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.

WSFRL: Saints and Sinners - Forest Trails Run

I LOVE THE West Sussex Fun Run League, which is hosted by 16 athletics clubs over Sussex, which means I get 16 runs per year.   They are all different but all are beautiful and challenging in their own way.   You don't need to belong to an athletics club to join in, you can look them up on line and book a place for a small amount of money.   You won't get the medal and T-shirt, but you will get a great run.   If you are interested in having a look then click here.

The Tilgate Forest race is hosted by Crawley Saint's and Sinners.   And is a five-mile trail run, best described as undulating and is outstanding, I ran this a few years ago and loved it.   But everthing stopped for COVID and this is the first run since then.

There is a small clearing just off the K2 Leisure Centre, where the 16 Athletics Clubs that makes up the WSFRL set their club flags.   The members get together in a true spirit of community and hand the race numbers out in preparation for the run.

Standing on the start line, in the forest with the ceremonial placing of the flags, we held a united two-minute silence for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II before the start of the run.   It was a proud moment as one era ends and the reign of King Charles III starts.

The run starts almost in a straight line through the forest heading for one of the motorway bridges across the A23.   Once across you start a large loop (not an accurate description of the run, see right).   Using the trails around the forest you run a lot of the time on the soft forest floor that has a real spring in it.   The weather was beautiful and the forest floor was crunchy.

I don't know why but you get to a point in the run where you think you have quite a distance left and suddenly you see the finish line in front of you.   This has happened both times that I have run the event.   I can only put it down to getting lost in the beauty of the forest and enjoying the run, after all somebody put the "fun" in the "fun run league".

Run Reigate 10km Trails Run

I AM A big fan of Run Series based in Reigate, probably being born in Redhill and living there for the first 19 years of my life.   I discovered sometime ago that they had a half marathon in Reigate and ran their 10km, having just started running, coming back the next year for the half marathon.

Reigate was set to be my first half marathon, but they added Run Gatwick to their books and although I wasn't going to run it I got involved with a part of the planning and decided to give it a go.   This was my first half marathon.

This year Run Series decided to look at 5km and 10km trails run in Redhill.   This took place on the 20th February 2022 with a Spring run.   On the back of the success they followed it with a summer evening 5km and 10km run which took place on the 28th July 2022.

Gatton Park is a private school situated in extensive grounds just under the North Downs. The run consists of either a 5km or 10km run (two loops of the 5km). It starts at the back of Gatton House taking path and trails to the large lake and a ford. As you exit the lake you go up hill to a farm area and school grounds. This drops you back into the trails going past the horse stables and back to the finish or second loop.

Both 10km runs were run by myself and follow Haywards Heath Harrier Oliver Farr both of us have multiple attendances at Run Reigate Half Marathon and I have the same with Run Gatwick.

Oli had a great run crossing the finish line 27th at 52:01, followed by myself 106th at 01:04:26 achieving 6th in my category.

Run Reigate Trails is a complex run due to the a long harsh hill as you exit the lake, because it's a 5km route you have to run the hill twice for the 10km.   The 5km is an excellent run for people who have got their Parkrun and looking for something a more adventurous or looking for a challenging 10km.   It's a beauful run on private land just below the North Downs, which makes it exclusive.

 

WSFRL: Henfield Steven Stiles

SUNDAY JULY 24th saw the next run in the West Sussex Fun Run League calendar, hosted by Henfield Joggers. On a hot sunny day the banners from all 16 athletics clubs went up on Kings Field as athletes warmed up ready for the run.

I love the WSFRL because they are so varied in terms of terrain and distance.   Most of them are between 5km and 10km, there are cross country, trails, road and one is a beach run at littlehampton.   You are guaranteed 16 runs a year.

This is a beautiful four mile trails from from Kings Field onto the open roads for a short distance before starting the trails. The run went down the side of the river Arun with runners having to avoid ending up going down the embankments onto the flood plains and taking care on the cracked scorched pathways. This led into a short run along the Downs Link, a disused railway line that connects the South and North Downs before heading back to the finish line.

Henfield Parish Church have done a lot of work brining Ukrainian refugees into the community and one joined the event producing an amazing run.

Haywards Heath Harriers pulled together a team of 11 athletes who took part, with some great running from front runners Harvey Alcock and Andy Hind and Abigail Redd running a great race. There was some great teamwork from Sarah Hamilton and Micheal Parish pacing in the middle of the pack with Sarah making it to the finish line first.

WSFRL: Hove Hornets Stinger 10km

HOSTED BY Hove Hornets the next run in the West Sussex Fun Run League took place on July 10th 2022 on the South Downs with a gloriously tough 10km run.   With temperatures reaching 26 degrees, and no shade, this was going to be a challenging run.

Athletics clubs from all over Sussex joined together raising their standards by the rugby club in preparation for the run which starts on the green before heading for a 5km run uphill to the top of the South Downs.   The views from the top are inspiring as you turn and start coming back down through roads, footpaths and trails.

This is one of the most challenging runs in the WSFRL calendar, but worth doing for the experience and kudos of having achieved it. 

There was some great running from Haywards Heath Harriers with Andy Hind first across the post for the club followed by Julian Boyer and Barry Tullett.

Haywards Heath Harriers results:  Andy Hind, 00:42:19; Julian Boyer, 00:47:11; Barry Tullett, 00:49:43; James Smyth, 00:58:57; Sarah Hamilton, 01:10:42; Michael Parish 01:10:57; Carys Hind, 01:16:33; Richard Bates 01:19:36; Linda Tullett 01:22:47.

Wakehurst Willows Series

ONE OF the greatly missed runs since COVID restrictions has been the Wakehurst Willows.   Organised by Haywards Heath Harriers coaches Marion Hemsworth and Ian Dumbrell and in partnership with Wakehurst it's a beautiful 8km run around both a National Trust Property and a part of Kew Gardens.

This year it came back as a run series with two events starting on the 3rd July with the "Wee Willows" a 5km run around the main house and gardens.   And on 13th July it went into the "Wakehurst Willows" a 8km run.

After Wakehurst closed down for the evening and the public had left, the site locked down only allowing organisers, marshalls and runners on site.

This is a highlight on the run calendar with athletics clubs joining the run from all over Sussex as well as unaffiliated runners wanting to run the prestious grounds.   The Wee Willows was an amazing opportunity for new runners looking to run a 5km distance. 

A few weeks before the event Wakehurst wanted to publicise the run on their website.   So a group of us from Haywards Heath Harriers and J&M Running went along to help with the publicity shots.   We had access to the grounds and specific spots to run whilst photo's were taken and subsequently uploaded to the website and used in adverts.   Maybe I could get more modelling work, if only I didn't have a face for radio!   Payment was free coffee and cake in the Wakehurst cafe afterwards, perfect.

There was some great running from Haywards Heath Harriers with Paul Cousins first across the line for the club, followed by Pete Francis and Julian Boyer.    There was a real team effort displayed with several runnings pairing up Peter Francis and Julian Boyer coming in at 00:35:09, Steven Heath and Barry Tullett coming in at 00:38:05.

WSFRL: Trundel View 5 mile race

 

HOSTED by Chichester Runners and Athletics Club the next run in the West Sussex Fun Run League (WSFRL) took place on the 25^th May 2022.   Members from the counties athletics clubs converged for a 5 mile trails race around the forest surrounding Glorious Goodwood. 

The League is made of 17 athletics clubs who each hold one run per year, each ranging from 5 miles to 10km.   Giving athletes 17 runs over a total distance of 85 miles.   Each is a very different and unique experience and is open to both affiliated and non-affiliated athletes.

The routed started outside of Goodwood across a field before entering the woods. Once there athletes had to complete two loops (each loop just under 4km) of the trails, before heading back across the fields to the finish line.   The route is best described as undulating with a number of continuous hills.

 Haywards Heath Harriers had some great results with Philip Scott first Harriers across the finish line.   I ws the second Harrier having a great race with fellow Harrier Sarah Hamilton.   Sarah was in front of me for the first loop, but I gained the upper hand on the second loop with just three seconds between us.

This was a great location and great race.   Will definantly have this one on my list for next year, even though it's the furthest run in the league from The Heath.