Race Reports

Running a half marathon has been on my bucket list for a while so when I saw the London Landmarks Half Marathon on 25th March, it seemed like an exciting one to take part in.

I encouraged my sister in law, Sacha to join me. She ran the London Marathon 4 years ago and vowed she'd never run again so when she agreed, I was really excited! I also put a post on Facebook asking if any of my friends would like to join us.  A dad at the school, Wayne, was keen and we trained together.  We hosted a cake sale to start raising money for Tommy's who we were running for.

I then found out a tri club member, Clair,  was taking part who is also a friend so our team was building.  Clair invited her friend too so now we had a team of 5. 

Our training was going well, despite winter illnesses, the weather, work commitments and various other excuses we found.  Everyone's race packs arrived a few weeks before the big day except mine.  I emailed the organisers and they said not to worry, they were being sent out in waves.

I still hadn't received it by the Thursday so I gave the organisers a call.  I was starting to panic a little bit.  It turns out my registration didn't go through and now it was too late to register. There was another Rebecca Moore and they thought I was the same lady.  The other Mrs Moore lives in Wimbledon, we are in Burgess Hill!  As you can imagine, I was devastated! With it being my 1st half marathon, I'd been training hard with my buddies the thought of letting people down really upset me. My race buddies were amazing and really encouraging.

My hubby sent an email explaining that this was their error and we asked for special dispensation due to all the hard work I'd put in and the excitement I felt for this event.  Thankfully, after a day of waiting, I received an email explaining I can collect my race pack on the Saturday before the event.

This threw another spanner in the works because I couldn't get to London on the Saturday. I rang the organisers again explaining this and they organised for me to collect my race pack on the day.

With the trains messed up on the day, I thought I was destined not to complete this race but my sister in law collected my pack for me and we all took part in the event.  Tommy's came up trumps in the end and we all completed the race with smiles on our faces at the beginning and the end!

It just goes to show, good comes out of bad.

There was a good turnout at The Steyning Stinger by members of the Mid Sussex Triathlon Club.

Six members tackled the Half Marathon with Pete Harris 1.58.51 and Rob Hoodless 1.59.17 coming 2nd & 3rd in the 55-59 age group and 27th and 28th overall. Rachael Baker 2.17.59 was 7th in her age group and 88th overall. Amanda Durrant 3.00.53 and Sam Drake 3.17.42 also competed. Simon Hodge initially started the marathon but switched to the Half.

Four members were in the marathon with Chris Dawson being the 1st member to finish in 4.46.38 followed by Doug MacTaggart 5.53.12, Jean Fish and Sarah Hinton, both in 6.43.30. 

Sam Drake commented that the event was amazing, despite the mud, with terrific volunteer marshals and a well marked route.

Photo of Doug MacTaggart, Sarah Hinton, Jean Fish & Simon Hodge.

I decided to do Brighton half 2018 to achieve a PB as I have done it several times now. My goal was to train really hard and lose some weight, so I could 'fly'…. Well this never happened. I did no training except for about 5 miles, once every 10 days since November and I gained 7lbs. So, I wasn't very hopeful for a PB!

I drove to Brighton with a friend and we were very late! We parked by the station and as we walked down towards the start, my calves were near to freezing in the arctic conditions.  I could not feel my fingers tips despite wearing gloves, so I was dreading the event. I have never once taken a bag to an event, not sure why I did this time (?), but it turns out the bag drop is practically in the marina and about 10 miles away from the start (well not that far but it felt 10 miles - both ways).

The race started at 9am and we finally got going at 9.20!! Turns out lots of other people started late too! We jogged down towards the start line, past lots of kids who were doing some sort of race after us - good for them! And eventually I got going.

The first 3 miles were pretty brutal but as I warmed up as I went up hill and started to overtake people, I felt more confident and into it. I came across the first drum band who were excellent and dressed again in their gothic black and purple attire, then another band….

I saw a few of the club elite runners whizz past me on the other side down the hill which is always nice (if a little dis-heartening!). I finally got to the top of the hill and headed back down. The run went really well, and as usual there were lots of different characters, lots of different shirts to read, a man pushing a wheelchair, a man with a prosthetic leg, and all different types of people. 

I love the encouragement and enthusiasm of the Brighton spectators it makes you feel like you are running an actual marathon.  The high fives the kids give and the random people who have bowls of jelly babies are always encouraging.  As I got to Hove and turned around to come back along the seafront at 9 miles, It was COLD, windy, brutal and a real slap in the face but I carried on; and still at my 10 min mile pace :).  When I hit 11 miles I thought "It's the home stretch now …"  and I upped my pace. Well I thought I did, it felt like it, but turns out I didn't.  Anyway, as I came through the crowds towards the end, as always, they boosted my energy and I pounded the last mile. I came in at 2hrs 15 (my average time/pace fastest is 2h06).  I was so pleased with my result, what with the lack of training, and the freezing conditions. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute and never struggled.  This was my 9^th half marathon and the first one I have found relatively easy and thoroughly enjoyable, and,  I wasn't a dribbling tired mess for the rest of the day either!

Next year I hope to train harder, be lighter and get under 2 hrs!

That's the plan anyway…… ;)

As I had not done this race since 2005 I was a little apprehensive to say the least. My time then was 1hr 37 mins but now that I am in my late 60's I knew that I wasn't going to beat that!!! Although it was a respectable start time, 10.30 am, I was up early as usual and had my porridge like a good "boy". I left home about 8.00 and arrived at the designated car park with no problems at 9.00 giving me plenty of time to chill out before the start and of course my warm up, a walk to the loo and back!!
           

On arrival at the start, which was approximately 10 mins walk from the car park I met up with Kevin [James]. The weather was reasonably warm and dry with a slight wind, so was probably ideal running conditions. Just before we lined up Steve [Birchall] and Pippa [ Crouch] turned up.
             

Then it was gun time and there was no turning back! We all know Hastings is a hilly course but exactly how hilly I had forgotten as it was 9yrs ago the last time I did this race! Obviously another C.R.A.F.T. moment!!! The first 5 miles is basically up hill, so there is got to be a "down" somewhere!! The crowds were very encouraging along the way, which always helps, plenty of jelly babies being given out! Once I got to mile 7 I thought well there is only 6 miles to go!!
               

Dropping down out of Hastings Old town you then find yourself at mile 11 on the seafront and that always seems like a lot further than 2 miles to the finish! With just under a mile to go you can see the finish but it feels like someone keeps moving it further away!! I ran the whole way round and even had some left in the tank for those last two miles. With about half  a mile to go Jules Stuart- Colwill] came up alongside me and we were nip and tuck til just before this finish line when Jules had that extra bit in her tank and crossed over just before me, well done Jules!!
                 My race time was 2hrs 2 mins 36 secs
                 My personal time was 2hrs.1 min 48secs

Will I do it next year, maybe if I have another C.R.A.F.T. moment!!!

11 MSTC athletes took part this time. This year the race was brought forward by a month from it's traditional time at the end of October. Slightly warmer weather and a later than usual start made it quite a civilised race but as usual superbly well organised and marshalled. 

The men certainly surpassed all expectations. Jim, Mike, Martin and Gordon all gained new PBs. Jim was really flying with 1h22m33s while Mike ran his first time under 90mins with 1h28m6s. Martin started very strongly and finished in 1h36m58s and Gordon cruised round with his dad for most of the way (just leaving him towards the end) for a 1h48m04s. I think we are going to see further huge improvements from both Martin and Gordon in the next couple of years.  Steve A managed a respectable time (1h32m23s) just 6 days after completing LEJOG and James paced himself round sensibly to a sub 90 minute time (1h29m28s) 

Lucy (1h43m4s) held off a very strong challenge from Emma Jaffe (1h44m38s), with Rachel not far behind both(1h46m10s). Hazel was a bit disappointed to find it quite a struggle this time in 1h51m19sand Helen Graham comfortably completed it sub 2 hours (1h57m06s) 

MEN WINNER 1h06m53s 

1. Jim Graham         1h22m33s     23.45%   10pts
2. Mike Jaffe           1h28m06s      31.75        9  
3. James Dear          1h29m28s*    33.79       8
4. Steve Alden         1h32m23s     38.16         7
5. Martin Sanwell    1h36m58s     45.01           6
6. Gordon Skeats     1h48m04s     61.61         5 

WOMEN WINNER 1h25m04s 

1. Lucy Williams    1h43m41s    21.89%    10pts
2. Emma Jaffe        1h44m38s*  23.00         9
3. Rachel Baker      1h46m10s    24.81         8
4. Hazel Tuppen     1h51m19s    30.85         7
5. Helen Graham    1h57m06s*  37.66         6

 * means chip time not available so slower 'gun' time is recorded in the results only