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The weather forecast was not promising – squally showers and windy – but it was not going to be cold apparently – unlike 2 years ago when the ambient temperature hovered around zero and the wind chill made it feel several degrees below.

We gathered at the start and I met a friend of mine from Kent who took some photos, but I was surprised to see Terry after his 11 miler the day before. I set off very steadily and therefore never saw Ilidia, who usually overtakes me around the 10 mile mark and is never to be seen again during the race.

Despite the significant undulations and running into the wind at the start, I was feeling ok, but needed some distraction which was unexpectedly provided by 2 ladies running behind me for several miles, discussing their elderly parents and what was involved in looking after them. They never seemed out of breath and could have been having a conversation over coffee!

They overtook me going up the hill approaching Cranleigh – apparently it’s no longer the largest village in England as it now has a population of over 14,000 – and I didn’t see them again until the finish when they said they had expected me to join in their conversation….

As usual, a decision had to me made when approaching the finish of the 15 miler whether to repeat the 6 mile loop. As the ladies had disappeared, it was still cold and wet and I was suffering from a bit of cramp, I called a halt at that point. My time of 2.20 was not great, although it was faster than last year.

Having wandered slowly back to the car, put some warm clothes on and had a drink, I was driving home back down the route and saw Ilidia going like a train on her second 6 mile lap and Terry doggedly climbing a hill on his first – I have every admiration for both of them.

Hugh

Surely there are few people who don’t remember The Wombles? Even Fabian knows them, and he’s Swiss……but just in case click here for, er, a quick reminder!

Having seen some pics from 2014 I was determined to get ‘that’ medal, and if I could, a picture with a rather larger Womble than my memory suggest. Oh and run a Half Marathon to get them! A flurry of interest on the Joggers Facebook group led to Gayle joining me – technically she’s an ‘ex’ Jogger having retired from running, but realises (of course) that this was all a HUGE mistake and intends rejoining in time for the next Start Running course in April – so its OK to talk about her here then! Lorna found the entries filled up so quickly that she missed out – and on a lovely sunny (but chilly) morning Gayle and I popped up to Sarf Larnden to find out that there were HUNDREDS of people at the start – it was a big race actually! Well organised, with PA, Baggage storage and mobile toilets (you may know them as something else but apparently that is trademarked – don’t even think about it, just call them mobile toilets from now on!), but much bigger than we’d anticipated. And EVERYONE we spoke to ‘wanted the Womble medal’! Its popular.

For me this was 3 weeks after the Stinger and I thought I’d romp it with my marathon legs. How stupid. They felt a bit stiff and quite leaden at times, maybe that Marathon took a little more out of me than I realised? Now despite having lived ‘Sarf of the Rivva’ for quite a few years, the nearest I got to the Common was drinking in the pubs (The Crooked Billet if I remember correctly?) many, many moons ago when I was a slip of a lad. So I was surprised to find that it was actually a bit hilly in places – the first mile and a half had some quite steep bits. Then it flattened out to mildly undulating for 3 miles ish, then a mile and a half downhill to go back through the start and do it all again! Trail throughout though at times you’re running next to main roads – the organisers had warned of ‘mud’ to spoil those pristine trainers (what!) so I wore Trail shoes – forgetting these are all Urbanites! There was NO mud, just beaten earth, dippy and root-y but NOT MUDDY! Grrrr – I could have worn road shoes which would have been better!

Come mile 10 I felt a pain in my left calf – surely not cramp???? Indeed it was, and it got worse so that by Mile 11 I realised it wasn’t going to go away. I thought of stopping and stretching and walking for a bit, but decided I might never start again, so tried to carry on. By Mile 12 I was in true pain and limping, but gritted my teeth and just felt slower and slower despite going downhill to the Finish. Which cheekily swerved around the back of the Finish line through the woods before looping around and onto the playing fields to the finish – which I was well happy to see. All in all I was happy with 2:05 as I really couldn’t do more than trot for the last 3 miles – one day I’ll see those sub-2’s again, but not today!

But the best bit for a sad old git like me (apart from the medal) was a Womble cheering people on near the finish – so I walked up to find him and grabbed a photo! Yes, I KNOW there was probably a middle aged bloke called Nigel inside the costume – but to me, IT WAS A WOMBLE _ THEY DO EXIST!

So – would I recommend this ‘out of area’ race? Yes, provided you get a womble medal as bling. That makes a difference, and you need to check that they’re giving them out – RunThrough were todays organisers and they run several such events on Wimbledon Common each year – but so do other organisers so if womble-catching is your aim, check first or you may end up with a tennis medal or something!

The downsides, and why I won’t do this again, are that its a very urban race, check those roads man! Its a 2 lap event, and I hate 2 laps. And you do come across a LOT of ‘Larnden’ type runners (and people in general) – living in Henfield has spoilt me – I expect friendliness, talking, waving, being friendly etc. Forget that – its heads down, eyes down, don’t look! There was another Charity event, a sponsored walk, going on at the same time today and we crossed each others paths continuously. I waved and shouted encouragement (I’m running, they’re walking!) and NOT ONE waved or acknowledged me. Our beloved Sussex Downs are no match for Wimbledon – Wombles apart.

And credit to Gayle – with little training she gritted her teeth and got around in 3:05, and wants to Start Running all over again – come back soon!

Who would have thought a year ago I’d be writing a race report for a real life, 26.2 mile, mudfest of a marathon? Not me! But here goes….

I became obsessed with weather reports in the run up to the Stinger. We have had a lot of rain recently and I knew that if it was raining hard then this race would be anything but fun. But the weather gods were obviously on my side when I woke up at 5.30 on Sunday morning and checked the weather report for the millionth time. Sun! Sun and a few clouds but mostly Sun! I was over the moon. Although I knew that the ground would still be soaked from the down pour over night I really felt so much happier that it wouldn’t be a miserable day.

Fabian and I were the first Hjer’s to arrive at Race HQ at 6.50am. I was so unbelievably nervous but the lovely people who gave out the numbers reassured me that no one had ever died running this marathon so really what was the worse that could happen? Hmmmm I thought- broken legs, hypothermia, heart attack… or worse than that FAILURE?!?!

Fabian was glad when the cheerful Amanda and Ralph arrived to distract me from my thoughts of pending doom. Amanda was quick to reassure me that everything would be fine, and Ralph made sure I was adequately equipped.

I had made the decision that I wanted to start as early as possible as to not worry about cut off points and the such, (a lovely part of the race is flexible start times) but I had also decided that I didn’t want to run with anyone despite their kind offers. This for me simply meant two things: Firstly I wouldn’t ruin anyone’s race by slowing them down (and put extra pressure on me to keep up) but also I felt that my marathon training had been a personal journey that I wanted to see out by myself. I had downloaded a new audio book to keep me company and I hoped that it would be interesting enough to see me through.

I walked to the start line feeling a nervous excitement that I had never really felt before. I said goodbye to Fabian who was running the half and then done a last mental check-list that I had put in my pack everything I could possibly need: Water- check, gels- check, jelly babies- check, spare shoe laces- check, toilet roll – check, rain jacket- check. I was more prepared than a boy scout.

Ralph and Amanda set off first, and I decided to let them go and leave a few minutes after. I knew that Mark, Paul, Hugh and Andy would be leaving after me so I took some comfort that if I was really in need of a pick-me-up I could just wait and they’d soon catch me up.

The mud was thick right from the start. Concious of Mark and Hugh’s words of wisdom I took it very slowly, and in no way ‘raced’ anyone around me. By mile 3 I realised that I was feeling surprisingly good. I had the most ridiculous smile on my face that a marshal even asked whether I would be that happy in 20 miles time. I was super glad that I had learnt the route as I was able to shout loudly at a runner in front that she had gone past a turning point as unfortunately a marker had turned around in the wind and without correction the poor runner may have ended up in Storrington.

The first ‘Sting’ is very steep, and very deceiving. Another runner warned me that a photographer was lurking at the mid way point to I made my mind up that I would have to run up to him and then would power walk the rest of the Sting. I was really glad to see that every single one of the runners around me did exactly the same thing. There really wasn’t any shame in walking some of the hills.

It was lovely to have a few words of encouragement at around mile 7 from Marcus who zipped past me, and also wonderful to see Mick and Jenny who were handing out much needed mars bar pieces at the mile 8 checkpoint.

By the time I had reached the turning point where one could decide to go right for the full marathon or straight on for the half marathon I was still feeling really happy. The mud had been horrendous in places but the sunny weather really helped spur me on.

Every single runner, almost without exception that passed me said hello and I really felt the atmosphere helped to keep me going. I fell over in usual Dani style at around Mile 14 but laughed along side the runner next to me who almost did the exact same thing.

I was beginning to really feel the strain of running through such thick mud on the way back from the Lancing loop. But then I saw Duncan running towards me; A hug and the exchange of jelly babies cheered me up and I continued on what I knew was now the last slog.

As I finally headed down hill off of the Downs I was ecstatic! I am nearly done I thought. Yippeee!!! Then the marshal pointed me left. Up another hill, and away from the direction of the finish line. Then I remembered, this was the infamous field Hugh had once mentioned. The last 25 miles had been muddy, but this field took mud to whole extra level. It was almost impossible to walk, let alone run in places. My feet felt like they were laden with concrete. But finally, finally, I saw the sign that said 800 metres to the finish. It took every last bit of energy but I carried on and made it through the finish line. I was so happy to have finished, and really touched that Andy Massindale and Tammy had come to support and cheer on all the finishers.

So I have rambled for far too long now, but for anyone thinking of doing the Steyning Stinger next year my advice is this: DO IT!!!!!! It was so much fun and well worth all the training. You also get a medal, free breakfast and free race photography which is an amazing touch.

For me running a marathon was something other people did. But with such wonderful encouragement from the other Henfield Joggers (in particular Hugh and Mark) I felt really happy to finally be able to say that I did it.

Everyone that took part in both the full and half marathon did so so well. Paul Crowe ran the marathon without even telling his wife what he had planned to do. I think Fabian wished I could have kept quiet too, he is pretty glad that I can now stop going on about Marathon training all the time. Well…. at least for now, Beachy Head Marathon’s in October so a few months break at least!

RESULTS

Half Marathon

Fabian Kaelin     –     2:19:42

Ilidia Campbell   –     2:47:47

Jackie Parsons    –     2:47:47

Andy Ralph        –     2:55:00

Sue Spiers         –     3:21:12

Marathon

Marcus Dwyer      –    5:06:23

Amanda Player     –    5:29:50

Duncan Blackburn –    5:37:31

Ralph Bernascone  –   5:40:22

Paul Crowe            –   5:42:43

Mark Skilton          –   5:42:43

Danielle Kaelin       –   5:43:08

Hugh Martin           –   5:47:00

The date for the next ‘Start Running or Return to Running’ course is now announced as 8th April 2015, 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.

The Henfield Joggers ‘Start Running/Learn to Run’ course is an 8 Week jog/walk programme which is aimed at taking someone from being new to running to being able to complete a 5k run without stopping.

The sessions are weekly, each Wednesday evening from Henfield Leisure Centre led by a certified Run England ‘Leadership in Running Fitness’ coach, and out around the footpaths and maybe even trails around Henfield. The process is coached along the lines of walking/jogging for set periods, starting off with more walking than jogging, then building up each week so that at the end of 8 weeks the ratio is all jogging (gently at a pace suitable for all).

Naturally just one session each week won’t be enough, so this requires commitment to continue on a personal basis in between the coached sessions. What we provide is structure, motivation, feedback, and group therapy! And a sense of humour. Don’t underestimate the group benefit – many of us started exactly this way and went on to 10k’s, half and full marathons, even ultra marathons. But lets not get carried away – you’ll get out of this what you put in, we simply understand how everyone feels when starting out. Daunted. You’re not alone – and of course as a group you’ll be able to make friends and running buddies that help create a supportive environment both in, and between, sessions.

We don’t charge for the course because we want to encourage as many people as possible to get fit, all that we ask is that you join Henfield Joggers, which is a mere £20 and brings the benefits of membership too since we are a friendly club for whom socialising is as important as the running!

For further details contact Cathy at:  beginners@henfieldjoggers.co.uk

Get ready for your night on the sherbet with a 5 miler starting at HLC at 4pm. Plenty of time to get your glad rags on afterwards. Hope to see you there!

Well it looks like a lot of us were out over Christmas & New Year, below is a variety of photos that have been sent in to News Central – happy running everyone!

Continue reading “A smorgasbord of Christmas and New Year Runs” →