Author: smoggypaul

An unusual occurrence at the Henfield Half today was that a film was being shot as part of the race. Agreed by the organiser, (Simon at the Henfield Leisure Centre) a film crew from Cambridge University Press, complete with flying drone camera (I kid you not! They even had a ‘bear in the air!’), did some filming as part of a plot for an English language course film. It involved a runner (Race number 101 by the way) who was filmed at the start and finish! Only two Henfield Joggers in todays race due to a clash with Tilgate (see separate report) but lots of support all over the place:

Duncan Blackburn – 1:55:39
Denis Muirden       – 2:20:25

Danielle got some video footage of the start and photo’s of the ‘drone’ – see below:

On a warm, clear Sussex evening we had a Jiggle of Joggers (I reckon thats an appropriate word for a group of Joggers? Isn’t it???) at Highdown, Goring – in fact checking back in the records on the ‘West Sussex Fun Run League’ website this is the largest group we’ve had for this race since 2008 – the earliest record available online! And all wearing ‘skool uniform’ (well, almost all!) too. Results will be published as soon as they’re available but especially lovely to see Alison and Lorna on their second week as members and out enjoying the experience of this great run. Slight hiccup (nearly hiccup!) at the start as we were all so busy taking the photo at the top of the hill that we ‘nearly’ underestimated how far down the hill the Start actually was! A stroll downhill ended in a run to beat the Starter, already making his safety briefing – and the road was packed with 400 runners, and deep ditches either side! We squeezed in where we could – and then off we went almost immediately. That first uphill is very slow because the path is so narrow that unless you’re at the front, you are forced to walk (or in my case even stand waiting!) for the route to clear. The views on top were, as always, magnificent – out towards Portsmouth and IoW clear as anything – if you could see from the sweat dripping down – it was warm work! Mis-heard quote of the evening (or the Year!) award goes to Natasha – she heard me follow a nice comment to the marshals at one corner, who were really great, with what I ACTUALLY said “Gotta rate the marshals” becoming, in her ears “Gotta RAPE the marshals”. My how we laughed and laughed as we whiled away the downhill trot, acutely aware that we had to go back up again TWICE yet!

Wonderful run, great event, well marshalled and a superb evening all round – although Mandy told me afterwards that I was WRONG and that this was WORSE than Roundhill Romp!!!! Its a matter of opinion, I did say there wasn’t much in it! Sorry Mandy!!

And congratulations to everyone who ran, and to Andy who finished 10th overall, from a  record field of 450, and a record number of 421 finishers! And of course to new members Lorna and Alison running their first ‘Fun Run’, and to Tammy who also completed her own ‘first fun run’! The ‘Hike’ isn’t the easiest – congratulations and a virtual medal!

Meanwhile, with peak holiday season in full flow we were still able to field a second group running from The Partridge, who seemed to have a nice time without us but got recruited by the Morris Men later – if I hear any faint jingles the next time we’re all out, I’m running, VERY fast indeed, the opposite way!

Thanks to Dave, who found this great video on You Tube of the start of the race – see how many Joggers you can spot? Had we delayed for ‘one more photo’ this is what would have faced us as we trotted down the road to the Start!!!!!

RESULTS (Full results on the WSFRL League website here)

I know people use various devices but for those of us using Garmin I have set up a Garmin Connect Group for Henfield Joggers – the link is here if you are interested in sharing activities etc.

If anyone has other devices/applications and wants to set up a group to share, just let me have the link and I’ll share it here.

It is, of course, our ‘Day on the Downs’ on Saturday, and I did make a proposal re meeting in Steyning at 10:15 and running the route highlighted below. However, and with so many people away at the moment, it hasn’t met with any positive response. So note: There WILL be a run from HLC at 8am – Brian T will be leading it and setting a route which will be taking the general direction of Lawyers Lane/Riverbank. OR join in at Steyning later and run whatever you fancy – it’s all good! Get your run in before the rains on Sunday in any event 🙂

Congratulations to our own Lotte who has won a competition to Run the Highlands – no, thats not a senior management position in the Scottish government, it really is a run across the Highlands!

The run is 122 miles covered in 6 days and starts off in Alyth south Scotland, finishing at Spey Bay on the Moray coast in the north. It is not a race – the aim is to get there at a comfortable pace.

Lotte is no stranger to running across Scotland having covered 85 miles over 5 days before, so considers this absolutely brilliant.

With the run at the beginning of October Lotte is hoping she can get her mileage seriously up the next few months!! Any volunteers to help???

The date for the next ‘Start Running or Return to Running’ course is now announced as 17th September, and will be promoted in BN5 and all local media over the next month. More information is here or just email Cathy at: beginners@henfieldjoggers.co.uk

Alice (aged 9) said to me after the junior mile. “Mummy, both my legs really hurt” I said “that’s good, it’s just them learning to run faster” she said, “no its not, it me learning not to run again!”

Well I turned up at 10.15 to pick up my number, sign in and meet all the other Joggers that were running to be told I was the only one (eeek) that was a shock, oh well down to start I went to be greeted by all the other HJ members marshalling.

I positioned myself right at the front to know what it felt like to lead for all of 1 yard ha ha,

Well bang off we go, head down out of the Kings Field to the railway line, seeing all the HJ members marshalling was very welcoming and knowing the route was even better as knew how to pace myself, seeing the drinks station at 2 miles was strange as didn’t seem to take that long to reach there,but wow it was a welcomed sight as it was so so hot out there, quick drink as running never works always seem to spill more than I drink.

Out on to the river bank we go and I’m expecting to see lots of cows as told in the safety briefing but none in sight only Brian Turrell doing his best marshalling poses.

Back on to the railway line now and after 90 minutes of football on Saturday my legs are starting to feel the distance but now turning into the fields I know it’s not long to go, saving a bit of energy coming up towards the Leisure Centre, 5 people pass me, but as we turn into the Kings Field football sprint kicks in and I pass the 5 people with 100 yards to go and across the line in 34.38 considering the legs I was very pleased to finish and get a nice cold drink without wearing it all this time round.

Great event and lovely run on a Sunday morning.

Simon

What a fantastic morning – it was ‘sunny’ but hazy, however 24c and high humidity made it warm for everyone, which is why we put a water station in at the 2 mile point – hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

The annual Seven Stiles run (this year kindly sponsored by Alex Cole from Coles Automotive) is run by Henfield Joggers as part of the West Sussex Fun Run League, with Clubs from all over Sussex competing, but is also open to anyone. Which is how our farthest runner came to be from the Czech Republic, working over here at the moment. Nearly 400 runners competed in the 4 mile event, which led people on a course that went down to the River Adur along the bank and back to Henfield Leisure Centre, and more than 50 younger runners competed in the 1 mile event, aimed at Juniors.

Our oldest competitor was 85 years young, while the youngest was ‘some bit younger’ at just 4 years old! This just shows that sport is for everyone! Our thanks to all who helped make this a great success, including Simon and all the staff at Henfield Leisure Centre, and of course all the Henfield Joggers who gave up their time.

See more at BN5 Magazine who published a slightly expanded version.

In the meantime here are the PROVISIONAL results – please note this is an UPDATED version correct at 9am Monday 28th July:

Seven Stiles 4 Mile Results

Seven Stiles Junior Results

If anyone has any queries then please email: sevenstiles@henfieldjoggers.co.uk

The full (STILL PROVISIONAL) set of results is on the West Sussex Fun Run League website – there will undoubtedly be some updates and the FINAL set of results will be confirmed in due course.

Finally, thanks to Emma’s husband Dermot we have some great photographs which you can see here:

And this is a great image courtesy of Vinnie from ARunners – thanks for sharing Vinnie!