Surrey and Sussex Well being Weekend 2026

NORMALLY THE well being weekend takes place in May, but this year it was pushed forward to June.   Personally, I was hoping the weather would be really nice, like one of those summer weekends you remember from your youth.   But whatever the weather decides it never dampens our spirits.   For the first time I didn't need to worry about what I was working over the weekend, or when I came back or any of that old malarkey!   I could just go and enjoy it.

The weekend is spent at Hay-on-Wye with it's unique position on the border of England and Wales, it is ideal for visitors to enjoy and explore the border country.   Hay is known for it's books and bookshops and is the first book town in the world, with a yearly festival, which lasts for a week, attended by thousands of people.

Karl sorted the accommodation out, giving us a good base to work from and come back to relax at the end of the day.   The activity weekend is great for both your mental and physical well being, going off grid a little and just being with other people makes a big difference, especially when the groups come together as they are so relaxed, friendly, and inclusive.

Day 1 - Formation

[EUTIERRIA (yoo-TEE-air-ee-ah):   Eutierria is a positive emotional state defined as a powerful, deep sense of oneness with the Earth and its life forces.   It describes a harmonious feeling where the boundary between yourself and the natural world softens or evaporates replacing alienation with a profound sense of connection and belonging.] 

Everybody was arriving at different times on the Friday, depending on what time they got off work, and the journey time.   I arrived at 10:00 to find Karl and Forrest at the accommodation and we set out for a coffee at the local gardens.

The plan then was to set off for the first activity, walking around Cussop and into the forest we found a river with water running from the mountains.    This fed into a natural plunge pool, which looked cold!   But we decided to give it a go and got ready, Forest was the first one in, jumping from the bank into the icy water.   Karl and I both climbed down the bank and "gingerly" got into the water.   I was not disappointed by the coldness of the water, which took your breath away (on a previous gorge walking activity we were shown how to acclimatize to cold water before getting in).   Great way to wake yourself up and start the weekend, officially we had begun.

We went back to the accommodation to see if anybody else had arrived and in the evening walked down to "Burger Me", for food at The Globe.   The Globe is interesting because we don't know what you are going to get.    Last time it was an open mic night that was dire!    Very dark, very depressing and that night they had another open mic night!    Hold on a minute though, this one was was really good, lots of amateurs, singing, and reciting poetry but a great night out.

By the time we got to The Globe everybody had arrived and the weekend was just starting, good friends, beer, and entertainment.

Karl: "We kicked off with a cold water plunge that woke everyone up fast.   Bracing, but the banter made it worth every second."

Day 2 - Connect

[Anima Mundi (an-th-mah moon-dee):   The soul of the world ... an ancient understanding that all of life is connected through a shared living presence. The idea that beneath the diversity of nature exists a deeper unity, linking all living things as part of the greater whole.]

The following morning there was no messing about on the next activity a 9 mile hike from Capel Y Ffin to Llanthony Priory.   Very close to the beginning was the walk was a mountain that needed to be climbed with an ascent of 465 meters!    On a hot sunny day this required some dedication to the cause!   Its not all about endurance, you have to have the right mindset to power through and get the the top.

The reward was waiting at the top where you reach the height of the Brecon Beacons looking down long valleys where you can see how the ancient glaciers from the ice age has formed and shaped the landscape.   It's breath taking and makes you realise how small you are in the large scheme of the Universe.   The next stage was taking us across the top to the downward paths to Llanthony Priory, what a walk that was.

It was great to get back and hit the showers to get rid of the dirt and dust of the walk.   In the evening we went to the Red Indigo Indian restaurant for the evening.   Curry and a beer is always welcome, especially after the romp that we had.

Karl: "From there it was boots-on hiking through stunning country, with the views from Capel Y Ffin reminding us why we do this.   The trails, the wind, the quiet moments - all of it built that easy comradeship that comes from shared effort."

Day 3 - Team

[Mugda (moog-dha):   A sanskrit word describing a state of wonder inspired by beauty.   The feeling of becoming completely captivated by a moment, standing in quiet awe as time seems to slow and the ordinary reveals something extraordinary.]

After the hard work on the Saturday and the team disbanding for 2026 we needed an activity to enjoy and relax, working together before the journeys home.

This was a two hour canoe session down the river Wye.   Setting off from Glasbury we had four canoes in the water and started the journey following the river, feeling at one with nature, no rush, taking it easy.

There were high river banks with house martins nesting in holes along the way.   The house martins flew around the canoes, trying to catch the flying insects on the river before diving back into their nests.   There were a few kingfishers, looking for small fish in the river.

At the end of the trip there was a trip into Hay, looking at the many bookshops.   Then departure for everybody ending an amazing and productive weekend.

Was the weekend like that long lost summer weekend from my youth?    Absolutely it was, loved every moment of it, taking away a lot of memories.

I will leave the last words to Karl: "One day you will be walking down the street and see someone from this weekend, you won't need to say anything, just smile because you know you were here and have this shared experience." 

Rediscovering trails: Home to Burgess Hill Town Football Club

WITH RETIREMENT I started doing things I don't normally do.   Breaking out of some of the old routines, making new ones, meeting up with old friends and just getting out there and enjoying life.   I used to work with two people Chris Neal and Keith Morris and we got together at Burgess Hill Town Football Club to catch up and watch some football.   I have not seen Chris for over eight years.

It was a great moment to get together after starting work at the factory at the same time, going through training and taking it right through to retirement!   Three old geezers at the football, that's a great story.

I went to three matches and we hit the end of the season, it's worth noting that Burgess Hill Town won every match that I attended!    But afterwards I had a thought between me and BHTFC ground is fields and a wood, there must be a trails run in there somewhere, so I mapped it out on my "footpaths" app and ran it today as a test.

On paper the run looked quite good, but I wasn't sure what the trails would look like and needed to keep on track, so I used GPS on "footpaths" to make sure.    Leg one was through the estate that I live on heading out on some trails to the main Lewes Road, quick run up the road and enter the trails again at Colwell Lane.

Colwell is a long straight run taking you down to Hurstwood Lane, not my favourite place to run, as there are no pavements and I don't think it's that safe, but the distance from Colwell Lane to Fox Hill isn't too far, so I just kept left as close as possible to the side of the road.

Crossing the main road I turned down Cape Road and it wasn't long before I reached the trails run that takes me to Theobalds Lane in Burgess Hill.   This was the step beyond the pale into unknown territory, which I was looking forward to.

The route was not what I expected, it was a really nice, well marked out path taking you right down to Theobalds.   There were some really nice bridges that looked pretty new that helped to keep you on track.    There was also a chicken coup that seemed a little out of place, but made me smile.   Checking "footpaths" I could see I was on track all the way across.

It was sunny and hot, so I took my freetrain vest with me.    Head cover, water (with a hydration sachet in it), one gel, my phone and a bank card, just in case.    Always have fall back plans, things sometimes just do not go the way you plan them and you don't want to get lost on a hot sunny day without any water.

At the end of the trails I reached Theobalds Lane and started down the private road towards Leylands Road, this isn't far from Wivelsfield Railway station and BHTFC is just a six minute walk from there.

Made it in plenty of time and had a quick rest with some water before thinking about heading back.    My neighbour plays football for Balcombe II and they are playing Crawley in a semi-final match at BHTFC ground on Wednesday.   I was thinking about going over to see him play.

I now know I have a great route over to the ground to see him play.   That will save me £7.50 for parking at the railway station and £4.50 for the train fare.   Good times! 

 Update: Two days later I went over to see Ash play in the Mid Sussex Junior Charity Cup playing against AS Crawley.

AS Crawley 1 - 3 Balcombe II.   Great match and a good win.

 

 

 

OS Benchmarking - Reigate and Redhill

YOU WILL NEED to read the blog on OS Benchmarking to understand what this is all about.    Look to the right hand filters and click on "OS Benchmarking" to find the first blog which will give an explanation.   You can then break this down to areas (as I go and manage to build this up a bit more).

When I learned about Ordnance Survey benchmarking I was about to go off for a weekend in Reigate, Surrey.   I was explaining it to my friend, Mark Davison, and he had not heard of them.   During the weekend we did a 14km trails walk, on the way back we arrived on Redhill Common, and back into Reigate.   Here, we started the search and found four.

Rivet Stone
Location: Redhill Top Common j/w High Trees Road.
Height: 144.555m 

You can see the symbol embossed into the stone on the top.

Embossed wall
Location: High Trees Road (middle)
Height: 137.081m

Difficult to locate as it was quite well hidden.

 
Embossed wall
Location: Cronks Hill j/w High Trees Road.
Height: 126.009m

This is on the back of an old letter box, brick built.

 

Embossed wall
Location: Footpath j/w Cockshot Road
Height: 113.828m

Just on the beginning of the footpath. 

 

OS Benchmarking - Distances Above Sea Level

RECENTLY I DISCOVERED Ordnance Survey Benchmarking and for some reason it has got me really interested in these historic markings that can be found all over the place.   If you live in the UK, you have passed these symbols thousands of times and never noticed them.   They are called benchmarks and nobody knows exactly how many there are.   It doesn't matter how remote you live you will have these hidden around you in plain sight.

They were installed by Ordnance Survey, Britain's national mapping agency starting in the 19th Century.   If you wanted to know the difference in elevation between your town and the next one, there were very sophisticated tools that would allow you measure it, but you would have to go out and work it out yourself because no one else had done it for you.

As we started to build things like railways, it was becoming more important to know the difference in elevation across the country.   Ordnance survey went out and spent two decades mapping out lines across Great Britain and Ireland, measuring the differences in elevation along the way.  At ever point they measured, they left a bench mark embossed into brickwork.

Once that was done, each of these benchmarks became a new reference point that could be used to fill in the rest of the country.   If you look at ordnance survey maps from the 19th you will see these bench marks everywhere.   This means that if you want to know the height of a particular point, all you had to do was measure it relative to the nearest benchmark.   This would give you its height relative to every other part of the country.

These days with GPS, there's not much use for benchmarks and they were decommissioned 30 years ago.    But there is still one small part of the network that's still in use today.    They are called "fundamental benchmarks", and there are about 200 of them.    They were built more than a century ago to serve as a solid bedrock for the rest of the network.   They will go almost two metres underground.

These days they contain passive GPS stations.   Since we know the exact position of these benchmarks, we can use them to correct and enhance the data we receive from GPS satellites.   And using this, modern surveyors can pinpoint their location anywhere in the country to an accuracy of about a centimeter.

The benchmarks live on but more of them are being lost each year due to redevelopment.

I was stopped in Reigate by a local man asking what I was looking for, so I explained it to him.   He understood exactly what I was talking about and told me there are two types, the ones with the line above the arrow which is ordnance survey and ones without the line above which is military.    Some of them are brass plates.

When I go out on my runs, I will be keeping an eye out of these, looking them up and seeing what the height is that has been recorded for them.    I know I am looking for public buildings and walls over 30 years old.

The hunt begins .... 

 

Rediscoving Trails: Haywards Heath to Ardingly Resevouir

THIS RUN IS a continuation of a run I did in November "Rediscovering Trails: A muddy autumn run through Lindfield".   The run went as far as the top of Haywards Heath golf course, but the aim was to run it again and take it to Ardingly Resevouir.

It has taken quite a while to get back to this run due to the amount of rain we had, so today was also a test to see if it was possible and how much of the route was a problem?

The road part was straight forward and as I got to the top of Finches Lane I could see the trails stretching out before me.   Parts have been changed in layout, as there has been a lot of tree loss and new saplings have been planted in their place.   This has changed the paths, but there are still quite a few trees down that you need to navigate.

The ground was soft in a lot of places, but not a problem and any boggy bits you could navigate around without any problems.   This was great to choose for the run as the skies were blue with lots of sunshine, which just aided the run, but there was also a cool wind.

It was great to see the bluebells coming out and carpeting the woodland floor in a lot of places.   Plants and leaves are now coming back and the trails feel, and smell, really fresh again.   With the sunshine, sights, smells, and sound of twigs snapping under your feet, it was good to get out again. 

Green Space Action Team: Return to Beech Hurst Gardens

I HAVE HAD to miss a few sessions with the Green Space Team, due to training for the London Winter 10km and some of the locations being a little out of my area.   But today was a return to Beech Hurst Gardens, which is a place that I look forward to working on.

We meet up in the car park next to the Harvester Restaurant for the morning briefing.   Today was defining the border and weeding out the large area of garden by the side of the tennis courts.

I am not a great one for weeding, so picked up a shovel and started to redefine the border, once that was done I moved across to do some weeding and clearing out some the rubbish thrown into the bushes.

Working in Victoria Park quite a few weeks ago I was interested in the Hebes.   Not realising that the part had the largest selection of them in the UK, but the stock had deminished due to the large amount of brambles that had taken over.    After freeing the hebes I managed to get two, from the local garden centre, which are now in my garden (one of them about the flower).

The plant of the day was the Toadflax.   A beautiful and common plant of waste ground, grassland, roadside verges and hedgerows.

One of the aims of getting involved with the Green Space Team was improve my knowledge and practical skills.

My next stop of the morning was coffee and lunch with friends at Orange Square.

Community engagement is very rewarding and I would recommend it as a way to meet new people, get involved in local projects and enjoy being outside.

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 emil 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 

WSFRL: Chicken Run - Run 5

AS THE FIFTH run in the West Sussex Fun Run League got under way Haywards Heath Harriers were joint 1st on the leader board.   For this run there was a massive turn out of 50 athletes taking part from the club, once again aiming for maximum points trying to create a significant lead before the Harriers host their own run in the event, which they cannot get any points for.

Burgess Hill Runners usually have their run in Hassocks, just beneath the South Downs, but this year they arranged a change of venue, which prompted a change in name for the run along with it!

On the 19th April at Macs Organic Chicken Farm in Ditchling the run took place.   The route was across many of the fields on the farm and in some places the marshalls were trying to hold the chickens back, so that nobody could cry foul!

The route was quite complex and difficult to orientate with a few overlapping points on it.   Marshals were there to ensure the run was smooth and problem free as possible, especially as this was a new route for them, which means everybody gets a PB on the day.

Due to the number of people and routes being used by the athletes there was some confusion with runners going the wrong way.   I went past one marshal who was shouting, "I've sent them in the wrong direction".   This is a new route and there are bound to be some teething problems (they are rare like hens' teeth).   Also because of the complex nature of the course, nobody could leave until the last runner was across the finish line.   This gave everybody space to enjoy the day, find a drink, some cake and have a chat.   This was a great run and social event in the calendar as well.

There are a number of runs that I look forward to on the WSFRL calendar and this is going to be one of them.   I hope that Burgess Hill Runners use the venue again next year.   They will have sorted the teething problems out by then as well.

The big question now is where does this leave Haywards Heath Harriers in the leader board? 

WSFRL: Lewes 10km - Run 4

AS LEWES Athletics Club host the fourth run in the West Sussex Fun Run League the leader board couldn't be tighter.   Haywards Heath Harriers are holding joint second position, and looking to get into the top spot.    Lewes was that opportunity with their 10km trails run.

As usual the run is held on the Easter Bank Holiday Monday, starting at the Leisure Center on the athletics track and then moving down onto Ham Lane, under the A24 and then heading out around Lewes on the trails.

I have run this event a few times now and look forward to it.   The weather was beautiful as we were running on the flood planes, as Lewes used to be a port.   Previous runs it has been pretty wet and muddy, with a lot of chalk on the ground it creates a white mush, but not today.

I believe that the course goes across private land, that you cannot normally run, unless taking part in this event, which is the Ifold Estate.   Working my way around the course through woods and fields the route takes a turn through the pictureque village of Ifold as it then starts to go back towards Lewes again.

Haywards Heath Harriers were out in force to try and get maximum points for the run, including new members who were out for their first run.

WSFRL: Thakeham 5 miles - Run 3

RUN THREE IN the West Sussex Fun Run League 2026 took place in Thakeham on the 22nd March. Hosted by Fittleworth Flyers they promised a trails run around the village and they did not fail to deliver in any way.

The day started misty and overcast, but by the time the race was ready to start, the sun had come out and the weather was perfect for running.   I don't remember having run this race before and was looking forward to it.   I have looked through my old race bibs and couldn't find anything for Thakeham, so this was going to be a new run for me, which also means a course PB!

The journey to the venue put me late for the team photo (I am not in it), but I had time for a warm up and start of the race, so all was not lost.

This was a trails run in every sense of the word, working through fields and woods and an opportunity to just admire the countryside, whilst trying to figure out where you are in the race and concentrating on the runners in front of you.

The race was meant to be five miles (8km), it turned out to be a little bit further and it was great to get to the finish line.   There are a number of runs in the league that I look forward to, and this has scored highly as one I will look forward to running again.

Rediscovering trails: Haywards Heath to Wivelsfield

IT HAS DONE nothing but rain recently, which makes trails running a little more challenging due to the level of water and mud.   The risk of slipping and falling increases and when you are going out it's best to go with other people of, at least, make sure someone knows where you are going, always carry your phone.

This wasn't really planned as a trails run, as such, more of a means to an end!   I needed to go over to Wivelsfield to drop my car off at Barnard and Brough to have serviced and MoT.   I decided to drop it all and run back to Haywards Heath, which is not the first time that I have done this.

The main road is dangerous, as you reach the bottom of Fox Hill it's a straight road, but it's fast and road is covered in pot holes.   You really don't want to be stuck in that position, so the best move is to take the run onto the trails from Fox Hill up to Wivelsfield.

Car dropped off I headed out of Wivelsfield and towards Church Lane, this is putting me through the small village past the church and local houses, towards the end of the lane where the trails start.

First part through the gates which is really mulched down with bark to keep it all easy to walk on and heading towards the first style.   This was where I realised how much rain has come down, the field was pretty water logged and muddy, but this is the fun of going out on the trails.

I was on a downward hill run with a lot of water and mud, heading for the far end of the field where I could see the next style.   Feet either sinking deep into the mud or sliding it was an interesting experience, with a little working involved.

Once through the style it was an easy run until the uphill part heading towards Fox Hill.   There are a couple of styles with a little gate to the side, they were actually underwater, so I got my trainings underwater and worked my round them.

Fox Hill was easy as it's a main path with a big uphill towards home.   I was thinking about the trails run at the time and decided I had not had enough of them, so I cut down Hurstwood Lane and entered the trails on Colwell Lane.   This was going to drop me onto the Lewes Road.

Colwell Lane is a good uphill trials run, due to the nature of the lane it's not too muddy or waterlogged, part way I passed a farm with a barn full of rubbish.   Couldn't help but notice a skeleton standing there watching my progress with a plane above it.   It's amazing what you find on a trails run.

At the top of the lane I turned towards Scaynes Hill, going out for a run with Sarah Bonwick a little while ago she showed me a footpath that goes back into trails and back towards home.   The perfect end to the run.

Having used the run to drop my car off at the garage meant that I had the pleasure of running it again in the opposite direction.   I did learn that if I was going to do that again, which is very likely, to put a fresh pair of trainings in the boot of the car along with baggy gym wear.   That way I won't cover my car in mud! 

Michael escapes Meriden

THIS IS an amazing story about local athlete Michael Burke that I covered in the local paper The Mid Sussex Times.   I was having a conversation with Michael during a yoga session and asked if he wanted it covered.   The story then developed from there.

The story is covered in the photograph below, but the text is recreated below, if it's difficult to read. 

ESCAPE FROM Meriden is an ultra-marathon challenge that doesn't have conventional barriers.   The start point is Meriden Village, Warwickshire near the ancient stone cross marking England's traditional centre.

This year the event celebrated their 10th anniversary with an extended 48 hour cut-off point.

The race begins at midnight Saturday, and participants have to run, walk and crawl as far as possible in any direction for 48 hours.   The distance is then measured as the "crow flies", a straight line from the starting line to the point the athlete finished at the 48-hour mark.

 

There are few rules to the race: no advice, no checkpoint or marshals, must avoid private land and roads without pavements.   This is a unique ultra-endurance challenge where route planning (terrain, food, and sleep) is crucial for maximum distance from the start line.

 

Haywards Heath athlete Michael Burke took part in the event and completed it running for 47 hours as he was awake from 8am Friday to 1am on Monday, except for 15 minutes' sleep.

Michael came an incredible 2nd place covering 234.75km actual or - as the "crow flies" - 198km.   Michael had support built into his run at selected points from his brother Tom.

 

A couple of weeks before the event Michae3l was ill and it was uncertain if he would be able to run.   It wasn't until Wednesday the week before that Michael made the decision he was it fit to take part.

 

He said, "I was really happy with finishing in 2nd place.   My aim was to run the distance driving was 153 miles.

 

Michael was running for charity supporting Combat Stress and you can support him by clicking here.

 

National Runnig Show 2026

THIS YEAR I had the opportunity to attend the National Running show, being held at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham.   With three other members of Haywards Heath Harriers we purchased the advance tickets and were looking forward to the day.

I have never been to a running show, and having retired in November I had nothing to stop me going!  I booked the train in advance, had a couple of sandwiches, two bags of crisps and a protein bar ready and just looked forward to spending the day with good friends, and a great day out.

The train set off from Haywards Heath at 07:42 and we headed for Victoria Railway station.    Quick change to the Victoria Line on the London Underground heading for Euston, which would take approximately 9 minutes.    Grabbed a coffee at the railway station with a bag of almond croissants before getting on the Avanti train to Birmingham International.

It was all shaping up to be a "grand day out".   I don't think I have ever been to Euston Railway Station before, I love finding new bits of London and walking around the area, unfortunately we just had time get to the train.

I didn't realise that the NEC was so close to the railway station, but it does make sense, you move from the station to the center all under cover, it's quite a walk!

Going into the vast area you know it's going to be a big event.   There were a number of lecture stages with events all published, the main theme seemed to be either Marathon or Ultra running, although I did manage to hear most of two sessions that covered inclusion in running.

There were many stalls and I managed to see all of them.   Spent some time at the England Athletics stall, Marion had volunteered some time there, so we dropped her off and met up later to have some lunch.

Although there were a lot of stalls there the big ones that I was really wanting to see were Adidas, Nike, Free Train, and Brooks.   None of them were there, the closest I got was Nike and that was just sun glasses.   I did stop at one staff, can't remember the brand but their running shoes looked good, after finding out the cost I thought I could get Brooks cheaper, so left it.

The disappointing factors around the show were the big names I wanted to find were not there, can't say there were many running celebrities there, and no freebies being handed out.   Taking all of that into consideration we still had a great day and got the train back with some "goodies" and looked forward to getting home.

WSFRL: Run Your Heart Out - Run 2

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.