Run Gatwick Half Marathon 2022

WITH THE end of lockdown and things returning to a new normal Run Gatwick opened it's doors to their half marathon on Sunday May 8th, with a new start/finish line and route.

The first run took place at Southgate Park, Crawley on the 31st October 2018 and ran for two years. Like many events it had to shut it's doors due to the COVID pandemic and reopened in 2022 for it's third event, excluding virtual runs.

Starting at the Gatwick Aviation Museum the route went past the end of the runway, at the point aircraft were coming in low and landing. Running the Lowfield Heath Road to the side of the runway the route came back on itself to the end of the runway before turning down to Ifieldwood. Running down to Rusper and back to the museum in a large loop and couple of run backs.

The new route brought the race to Gatwick, with most of the run being directly below the flight path. During the run you could feel the road vibrate with the power of the aircraft engines coming into land, an amazing run experience and great new route.

I was coming back from an injury caused by running down hill and missing a tree root that, literally, sent me flying. All of which seems very apt for Run Gatwick.   I didn't get the time I wanted but was really pleased I entered and enjoyed the run, right up to the point my right calf decided to seize on me.

I am now thinking back over the run and looking forward to Run Reigate which takes place in September (see Race Diary on the tabs above for full details).   It's good to see that Run Reigate have evolved taking on Gatwick and now a 10km trails run at Gatton Point on the north end of Redhill.

I did the inaugral Run Reigate Trains at the beginning of the year and it was so successful they are running it again in the summer.   Gatton Point is beautiful and it's worth thinking about this challenging run.

Clair Park Run and RunGatwick

MY PLAN going into the weekend was simple.   Go for a long run on Thursday and then taper off for RunGatwick on Sunday.   The problem was by Friday I was suffering with itchy legs and decided to do Clair Park Run.

Clair Park Run PB

The aim was to take it easy and complete the course.   I got to the front which meant that I didn't have to stop when everybody hit the first bend going into a narrow footpath (I should have realised that my body was telling me something!)   The first lap went well and it looked like a PB.   So I maintained the pace and tried to increase it on the downhill section.   Going into the last half lap there was a chance I could achieve the elusive 5k in 27 minutes.   But no, 27 minutes and 29 seconds.   Nevertheless it was still a PB.   So much for taking it easy!

RunGatwick was a very different experience for me this year.   Last year was the inaugural run and I did the race just for me.   This year the event hosted the Sussex Athletics Association Half Marathon which means a show of strength from the Beetroot Army and I am now running as a member of Haywards Heath Harriers and under Sussex Athletics official race rules.

Three years ago I suffered from work related stress and it really hit me hard.   I didn't know what I was going to do and the amount of physical issues I had was ridiculous.   I went to the local gym and then took up running.   I didn't own a pair of trainers and wouldn't run for a bus.   This was a real change of attitude for me.   I never believed for one moment that I would be chasing a 27 minute PB on 5k, running half marathons or joining a club and it is so inclusive and motivates you to push yourself that little bit further.

Beetroot Army Team Poto

I have to say thank you to my beautiful wife for driving myself and two other Harriers to the event.   She then had to find something to do for five hours with a lot of road closures in place around Crawley, and pick us up.   She was amazing. (From the wife - I agree!)

RunGatwick kicked off at Southgate Park and went past The Hawth Theatre before turning back towards the town centre.   Up the dual carriageway past County Oak and into the industrial units at Lowfield Heath.   It was where it became RunGatwick as you run the main road and can see all the aircraft at the busiest single runway airport in the world.

 

Turning onto the Perimeter Road you are running parallel with the runway.   You can't see it because of trees but aircraft landing and taking off were coming towards us.   So you can hear and see them when they clear the tree line.   Coming up the road there were three Gatwick Security Jeeps playing "Eye of the Tiger" really loud.   They got a big cheer from the runners.   At the end of the road you cut across the end of the runway with the perfect view straight down it.   With aircraft coming in over your head, the sight and noise of them makes this really a unique run.

Next stage is the road to Charlwood in Surrey.   This is a great run. You get to go through a busy major town with full road closures in place and run around the Perimeter Road at Gatwick and see some amazing countryside in both Sussex and Surrey.

50plusandrunning coming in
to the last half mile.

Charlwood was amazing. It's a small village and lots of people turned out to support the event.   At the end of the village we turned onto the Ifield Road and headed back towards Crawley.

By the time I hit the Ifield Roundabout I had picked up a fellow member of the Beetroot Army and we were motivating each other to get to the finish line.    Ifield Roundabout was significant for me as I knew where we were, how far we needed to go and I could visualise the finish line.

We hit the 12 mile mark and the route took a different direction to last year.   We were pushed through the town centre and up and around County Mall shopping centre.   The effort had really hit our legs and we needed to get up Southgate Avenue and cross the finish line.   With a bloody big push we got up the hill and on seeing the finish line I just put everything I had left into one final sprint.

Once over the finish line we got the medal, T-shirt, banana and protein bar.   Then headed directly for the beer tent and had a pint of ale.   Cor, that was really good.

 

The experiment with energy gels seemed to work quite well.   Last year my muscles were seizing up in the last three miles; this time they held on until the end.   I took a caffeine gel half an hour before the start and then used two energy gels one at one hour and the next at one hour and forty five minutes.   I had meant to have another caffeine one for the last couple of miles through the town but totally forgot it because of the support I had which was a pity as I wanted to see if that made any difference.   I will have to save it for my next race.

Things were looking good leading up to RunGatwick and I managed to knock just under 20 minutes off my PB.   Very pleased with that.   Except the day before I started to go down with a cold.  Taking part in the event I just dosed myself up with paracetamol.   That night the cold really kicked in.   So, I have spent two days in bed snotty, sweating and coughing my lungs up!

At least I have my RunGatwick medal and goodies for another day.   And my important race number.   I have these all stored in a photo album because they mean so much, even more than the medal because that little piece of memorabilia was a part of that journey on the day.

If you want to see and feel what this run feels like.   Experience the amazing support around the route then check this video out on YouTube by Fordy Runs.   Click here.

Bank Holiday Friday

I PLANNED a training run on Friday in preparation for the West Sussex Fun Run League (WSFRL) 10k at Lewes and Run Gatwick.

Woke up and it was a beautiful day, so got ready and headed out for at least a 12k run.   I was looking forward to going around Lindfield, through Haywards Heath and over to Cuckfield before the long run back.

The run started well, but I had underestimated how hot it actually was!   Luckily I had taken a bottle of water with me and I started to use that throughout the course.   This made me start to think about the runs coming up and what if they were also on hot days?   How can I get through a 13.1 mile run without the proper fuel and hydration.   Luckily Run Gatwick were giving out information which I will be following and I have also shared it because the advice is good.

I have been experiementing with SIS Energy Gels to see if they are effective or not.   Up to 10k I find i don't need to use them.   Once I am just over 10k I start to get tired and my leg muscles start to ache.   I have found a few minutes after using one of the gels, my energy levels do recover and the dull ache stops which allows me to get much further.

I don't think I will need them for the Lewes run, but I have a bottle of Lucozade Sports for after the run.   Gatwick is going to the one to test the gels to see how effective they are.

By the time I got home I decided to take on the jungle of my garden.   The patio and path all needed some attention, the borders down both sides needed weeding (and there were a lot of weeds in there), the grass needed cutting and there were a lot of bushes that needed cutting back.

It wasn't easy with aching muscles from the run and having to keep kneeling up and down!   Got close to finishing but had to do the last bits the following day.   It was good to put everything away at the end of the day and have a soak in the bath.   With the sweat from the run and dirt from the garden the bath looked dreadful! Missus says it reminded her of my return from my first Glastonbury which was a mudfest!!

Surprise in the post from Run Gatwick

Those amazing people at RunGatwick have been busy this week mailing out all the race numbers with course information.   This is their second run and to add a little bit more colour to the event it will also host this year's Sussex Athletics Association Half Marathon Championships.

It was good to arrive home from work and find my pack had dropped through the letterbox.   It's all now very real with only three weeks to go before the big event.    I have been training and hoping to get a PB improving on my result from the inaugural run last year.   I have shared an article from RunGatwick entitled Safe Run which I will be following to ensure I am fuelled and hydrated.   I will also be looking forward to an artisan burger once I make it to the finish line!


Highlights from last year include running through Crawley on the closed roads, down the perimeter Road and across the end of  Gatwick runway.   I remember Charlwood (Surrey) was beautiful and the local residents were out to cheer us on with a live band playing. It was very uplifting.

Review of the week w/c 11th February 2019

THERE ARE some people who work Monday to Friday with weekends off,  but that would be far too simple!   My week is 10 days instead of the customary seven.   I work six days and then have four off!   This means that I have to plan my running out in advance fitting it between the gaps of my shifts but still ensuring I am capable of going to work!

Monday

The week kicked off with Hybrid Boxing at The Dolphin Leisure Centre.   This isn't a "get in the ring and batter the hell out of each other" session.  It's more about pad work with a partner.    The session was amazing as five people turned up (its usually just me and the instructor) and it was one of the best aerobic sessions I have had in a long time.

I previously tried Box Fit but it wasn't quite what I was looking for.   I then discovered that one of the personal trainers had just got his licence to train Hatton Boxing.   I decided that as long as I got the same aerobic exercise as Box Fit I was going to switch.   Really pleased that I did beause it has improved my upper body strength and core.   All of which is really positive for running.

Tuesday

The weekly training session with the Haywards Heath Harriers started at Cuckfield with a run towards The Heath town centre.   Once there we started 30 minutes of hill reps.   This wasn't easy because there is a very long and steep hill involved.  To me it was like Everest!   Once completed there was the long run back to Cuckfield completing 9.4K by the end of it.

There are real benefits to including hill reps in your training.   The effects on your running are really positive and the same applies to running in a group (see the blog on "Group Running").

Wednesday

OK, so my great plan was to go for a run on Wednesday, which fits in with my shifts.   After the Monday and Tuesday sessions things were a little tense in the muscle department and I needed to rest up.   So I made the decision to postpone the run for a few days.

This led to the question of when you should run and when should you knock it on the head for a day?    Rest is just as important as running, allowing your muscles time to recover and get ready for the next training session (see the blog on "Should I go for a run?").

Friday

The decision was made and I signed up for Run Gatwick's half marathon.    Luckily it falls on a day off this year so I don't need to book any leave.   Last year was Run Gatwick's inaugural year and at the last minute I decided to give it a go.    I actually got involved in a part of the planning for the event and got a bit carried away!

Run Gatwick was an amazing day, really well organised with a run that went from the middle of Crawley, up to Lowfield Heath and along LGW's Perimeter Road that runs along the length of the runway, into Charlwood before coming back to Crawley again.   This holds special memories for me as it was my very first half marathon!   Looking forward to running it again this year.

Saturday

My muscles are feeling good and so I was up fo a short run.   Due to shifts I couldn't do my regular Park Run this morning, yep didn't finish work until 02:00.   So I did a short run about the same length as Park Run 5K, but did a quick stop half way round and threw in some hill reps.   This also gave me the opportunity to create my last video for the "Choose your Route" page.