Lindfield 10km - King Edward Hall

SUNDAY 22nd May 2022 was the date for the return of the Lindfield Village Run.   Having been missing from the Mid Sussex running diary for the last two years, it was good to see it return in spectacular style.

This is the fourth time I have entered the Lindfield Village Run which is a well-established event setting out two cross county runs: a 10k Village Run and a 5k Family Fun Run.   Both take place mostly on paths and tracks through the West Sussex countryside in the immediate vicinity of the village of Lindfield.   It has often been described as an old fashioned cross-country run with plenty of multi-terrain, some slippery surfaces, and the odd cow in fields!

Once again I entered the 10km course which is a tough course from roads, to trail and then across country. Athletes have to run stairs that take them up hills and down the other side to multiple bridges, even to the point jumping streams. It's a beautiful and unique run and takes in the sights of Ardingly Resevouir and College. 

Some of the route you can only run if you enter the event as it goes across private property and you need permission to do it.   I ran a part of it recently, but it was quite dangerous with a lot of exposed tree roots (this is where I had my accident recently) and a number of trees down.   I felt I spent a little time trying to climb over trees instead of running.   But that's the fun of going off road!   Lindfield had to alter the route accordingly, but it's a route they have used before and I was familiar with.

You walk away from Lindfield always feeling proud of your achievement and feeling that is was professionally organised from the start to the finish with plenty of marshalls out in the fields (quite literally).

I feel I should offer my apologies to fellow Haywards Heath Harrier, Ben, (left on the photo opposite).   He had not done the run before and asked, "Can you get lost?".   "No," I said, "It's really well marshalled and if I don't get lost then you have nothing to worry about."   Turns out he was in front, took a wrong turn (someone standing in front of the signpost) and went the wrong way for a while.   He still came second, great work.

Welcome back Lindfield.

 

 

Freetrain - Hydro 1

I AM A big fan of the Freetrain vest, but the Hydro One takes the designed and makes it more useable.   If you already have a vest and thinking about buying the Hydro One then then these are the points that stood out for me.

The vest is wider with two distict sides, the first side is the same as the Freetrain vest and allows you to hold your mobile phone also, and important to me, a debit card and small amount of cash.   The ability to make contact and be able to get home if you have a mishap is paramount, especially if you are going off road.

Recently I was running down hill and tripped on a tree route, I literally took off and came down hard on the ground.   Grounding on my forearms, chest and knees for the first time I had to call Mrs. 50+ and get her to pick me up.   I didn't walk for two days due to the pain.   I was off road, but had the ability to make contact or get a taxi home.

The other side gives you a flexible water bottle (included in the price), not something I normally worry too much about, but the good weather is now here and running off road having some water is essential.   The bottle is on your chest and the Freetrain vest does not "bounce" when you run, it's so well designed that you forget it's there.   How do you bring the two sides together?   With a zip up the middle which is brilliant, no more pulling it on/off over your head, adjustments to the straps just became easier.

It still has two pouches on the shoulder straps for gels or car keys, but the zip up one has gone (pity as I felt this was great for key security when running), but there are velcro straps, so your keys are not going anywhere.

There is so much more going on with Hydro One that make it worth the investment and to top it off there is a pouch on the back for other lightweight things.   Highly recommended for training runs, especially when going off road for shorter distances (13 miles), but for ultras you probably need to carry more water and another produce is needed for higher amount of water.

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.

Queens Baton Relay

THE QUEENS Baton Relay was launched from Buckingham Palace on October 7th, 2021. It's set to travel the lenth and breadth of England for a total of 29 days, before culminating at the Open Ceremony for Birmingham 2022 on 28th July.

As a tradition, Her Majesty The Queen places a message inside the Baton which will be read out at the Opening Ceremony. Starting on the 2nd June, the Baton will spend four days in London, coinciding with the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Weekend.

For the 2022 event Haywards Heath Harrier Michael Parish was nominated as a Baton Bearer as part of the relay across the South East. The nominations came from the Emergency Services for the work he had done with mental health and starting a learn to run group for workers who had a sedintary role answer emergency and non-emergency calls.

Bank Holiday Monday Race with Lewes AC

THE BANK HOLIDAY Monday brought the third run in the West Sussex Fun Run League calendar hosted by Lewes AC. On a beautiful sunny day the 17 athletics clubs congregated at Lewes Athletics Track in preparation for the annual 10km run.

This is Lewes AC’s first run since lockdown and it was great to see them hosting the event. I did this run just before COVID and loved it, so I was really eager to go back and do it again.

The first run was a juniors one mile followed by the main run which was a 10km around the countryside of Lewes. Starting at the athletics track it went into Ham Lane, going anti clockwise out alongside, and then under, the A27 and across country. The route was multi terrain across tarmac, chalk footpaths and across fields. There is a part of the run that goes through the beautiful village of Iford as it loops back towards Lewes.

There was an amazing attendance by Haywards Heath Harriers with at least four athletes having been suffering with the effects of COVID the week prior to the run. Results were:  First Harrier across the line was Andy Hind, 00:39:38 quickly followed by Jonathan Beckett, 00:40:06; Tim Miller, 00:42:50; Abigail Redd, 00:46:39; Julian Boyer 00:47:47; James Smythe, 00:51:17; Sarah Hamilton, 00:56:57; Marion Hemsworth, 00:58:55; Michael Parish 01:02:38; Carys Hind 01:07:55; Richard Bates, 01:18:20; Rupert Purchase 01:18:46.   There was a really great team spirit throughout the run bringing all the Harriers across the finish line in a great time.

Annual General Meeting and Awards

 LAST WEEK I attended Haywards Heath Harriers AGM and awards night.   It's a great opportunity to look over the last year, see that state of affiars and hand out awards that people have earned over the last year.

The review of the year was really good.   We have all gone through the COVID pandemic and had to rethink a lot of things.    At the time we had to consider what training was going to look like and how we could achieve it.   There has been so much good work from the committee, coaches, leaders in run fitness (LiRF) and athletes.

Two of the highlights that have stood out was the take over of the LiRF.   Taking the club's groups out in smaller numbers in predfined areas around The Heath, Cuckfield and Lindfield ensuring that training was continuing.    And the vitual runs set upon Strava allowing athletes to complete a set course over a given period of time, when it suited them.   Being virtual it means those runs are still there in Strava to use outside of the pandemic.

During the awards part of the night I picked up a "Special Recognition" award which was unexpected and I am very proud of.   This was for work I have done as a LiRF, Mental Health Champion and helping write articles for The Mid Sussex Times.

Weekend in South Wales

THE PLAN was to go down to Hirwaun, South Wales with Mrs. 50+ and spend some time with family.   After that drop down to Swansea for a few days rest and relaxation on our own.   Whilst in Hirwaun take part in the Ynyshangarad Parkrun in Pontypridd and the Cardiff University Half Marathon.   Once in Swansea have a 10km recovery run around Swansea Bay.

The problems started just over a week before we went to Wales.   On the way to Haywards Heath Harriers training I turned down a dark road and tripped on a speed bump.   This ended up with me falling and coming down hard on my left hip and injured my ankle.   This brought all the training for the half marathon to a halt too early, but I was still happy that I could run Cardiff.   Just not confident about the time.

Friday night we had relocated to Hirwaun and things were still not feeling right and I was getting concerned.   I had a pain in my hip and it was runing down the back of my leg to my ankle.   I decided to give Ynyshangarad Parkrun a go and see if my leg could manage it.   I went to bed early with two ibuprofen for the anti inflamatories and hoped everything felt good in the morning.

Ynyshangarad Parkrun

Saturday morning came and I was up and dressed ready for the run.   The hip and ankle were feeling good and I was feeling optimistic.   Mrs. 50+ drove me to the park and went off to Sainsbury whilst I walked through the park heading for the start line.   There has been a lot of modernisation taking place in Pontypridd and I was really pleased to see it completed, the last time I was there a large area was covered in scaffolding and sheeting.

I went off to the new runners/tourists briefing and discovered they had reversed the route.   Normally they run a small loop and then three large loops all going anti-clockwise.   The new route was to run the small loop going anti-clockwise and then the three large loops going clockwise.   Allegedly it's a faster route!

There were a few moments that my left leg suddenly felt like it was going to give way.   But it held in there and I completed the course in a really good time of 27:15, proving the clockwise route is faster than going anti clockwise.   It was a great run and I was now feeling confident about the Cardiff University Half Marathon the following day.

Cardiff University Half Marathon

With all my kit laid out for the next day and another dose of Ibupofen I had an early night to see if I get the same response by the morning.   The following day things were not as great and I had pain around my anke but decided after a wait of nearly three years I was going to give it a go and see what happened.

Mrs. 50+ drove me to Pontypridd railway station and dropped me off.   I stood on the platform and the last train that would get runners to the start line arrived, with just two carriages!   This wasn't a problem but at the next stop there were so many runners it was packed, we were literally face to face.   The next few stops people were being turned away because there was no way anybody else was getting on the train.

Cardiff University have been pushing people to public transport but it was totally lacking in a response to the biggest half marathon outside of London that Transport for Wales let the city down.   The return journey was also only two carriages, but people were not tied by a time as they were with the start of the race.

Cardiff was buzzing by the time I got there with a lot of runners making their way around the castle and backing up in their running pens.   The mood was really positive and we were ready to go.   It wasn't too long before we started the long walk towards the official start line, slowly picking up speed and then running as we crossed the line looking for the 13.1 mile finish line.

It was a beautiful sunny day as we ran the city centre and then headed out through the industrial area but it wasn't long before we were coming into the beautiful marina at Penarth and exiting across the Cardiff Bay Barrage.   As you cross the Barrage left and right of you is the sea and you exit it at the Caerdiff Millenium Centre and the Little Red Church.

The rest is a blur of dual carriageway, stopping centres and residential roads.   You then hit the lake at the far end of the city at mile 10.   As you double back on the lake you realise you have managed 12 miles with just 1.1 miles left.   It's not long before you can see the Caerdiff University building rising up in front of you as you head for the final hill dropping down and turning left with a clear stretch towards the start line.

I came in a lot slower than I wanted to do at 02:27:14, but I had achieved it in a great time and was happy with what I had achieved.   Another really good event run by Cardiff University.

Swansea Bay

After the run we stayed in Hirwaun for a few more days and then moved down to Swansa booking into the Premier Inn on the waterfront.   Day two I decided to do a recovery run from the hotel to Verdi's restaurant on the other side of the bay.   I estimated that the run would be 10km.

It was really good to get out for the run on a beautiful morning and just enjoy it.   I had the long arching beach and fresh sea air to look forward to.   Within one hour I had Verdi's in sight and was looking forward to completing the weekend in Wales with a slap up meal at the end of the day.

Mrs. 50+ gave me a 40 minute headstart and then drove from the hotel to the restaurant to meet me, she hadn't realised that I had got up and gone, so she was a little late!