Category: News

Apologies for how long it has taken me to update the blog. It was originally due to the fact I was without internet for several months due to ‘speak/speak’ taking a ridiculous amount of time to transfer us to our new address and then secondly I am afraid well…. life got in the way.

 So what’s happened this year? Well, in March I took part in the Henfield 9 Miler. It was an interesting race, a nice local course and I came, well basically last. Now, I know that someone has to come last, and why shouldn’t it be me? But unfortunately I really let it dent my confidence. I started to avoid all long runs on a Saturday and felt myself getting more and more frustrated at being at the back and feeling like every mile was a struggle.

 But that’s what is so wonderful about being part of a club or team such as the Henfield Joggers… I eventually spoke to the lovely Mark about my running woes and after a suitable ‘get over yourself/think positive’ pep talk I realised that 50% of my problem was now mental. I thought I couldn’t get faster and couldn’t do better and it had become a self-fulfilling prophecy. So I decided to give myself a challenge…..The South Downs Relay 2015. This year, I wasn’t picked for the team quite rightly as I was and still am far too slow. But next year I am determined to be there. Fabian and I marshalled for them in June and it was such a great team atmosphere I really felt I wanted to be part of this relay team.

 So since making that decision I have started adding in a lone run on Mondays. Before I joined the HJ’s I would always run on my own so I thought it may be worth adding in a run where I have no distractions and must push myself. These runs aren’t nearly so much fun as the runs I do with my fellow Joggers but I have chosen my own 3 mile route and have to date shaven 5 minutes off of my time. I have also tried, whilst out on HJ runs not to have such a defeatist attitude and really try to keep up with the front runners such as Hugh, Brian, Mark and Amanda. Slowly but surely I feel like my running is improving and thus so is my confidence. As I have mentioned before- I wasn’t built for running and it certainly doesn’t come naturally to me but I guess like anything you have to work hard at it. I am just so lucky to have found such a lovely group of runners to enjoy it all with.

 So after only a year as a HJ member I am giving myself some challenges for 2015.

 1. To take part in the South Down Relay

 2. To run a Marathon… all 26 bloomin’ miles

 3. To beat or at least match Fabian in a fun run (Yes, I am aware of how unrealistic this one is!)

 4. To take part in the 3 Peaks Challenge with fellow Henfield Joggers (Not strictly running related but still for a great cause!)

 So if you can bare reading my ramblings I will try to keep you updated on how the training goes for all of these challenges.

How bad can it be?!?!?!  😉

I have signed up for a Half Marathon in a months time. Starting the 2015 training early.

9 Joggers turned out on this cloudy, humid Sunday morning.  Despite a slightly rocky start as the Fittleworth Flyers had no record of our entries, we managed to get everyone a number just in time. A quick dash to the starting point and we were off! Some of us had heard dirty rumours that this was as challenging as the Roundhill romp, and luckily I think we all decided it wasn’t that bad… I mean challenging. It does however have enough hills to make this run rather demanding, and by no means ‘easy’.

The course has some lovely wooded parts and also goes through some beautiful country lanes. At one point there was even a lovely cheering squad who didn’t seem teamist and gave encouragement to all runners.

It was great to see the return runners going past and we were able to give each other encouragement. Alan led our team to victory, followed by Fabian and Kieran. We all gave each other a quick well done as we passed each other and luckily I wasn’t the only one to mistake Louise for Nikki as these sisters could pass as twins!

At the end of the race, in true Henfield Jogger Style we all rewarded ourselves with a cake from the amazing selection that the Flyers had to offer. We all agreed that the true reason we get involved in these fun runs has nothing to do with personal fitness, getting points for the club or being competitive. It is of course just to have a reason… no an excuse… to eat lots of lovely cake.

ALAN BARWICK: 41.27

FABIAN KAELIN: 43:22

KIERAN LEVER: 47.34

DANIELLE KAELIN: 49.06

LOUISE LEVER: 49.09

GILL HAMILTON-ORR: 49.35

NIKKI HARGREAVES: 50.23

LIZ PAMMENT: 53.12

ALISON TURNER: 53.15

This is the Poynings run that Danielle has requested we do on Saturday. It’s about 12 miles and fairly flat with opportunities for short cuts.

Well, last holiday weekend of this summer, many people away, Henfield seemed deserted, even Swains was totally empty this afternoon……and a tough little mother of a ‘fun run’………perhaps not a surprise that only 5 of us fancied this. I say fancy, Danielle and I had similar views on that point. Not even a ‘seemed like a good idea at the time’ thought, as it didn’t! But despite the ‘gulp, that’s a lot of climbing’ feeling, we were there, and on a glorious sunny Sunday, along with about 300 other fools, all vying for that PB which was 100% guaranteed on this inaugural run. From Waterhall we wound our way up to intercept Newtimber Hill near the top, over the crown to tumble (literally) down towards Saddlescombe, but jumping left and climbing again to head back towards Waterhall, but only after a series of false “this is the last hill, mostly, honest” from the marshals, who were plentiful and encouraging. Even at the last, with the finish in sight, there was a series of steps to climb! The conditions underfoot were perfect, but I’d still say that this is the toughest of the WSFRL fun run series now, and at just under 6 miles one of the longest. BUT, it was great fun, a wonderful course, well organised and great to reflect back on. I’d encourage some of you “I don’t do fun runs but I like Roundhill Romp” people to tackle this next year, you’ll love it!!!! And even a free raffle afterwards for all entrants, now there’s a novelty! Results below and great to see that Andy was 3rd overall, leading to a dressing down from Danielle for simply ‘not trying hard enough’…….

Results

Those of us running autumn marathons need to crank up the mileage a bit, so I suggest we do the Convent Run this Saturday – just over 13 miles, but pretty flat throughout. There are plenty of short cuts for anyone who would prefer a shorter run
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