S&SP Well-being Weekend - Hay-on-Wye

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.