Brighton Phoenix 10km

WEDNESDAY 10th JULY heralded the Brighton Phoenix 10km run.   This is an important run for members of the Harriers as it is the third race of the season that contributes to the Bill Page awards.

Race bib

The extremely well-marshalled course runs from Hove Lawns along the promenade, through the industrial area and out past Shoreham Power Station where it turns around at the 5km mark and heads back to the finish line.   It forms part of the course for the Brighton Marathon and is notorious for runners achieving personal best times as the course is relatively flat and fast.

The run was attended by runners from the many affiliated running clubs across Sussex as well as other running club and non club runners.   The Harriers turned up in force and all ran a fast paced race with everybody achieving under one hour on their personal chip times.   For the first time I managd to achieve a sub 1 hour 10km run.   Happiness is this!

Haywards Heath Harriers Team

There were two incidents during the run the first came from a man who was possibly homeless who was shouting obsenities and racist comments at us.   I think he hated everybody and we were the closest for him to rant at.   The second was the strong smell of cannabis on one section of the run.   Maybe that explains the PB!

A full “debrief” was held with Harriers and other club members at The Brunswick free house after the event.   It's a really nice pub and live music venue, but the beer was running out very quickly!

Full debrief with beer on tap at the Brunswick Free House, Hove

Redwood Run - Sheffield Park National Trust

Race bib

WEDNESDAY 3rd JULY 2019 was the inaugural Redwood Run at Sheffield Park National Trust property in Maresfield.   The event, hosted by Haywards Heath Harriers, was managed by Marion Hemsworth and Ian Dumbrell and run under England Athletics rules.   Sheffield Park is the second Sussex National Trust property to host running events with the Harriers already having the Willows as an established run at Wakehurst Place (part of Kew Gardens) in Ardingly.

Sheffield Park race map

The run was attended by the majority of the 18 England Athletics registered running clubs across Sussex as well as other clubs and unaffiliated runners.   The route started from the front entrance to Sheffield Park Gardens and went around fields before entering the bottom of the National Trust property.    It went around the cricket pitch and towards the lakes before coming up to the main exit for the park and gardens then turning back towards the bottom exit and back across the fields to the finish line.

The run was a real test of ability and muscle endurance running on grass, asphalt, flint and woodchip surfaces.    Along the way there were field and kissing gates to get through and small bridges that elevated the runners above the areas being protected for wildlife.   As with any National Trust property it was beautiful and scenic and a joy to run through.

Haywards Heath Harriers Team Photo

The return run caught me out as I approached one of the field gates.   A sneaky tree root tripped me up and I hit the ground quite hard.   A marshall came running over to make sure I was OK and was pleased it wasn't a serious medical emergency as she didn't know what to do with those!   Few grazes across my knees and right shoulder.    So I brushed myself off and completed the run.

With luck with will be become an established run for the Harriers and be as successful as Wakehurst.

 

Aberdare Parkrun

Genuine Welsh Parkrun sign!

I HEARD on the grapevine that Aberdare had started a new Parkrun and thought that I would check it out, even though I wanted to have another crack at Pontypridd!   The upside of it was Aberdare was closer and easier to get to giving me a whole extra five minutes in bed!

I have been to Aberdare a number of times over the years but never realised they had a park until very recently so I was quite excited about this..even though I have never actually been in there!

There was a really good turnout and talking to runners on the start line it turned out that it wasn't a brand new run.  The previous week was their first  anniversary and this was their 50th run.   I was only one week late for the first anniversary, I was pleased with that.

Aberdare Parkrun start line.   On your marks ...

Starting the run we headed clockwise arond the park and at the back gate took a small detour and got back on course again.   Coming round to the front gate we headed for the lake and where the finish line was.   It was then I spotted it, the imposing hill that took you up to the start line and end of the first lap.

This was quite challenging being both steep and quite long.   It certainly drained your strength but at least once you made it to the top you had a good recovery time before coming round to the hill again.   In total the course is three and three quarter laps.

Aberdate Parkrun in Welsh, think it's going to rain, style.

This is a beautiful park, so much more than I expected and the run director was so welcoming that it was made even more enjoyable.   Now I have two Welsh park runs between which to split my allegiance.

Downland Dash 8km

SATURDAY 22nd JUNE Burgess Hill Runners hosting the West Sussex Fun Run League with their Downland Dash.    The run was a 5 mile course from Downland Community College in Hassocks and attended by all 18 clubs who run the league.

Haywards Heath Harriers Team Photo.

As we lined up at the start it was clear it was going to be a hot day.   There were three distinct parts to the route starting with a run around the school sports fields before being directed out into open fields that run along the foot of the South Downs.   The run was quite difficult with the heat and the fields having very recently been mown with a lot of loose grass underfoot.

There were a lot of obstacles to navigate with a bridge, couple of stiles, kissing gates and single track footpaths.   Pedestrians out for their Saturday walk were rudely awakened by members of 18 running clubs looming towards them.   We managed to get everyone through the small gaps without any major problems, other than a little lost time for the runners.

After the extreme heat running across open fields, the next stage of the run through woodland was extremely welcome.   The trees gave a lot of shade and the opportunity to cool down a little.   This led to the next obstacle as with great trees come great roots which means you have to spend a lot of time keeping an eye on where your feet fall and not end up head down in a bush.   With the recent rain there were also some slippery muddy bits.

Coming out of the woodland and back into open sunshine you could see the finish line.   Running alongside the hedgerows you start checking the distance between you and the runners in front and feeling how much energy you still have in your muscles.   You start the final sprint with the finish line firmly in your sights trying to reduce the gap and overtake other runners.

Made it to the finish line!

  Thanks go to the Burgess Hill runners for an amazing course especially Jay for his sense of humour and little prank at the finish line