small bridge to get across it, but I was enjoying the run and didn't want to exit too quickly.   Once you are in the moment, you don't want to just end it.

It wasn't too long before I hit the gates that marked the end of this run and I turned onto the main road, just above the Penderyn whiskey distillery.

The day before the run I was in Tesco and picked up their free magazine.   In there was an advert for Penderyn whiskey/Madeira mix.   A whiskey that is blended for seven years and then transferred to a Madeira barrel for the last seven months.   This sounded interesting.

As I was outside I took a look inside and asked about the brand, where were very eager to allow me some free samples to see what I thought.   I am not the type of person to turn down a free sample and I wasn't driving!

A couple whiskies later I decided to take the main road back to Hirwaun, this is the first run I have completed with a whiskey break in the middle.   I suppose I had better not make a habit of it!

Since writing this blog I have managed to run it once again, this time I didn't stop for a free whiskey!